Email is Alive

Omniture Vs. Google Analytics

Understanding the tools needed for the job can reduce the amount of work needed to complete that job - drastically. The evolving battle between Google and Omniture is one of those things that can no longer be ignored. Understanding what each analytics solution provides can make the difference between ease of task at hand or hair-pulling report generating. It can also make a difference between a budget line for an analytics solution or a free service just as robust as the paid solution.

I've toiled over this for a while now; each client/business has different needs which leads to different configurations of software and solutions. I've also struggled with evangelizing a cost-based solution (Omniture) that provides no more relevant data that a free solution (Google Analytics). While Omniture provides, "custom reporting on the fly" it has a terrible time configuring with PPC campaigns; Omniture has "real-time" tracking and actionable analytics while Google lags 3/4 of a day or so.  Google can automatically sync one's PPC campaigns (Google Based) into GA's reports while Omni needs click tags for each PPC url; Omniture does high level aggregate trending for multiple domains (50 - 500), but most companies can't even dream of managing that many domains.

While I can concede to saying that each solution has great value respectively; I can't say one is better than the other - yet.

Here are a few articles that will help you get an understanding of what may be best for you.

http://www.haiensheng.com/blog/analyzethis/2009/jan/omniture-sitecatalyst-vs-google-analytics

http://www.bartgibby.com/2006/10/14/omniture-sitecatalyst-vs-google-analytics/

http://actionable-analytics.com/2009/05/google-analytics-vs-omniture-site-catalyst/

http://www.evisionworldwide.com/blog/2009/09/30/google-analytics-omniture-winner/

There are tons more articles out there; these seemed to capture a lot of the chatter around the topic.

Contact Carlyle Inc if you'd like to learn more about how one of these solutions can help you.

About Rory Carlyle

Rory Carlyle is an Email-Geek, frequent twitter hound, web-analytics nut and an all around dweeb. With experience in consulting, agency work and as an Email Marketing Manager; Rory has seen issues regarding email from many perspectives. Continuing on a 6+ year march through all things interactive marketing with a strong affinity for email, Rory hopes to make the web a better place one inbox at a time. Outside of his email passion he fills his time with beer/food/books and the occasional flight to somewhere random. Twitter: @rorycarlyle