If you're a user of the analytics service SiteMeter, you will now see a better interface when you check your site's statistics. The site redesign provides a host of new features for users that could cause users of Google Analytics to do a double-take. Here's a closer look at what users can expect from the upgrades SiteMeter has made.
UPDATE: Turns out the new design wasn't so great after all. SiteMeter has implemented an immediate rollback to the old design!
SiteMeter has made a switch from a codename based management system to an email based system. This means that users can now consolidate their SiteMeter accounts under one email address. In doing so, users will be required to reactivate their accounts under their email address. You can even group your premium account reports by topics to compare and contrast the data of all your sites .
Visually, the service has redesigned the way users can now view their data. Statistics can now be visually seen using charts, graphs, or a table view. Choose date ranges of data to view, export your data, view demographics and do a ton more via a sweet visual interface. SiteMeter is also reporting to have more accurate data for visitor counts and page views by differentiating between visitors and unique visitors. All of your statistics are available visually and textually for any section of the service.
With some of the new features, we have to wonder if SiteMeter decided to take a couple of visual cues from Google's popular Analytics service. Whether they have or haven't, SiteMeter has certainly done a great job on an long over-due upgrade. However, we're not sure if the new features are enough to keep users from using Google Analytics for free. If you're a user of SiteMeter, let us know what you think of the site's redesign and changes in the comments section.
Comments
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I'd love to have provided my impression, unfortunately they're currently in the process of rolling back to the old system.
Posted by: Nate | September 14, 2008 2:04 PM
they have ruined it, and turned it into a bloated piece of garbage now. They removed keyword referral tracking, something I used a lot.
It does not surprise me, since they never beta test.
Example is early August's failure that caused thousands of sites to go down on IE browsers over a weekened.
I have had several paid sitemeter accounts for many years.
today I have moved them all over to statcounter.com
Posted by: scott | September 14, 2008 2:05 PM
How wrong can you be? The new design is a complete disaster, and they are rolling back to the old version even as we speak:
http://weblog.sitemeter.com/2008/09/14/sitemeter-rollback/
Posted by: max | September 14, 2008 2:05 PM
I have to agree with the previous commenters; this new version was a disaster.
I understand that they wanted to do something that is visually nice and try to go after Google Analytics, but the thing is that they ruined the best thing about SiteMeter, the simplicity and quick access to needed information.
They removed some of the best stats pages for users like the sources page which showed where traffic was coming from url by url.
I personally, directly removed the SiteMeter tags from StartUpArabia.
They're rolling back now, which is probably the best thing they could do to try and undo the damage while they still can.
I guess this is what you get when you don't listen hard enough to your users. As a stats analysis service, I think they should already have quite a bit of data about how people are using their service, and what reports they use most.
Posted by: Mohamed Marwen Meddah | September 14, 2008 2:36 PM
Sitemeter's new design is as bad as the old one. Among non-Google web analytics Logdy.com is the best choice.
Posted by: dan | September 14, 2008 2:39 PM
Worst. Implementation. Ever. I can't believe the SiteMeter folks never heard of "If ain't ain't broke, don't fix it." And it's painfully obvious there was ZERO end-user testing.
This "new and improved" version is a business-killer if EVER I saw one.
Posted by: Buck | September 14, 2008 2:43 PM
Oh my, what a disaster that was. Thank god they're rolling back.
Posted by: tgeorg | September 14, 2008 3:30 PM
Dear Valued SiteMeter Customers,
As you’re no doubt aware by now, we’ve chosen to roll back our website to the previous “classic” version.
Based on some performance issues we were experiencing along with feedback from the community it appears we have pushed our new site live prematurely.
Our intention is and has always been to offer you, our customer’s better tools and more accurate data. Obviously we fell short of this. The first thing we need to do, moving forward, is to roll out new product releases in parallel to our current platform. This will give everyone a chance to try out, evaluate, and comment on our new concepts.
We would also like to take this opportunity to ask those of you who had issues or concerns with the new site to participate in future beta testing. We had originally asked for Beta Tester in two of our newsletters sent earlier this year so we’re eager to build our beta group even larger. If you’re interested in participating please send us an email using our support ticketing system with BETA TESTER in the subject line of your email.
In the near term we’ll be evaluating the performance issues and feedback from our community. If you have additional input that would help us build you a better product we’d like to hear from you.
We apologize for the botched rollout and will do our best to make sure the next time we do this it has your full support and blessing.
Sincerely,
The SiteMeter Team
Posted by: SiteMeter | September 14, 2008 3:33 PM
The new version was AWFUL. Clunky, slow and missing some good features (like Scott, I like to track keyword referral). I could barely read some of the stats.
Very relieved they're rolling back. Wonder if Facebook will be similarly responsive to the negative feedback they're getting over their new layout?
Posted by: Ginger | September 14, 2008 3:58 PM
I guess it doesn't matter what I think b/c the "new" sitemeter just became the shortest lived re-design probably in computer history.
Posted by: FBM | September 14, 2008 4:01 PM
I wished they'd asked first. If I had known for one thing that "outclicks" wouldn't work right, I'd have objected b/c that's a valued feature for me to help know what I write or link to that interests my readers most. And constantly logging in despite the "remember password" which of course wasn't helped by slow page loading just made it harder.
So I guess it will be at least another 24 hours to come back and more stats lost b/c even though they said they'd keep track, I lost all my Saturday and most of my Friday stats (which I know existed on the "old" format)anyway.
Maybe a survey at least next time? I'm such that I'm not sure I'll stick around with my paid account if it does come back. Because what will they do next? I mean I lost my blog for nearly two days a month ago b/c they tested a code change in FF without knowing that it would crash IE.
They really need to communicate better with their customers especially getting input ahead of changes. That will prevent these disasters from coming.
Posted by: FBM | September 14, 2008 4:08 PM
W3Counter competes, successfully, by doing less with an easier interface. The one downside to all the stuff Google puts in Analytics is that it's more confusing and harder to interpret some of the more basic stuff.
By making their interface more complicated without giving lots of new features to make that worth while, SiteMeter went in the wrong direction with that upgrade, as they quickly learned.
Posted by: Dan Grossman | September 14, 2008 4:22 PM
The new Sitemeter website sucks! It's so bad, that after an avalanche of negative comments, Sitemeter Development Team decided to backpedal to their previous software.
Now I have the traditional ole software working the way it's supposed to be. Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
I hope they'e learned their lesson.
Posted by: Omar Upegui R. | September 14, 2008 5:32 PM
I was using sitemeter for my web site "www.srushtisoft.com" and used to specially track the keyword search to improve my site content and know what users are really looking for. The new sitemeter was really really disappointing. It was not at all user friendly, darn slow, messed up features...total awful experience. Thanks for rolling back. I would suggest sitemeter team to drop the idea of new UI design. The new design is really bad. If you really want to do something new, do it with simple HTML, don't bring the burden of Flash stuff in that. It will be slow and really sucks.
Posted by: Pavan Gayakwad | September 14, 2008 8:27 PM
This whole circumstance saddens me a great deal. I've had multiple accounts with Sitemeter for over four years now and have always felt an acute sense of loyalty to and partnership with them.
However in the course of searching for information about this new upgrade and reaction to the aborted rollout debacle, I also learned the disturbing news that Sitemeter joined with spam advertiser SpecificClick.net over a year ago. I had no idea, but now in retrospect, I do recall my spidey-sense tingling a bit when reading about some of the upcoming new features in this 'Sitemeter II' upgrade; things like Demographics and User Interest Reporting. While I could see why that type of information would be helpful for some, I remember thinking, "So, um...how are they gonna get THAT kind of information?"
Hello, V-8 Moment?
And if the spyware cookies that they now push upon all Sitemeter-powered web sites isn't bad enough, we now have this disaster of an interface to look forward to as well?
No thanks.
I hate to say it, but Sitemeter, you've just lost another one.
Seeya.
Posted by: AJ in Nashville | September 14, 2008 8:43 PM
I think it's pretty obvious that RWW was paid to write this post. NO ONE, and I do literally mean NO ONE ON THE ENTIRE FRICKING PLANET, actually believes that the new sitemeter is good. Search the internet for reviews. This is the only good one I've ever seen, and it's obvious why that is.
Posted by: Benny | September 15, 2008 12:09 AM
I still cant even see the new design!!
Posted by: Steven Finch | September 15, 2008 1:04 AM
Trying to migrate from Sitemeter, we discovered the open source (free!) Piwik which is really impressive!! http://piwik.org/demo/
widgets, API, slick user interface, still in beta but seems pretty stable to us.
Posted by: pascal | September 15, 2008 2:53 AM
Until today I didn't still understand because Sitemeter never opens in my three computers.
Posted by: Andre L. Soares | September 15, 2008 10:24 AM
The new sitemeter was really terrible...they removed the only valuable features for us(http://www.happytutors.com): referal link, invisible sitemeter, out click links.
And it's very very slow to load the page...if they plan to use this version in the future, we will not use SiteMeter any more.
HappyTutors.com
~ Connect Tutors with Students & Parents ~
Posted by: HappyTutors.com - Connect Tutors with Students & Parents | September 15, 2008 8:35 PM