Get To Know Your Visitors And Audience - November 2001
By Kelly Embleton

Obtaining an audience and getting visitors are one of the main reasons Web sites are designed. Whether you are attracting visitors to a personal page or business page, the bottom line is that the site should somehow benefit the visitors who access it.

There are two main methods of getting to know your visitors.

1. Sign up for a service, purchase software, or install scripts that gather information and demographics about your visitors and your site.

Most of these types of services provide you with daily, monthly and annual information such as:

• Where visitors are coming from.
• The number of visitors your site receives.
• Which pages are visited most often.
• Which pages visitors entering and exiting on.
• What your visitors are looking for.
• The type of browsers your visitors are using.
• Whether or not visitors have JavaScript enabled on their browsers.
• Which operating systems your visitors have ... and much more.

Most services charge a monthly fee, some are free and some allow a free trial period. For services check out Super Stats (www.superstats.com), Site Stats (www.sitestats.com), Right Stats (www.rightstats.com). For software check out WebTrends (www.webtrends.com) and for scripts visit HotScripts (www.hotscripts.com).

2. Gather information about your visitors directly from your site.

Here are some easy methods of gathering information about your visitors directly from your site by allowing visitors to providing you with the information they want:

Ask your visitors which pages they enjoyed the most.

• Add a 'Rate Our Site' script to your site.
• Include a form or e-mail address where you ask your visitors what information they are interested in on your site.
• Provide an online form or e-mail address where visitors can submit general comments about your site.
• Create a page on your site called "Getting To Know You." This page would contain the information gathering methods suggested above.
• What can you do with this information about your visitors?

From all the information that you have gathered about your visitors and audience, you can:

• Send them information, newsletters, flyers etc., via mail or e-mail about your products and services according to their interests
• If you would like to advertise information, products and services on your site, put it on the high traffic pages or the page visitors enjoy the most.
• You can modify and improve your Web site design and content according to the rating of your site, general comments and browser information.

Getting to know your audience will benefit you and your visitors!

Resources

• Canehdian.com is Canada's Entertainment Source and one of Canada's largest music Web sites dedicated to music, and specifically Canadian music. The site includes artist promotion, music, album reviews, a MP3 directory, message boards, a radio guide, industry links, music events, music trivia and much more. The site features a must see Canadian Music Artist Directory that provides an alphabetical artist directory, Canadian artist profiles, album reviews by artists and more. Check out all this information at www.canehdian.com.
• If you are interested in learning HTML or just looking for a certain piece of HTML code for a Web site, then visit HTML Goodies. HTML Goodies provides online tutorials on HTML topics such as backgrounds, images, frames, forms and more. This site also has information for Web masters on tips, reference pieces, discussions, style sheets, Java scripting, Java applets and CGI scripting. If you prefer, you can view all the goodies on this site through the Master List. Drop by HTMLGoodies.com at www.htmlgoodies.com.
• Indiecentre.com is an independent label information site chock full of vital DIY information on getting your music to the masses. Visit www.indiecentre.com to find company listings, articles and information on starting a label, recording, mastering, manufacturing, printing, sales/promotion, touring, supplies and more.
• Music Books Plus has recently launched the Music Books Plus Affiliate Program. Become a Music Books Plus affiliate and earn 15 per cent on every purchase your visitors make, on every item they carry. Joining is easy and free! Affiliates receive detailed reports, free affiliate newsletters, promotional tips and more. Sign up today at www.musicbooksplus.com/affiliate.
• For complete information on Canadian Music Week 2002, happening in Toronto on March 7-10, 2001, visit www.cmw.net. The site provides information on festival venues, hotels and travel, conferences, registration, exhibitors, awards and more.
• Namco Limited recently introduced the next generation of Internet/Windows PC-based interactive music entertainment. Now available at www.musicplayground.com, MusicPlayground offers a one-of-a-kind interactive music experience for music lovers the have Internet access and a Windows 98/Me PC. MusicPlayground makes use of virtual instruments - USB peripherals - that simulate their real world counterpoints. MusicPlayground allows music fans and musicians to get involved with the music like nowhere else - to go beyond just listening and become a part of the music.
• Music Books Plus has greatly expanded their catalogue and now features online over 4,500 books, videos and CD-ROMs on music, recording, audio, songwriting, MIDI, multimedia and the Internet. You can join the electronic newsletter or request a printed catalogue online at www.musicbooksplus.com.
• Norris-Whitney Communications operates The Music & Audio Connection, the international on-line resource for music enthusiasts, musicians, music and audio professionals. Included are classified ads, products for sale, company showcases, discussion forums, associations, music education, music & audio resources, career information and file libraries. New additions are the Calendar Plus personal information systems and Music News, updated daily. Updates to the site are available by electronic newsletter. Visit at musicandaudio.com. For more information, e-mail to [email protected], Fax (905) 641-1648 or call (905) 641-3471.