I recently launched a new static website in mid-December, and I've set up Google Search Console, which is gradually indexing my site and starting to send some traffic. However, I'm also using Google Analytics and Cloudflare Analytics, but it seems that the latter two are affected by privacy and cookie settings which are disabled by default. The analytics tools barely show much activity, while Cloudflare reports around 600-800 unique visitors each day based on HTTP requests. Am I missing something here? What are some effective ways to gather meaningful analytics for my site?
3 Answers
Yeah, that makes total sense. GA gets blocked quite a bit these days, while Cloudflare's analytics are based on server-side data, so they're usually a better reflection of reality. You might want to look into using Cloudflare's web analytics, which are pretty decent for basic metrics. Focus on what kind of data you really need to track!
You're in a common boat! Modern browsers, with ad blockers and privacy settings, really limit JS-based analytics like GA. If you want more accurate client-side options, you could explore something privacy-focused like Plausible. For a static site, you might also want to consider using Cloudflare or S3 logs for insights. They can give you a clearer picture without the issues that come with JavaScript-based tracking. Just figure out what specific data you actually need.
You're not doing anything wrong! It's pretty common for Google Analytics to show lower numbers due to consent requirements and blockers. Cloudflare's count is more accurate since it tracks real HTTP requests. If you're looking for cookie-free solutions, try Plausible or Fathom, but they are paid options. Otherwise, just rely on Cloudflare's numbers if you're comfortable with that.
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