You may think that because your website is getting a lot of hits, this indicates a high-performing site, but that is not always the case. That is why it is crucial to understand the differences between page views, page visits, and page sessions. When measuring website analytics, you need to know what you are tracking and what each metric means. Luckily, we’re here to break it down for you.
Page Session
A page session is the length of time a visitor spends on your website and the subsequent activity. Sessions measure the pages viewed within a website and the visitor’s engagement with the site, such as filling out forms or registering for events. After 30 minutes of inactivity, the session expires. A new session will begin if the visitor chooses to revisit the site after 30 minutes.
Page View vs. Unique Page View
A page view is each time a browser loads your website. So, if a user discovers your page in a Google search, the first click on your site would count as a page view. However, if the same user decides to refresh the page, that action counts as another view. Therefore, it is important to understand that several page views do not necessarily translate to a high-performing site, as many of the views could result from the same user.
On the other hand, unique page views take into account total views and break down how many were generated by the same user. Where page views account for each time your website is loaded, unique views narrow down from where the views are coming. This information helps marketers track analytics more accurately.
Page Visit
A page visit is when a user visits your website from an external domain. Whether visiting from another site or entering your website URL into their browser, clicking on your site generates a page visit. Even if the user leaves your website and then returns to it later, this counts as another page visit despite being generated by the same user.
Understanding metrics is key in measuring overall success and performance. Talk to Peabody today to decipher your website traffic and how to improve engagement with your audience.
