Update 26 February 2010: A comment by a blogger reminded me this post needs updating and I figured the easiest way is to just copy-paste my response here (the original post is still definitely worth reading still): Hey, while I still love statcounter and will continue to use it, although I didn't bother much about Google Analytics because too much data, not too long ago, I have started to use 2 together. One can complement the other actually. Posts re: Google Analytics User Interface and Google Analytics User Interface and Individual post visitor counter.
Original post below. You may also want to read description of statistics provided by Statcounter or Statcounter visitor map and statistics:
There are many free counters - Statcounter, site meter, Google Analytics. I prefer Statcounter as there is a choice of visible and invisible counter and it gives me just the statistics I need. I feel Sitemeter is more for giving nice graphs and Google Analytics gives too much statistics, only invisible counter and I think more for those e-Commerce website and those who use AdWord for advertising.
I will describe how to add Statcounter to your blog. First to to Statcounter and sign up for an account. Sign in and then click "New project" (see screen shot below):
Get the URL of your blog. If you do not know how, refer to what is URL and how to get it and how to get URL of own blog. Copy and paste URL from clipboard into the box for "Website URL". Type the blog title in the first box. Click on the down arrow of "Category" and select a suitable category. Click "Next".
In the next page, click "Configure and Install Code":
After clicking "Configure and Install Code", in the next page, you will have to chose between a visible counter and an invisible counter. We will chose invisible counter because it involves less steps. You may chose a visible counter (first choice) if you want.
At the bottom, click NEXT. In the next page, tick "Yes I use" and then click the down arrow. Select "Blogger" (see screen shot below):
Click "Next" at the bottom, and the script for the visitor counter will be given in the next page. Click inside the box and the whole script will be highlighted. Press ctrl+C to copy script into clipboard.
Sign into blogger.com to get the Dashboard, and click LAYOUT for the blog you want to install the visitor counter. If you had selected visible counter, you will have to choose where to place the visible counter. In this case, we have chosen invisible counter, so it does not matter where. Click any one of the ADD A PAGE ELEMENT,
and you will get a pop-up where you will have to choose HTML/Javascript. Click inside the box, press ctrl+V to paste the script from clipboard into the box:
After the visitor counter script is pasted into the box, click SAVE and your visitor counter is successfully installed.
GoStats is a great option you should also try.
ReplyDeleteHi rchmura,
ReplyDeleteI just tested GoStats and is not impressed. If you want simple statistics of how many visitors, GoStats would be sufficient, but it does not give many statistics like screen resolution of visitors, keywords used to find your blog, etc. I would still recommend statcounter.
Peter Blog*Star
Generating Revenue from your Website
Wow, great post! It answered my questions and made it so easy to do. Thanks. I only have one question. On my side bar where it would be if it wasn't invisible (at the bottom) I have a space and then the line to divide it from the next page element. Anyway to get ride of the line so it doesn't look like something is missing? I don't see it on yours and I am assuming you have StatCounter.
ReplyDeleteHi Moo,
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want line, paste the script in another existing Page Element.
Peter Blog*Star
Blogger FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
(Blogger FAQ in progress. More will be added as I have the time)
Great post - thank you for your willingness to help others!
ReplyDeleteVerry Usefull! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDo you know how I can prepare posts with Pictures offline and then send them when I´m online?
I have tried windows live mail, outlook and outlook express but the formating and pictures upload just has to be redone.
Thank you
thank you for your help. now i have successfully installed my invisible counter in my template. my problem now is how to read the statistics! where do i go? i tried to go to the statcounter summary page where there is supposed to be a graph but all the data says zero. what should i do to be able to see the stats?
ReplyDeletethank you.
Hi Ness,
ReplyDeletePlease refer to statistics from Statcounter visitor counter.
Peter
merci beaucoup! I tried to post the code into the html-document an failed - the 'add page element' advise helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the form that is filled out when they ask for IP's does it cancel counts of certain IP's? If so would it be safe to put my IP in it so the machine doesn't always count me each time I do to my site before I log in?
ReplyDeleteHi Alice,
ReplyDeleteThat is the purpose, so visit from own IP address is not counted. However, this is of use only if yours is static IP address (IP address always the same), not dynamic IP address (changes every now and then).
I don't get the add new element option only add a new gadget. Help please!
ReplyDeleteHi Hamzah,
ReplyDeleteGadget is Page Element, just a new name.
when i clicked 'gadget', it only allowed me to add an URL, not HTML codes.
ReplyDeleteHi Dahlia,
ReplyDeleteThat is not my experience. When I clicked gadgets, I see 18 gadgets or Page Elements
Hi Dahlia,
ReplyDeleteHow about a screen shot to show us what you saw
Actually i'm having the same problem as dahlia. Where can I send you the screen shot? Thankyou for replying.
ReplyDeleteHi Hamzah,
ReplyDeleteThere is a "Contact me" link in the left sidebar, near the bottom.
Problem solved! In the add gadget window there was a link to html/java option. Site meter is working loud n clear :). Thanks for the help Mr. Chen. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a page like this with loads of information. It's amazing. Thanks a ton for your great effort and time.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Im sorry but there is no add html screen when you click add new widget it only asks for the url no place to add html
ReplyDeletedoes this not work for blogspot pages?
ReplyDeleteHi Aeja,
ReplyDeleteScroll further down
Hie..
ReplyDeleteI've generated a counter code from statcounter.com.Then, when I copied it to "Edit HTML" section,it failed..I don't know where to paste the code..Please help me..
After i click ADD A PAGE ELEMENTS, the pop up window doesn't appear.What should i do?
ReplyDeleteHi reena,
ReplyDeleteYou have to go to LAYOUT and click "Add a Gadget" (previously Page Element), not EDIT HTML which will bring you to the template editor.
Hi Reena,
ReplyDeleteTry using Firefox or other web browsers.
Great site!! I installed Statcounter yesterday after reading about it on your blog. I checked my stats today and found that all visits were under five seconds.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that most of these visits are probably coming from BlogExplosion (I joined using your link, btw), I guess that makes sense.
But on the Statcounter page I'm referring to is this caution:
"Common problem with Visit Length Stats
If you only install the StatCounter code on one page of your website and your visitors never reload that one page. Then your visit length will always be less than 5 seconds! It is highly recommended to install the same code on all pages of your website you want to track."
Do you know if this applies to a blog? Does this mean I should add the invisible counter to every single post?
Once again, great site. Blogger's own help pages are useless! I'd be lost without you! :-)
Hi Editor,
ReplyDeleteStatcounter had been added to all pages.
Thx a lot, very helpfull.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mr. Chen, for posting these instructions. Doing anything technically new is scary for me, and you made the process easier. I was stumped for a long while when it came to pasting the code. I finally realized I needed to choose on the Basics option "HTML/Javascript" when that page came up. Duh! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. Your instructions were very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you I found this very helpful and easy to use. Your directions were easy to understand and follow.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter, sorry it took a while to reply, I've been busy at work :(
ReplyDeleteHere's the snapshot of the pages I saw.
http://img75.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot1ko3.jpg
This is the 'edit layout' page. I click 'add gadget' on the right or at the bottom.
http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot2we1.jpg
This is the 'add gadget' page. There are some basic gadgets to choose.
http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot3ae8.jpg
This appears when I click 'add your own gadget' (tambahkan milik anda) at the bottom. It only allows me to add URL, not HTML.
What should I do? Thanks for your help.
Hi Dahlia,
ReplyDeleteThere are altogether different types of Page Elements or Gadgets. There should be one that reads "HTML/Javascript" with an image that has a blue symbol like <>. Click that one and you should be OK. BTW Adakah kamu seorang Malaysian?
Awesome that made it super easy. Thanks for taking the time to prepare that
ReplyDeleteJohn
what do u mean by adding it to all pages??how to do it???
ReplyDeleteWhere did I mention all pages? In any case, once you install a visitor counter, it will track visits to all pages in your blog
ReplyDeleteI am having the same trouble as Dahlia. There is not an "add html/javascript" option, only an "add url" one. This has happened since I "updated" my template. I had no trouble adding my old webcounter to the classic template layout via "edit html" but the new blogger "edit html" will not let me paste EXACTLY THE SAME CODE in there. Statcounter code does not work either. I would not mid if they had a visitor counter amongst their own gadgets to add!!
ReplyDeleteDahlia, Aeja and Valeria,
ReplyDeletePlease refer to Add a Gadget (also called Page Element or widget) and get back to me if you have problems.
Worked magnificently well, many thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter
ReplyDeleteStatcounter sent me an extremely useful email. I had been clicking on "add your own gadget" then wondered why there was only ad "add url" option. All I needed to do was NOT pick "add your own gadget" but "HTML/JavaScript" which was further down on the list.
http://blog.statcounter.com/2008/09/statcounter-on-bloggerblogspot/
Thanks
Val
Hi Valerie,
ReplyDeleteThat is what I had been trying to tell some of the commentators here. I even uploaded a post with screen shots of the 19 different gadgets (Page Elements) at List of 19 gadgets or Page Elements
Hey, that's great. I'll try to find the eleventh gadget and hope it will solve the problem. Thanks. BTW, I'm not Malaysian, I'm Indonesian.
ReplyDeleteCheers :)
Peter, thanks, this tip on "visitor counters" worked just like you said. I followed your instructions to the letter and "Viola" I have a vistor counter on my blog. Thanks again.
ReplyDeletehi there, thanks a lot for your post. Really helpful. With a few steps, i can now have visitors counter on my blog :) Thanks a lot..
ReplyDeleteHi Peter, I want to use it on my blog, http://kei-freegames.blogspot.com/. But will the widget cause pop-up ads? I tried other counter widget from widgeo but it gives me pop-ups.
ReplyDeleteNo, no pop-ups.
ReplyDeletemy statcounter dosent work. i cant see how many visitors i have. why is that?
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, very helpfull
ReplyDeleteI had statcounter working on my blog (per your instructions - thanks), but for quite awhile it has not been working for me. I can't find anything on the 'net about it. Is it broken? When I go to the website, all the links seem to be broken. I use Firefox, but I've also tried it in IE. It seems like I should be able to Google some news about it if it were gone, but all I see is the latest news on his award. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteStatcounter is not working. When I click on the link, I get some of the page but no header, etc. Do you know what's happened?
ReplyDeleteYou will have to describe your problem in greater details such as how you added statcounter to your blog and whether you used the right URL etc.
ReplyDeleteFor Lynn,
ReplyDeleteTry reinstalling
"Statcounter is not working. When I click on the link, I get some of the page but no header, etc."
ReplyDeleteWhat link?
Thank you - I am definitely trying StatCounter
ReplyDeleteSorry, Peter -- went on vacation, and am taking a bit to catch up.
ReplyDeleteOne day, my counter disappeared, so I clicked on the link http://www.statcounter.com/ and that's were I seem to come to an incomplete site. All links lead to blank pages, but I can't find anyone else on the internet mentioning this.
Try reinstalling your counter, either starting off with the old one from statcounter or begin with a brand new one
ReplyDeleteI would love to install a new one, but when I go to http://www.statcounter.com/ , none of the links work. ??? Their logo doesn't even display on the page.
ReplyDeleteTry other computers.
ReplyDeletegreat tips :) thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLissa
Thanks very much! Your step-by-step tips are way better than reading those fine prints.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!!! very useful information.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the good instruction!
ReplyDeleteI registered Google Analytics before, but I didn't know how to embed codes on my site. StatCounter is really easy to use and I like it. Also, it feels good to be against the Google Kingdom! he he.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI know those words are not enough, but I really mean it. THANK YOU.
I finally got a counter that actually works!
Nice! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteStatcounter is a classic! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter,
ReplyDeleteI reckon that you response to questions very quickly.
I have this template, http://www.lx3.org blogging about my new panasonic LX3 camera. The template is great in my opinion. The only drawback is that it is OLD blogger template. I can't add new item easily as what I did with a new template blogspot.
I tried to paste the whole statcounter code to the template, but it doesn't work.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
KK.
Excellent work
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips
Bala
Things have changed since we shifted to New Blogger xml template and I do not know what changes have been done by Statcounter. I can only guess that if what you are doing now doesn't work (in what way it doesn't work?) to do some experimenting. Perhaps you should select HTML only counter. Are you intending to install visible or invisible counter? If visible, with the old Blogger template you will have to select the proper place in the template to paste the codes. Refer to old Blogger template tutorial for guide as to where to place it. Alternatively, just paste the codes almost at the bottom of the template, just before the </body> tag. Try it and let me know if it works.
ReplyDeletewell, you can use HISTATS to count your visitors, look at my blog, it is cool
ReplyDeleteThanks! Very helpful, easy to follow instructions. Appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot very useful .. I tried on my blogs and works perfectly :)
ReplyDeletehttp://coldbootgeek.blogspot.com/
http://ashishmeena.blogspot.com/
Thank you for the tutorial. Everything was quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteI have links in my blog that direct you to go to another site..
ReplyDeleteie. get a free sample of John Freida and i have the link but when i put the mouse over it nothing? I have to tell people to copy and paste and put into your browser this just started happening .. can you help?
I have links in my blog that direct you to go to another site..
ReplyDeleteie. get a free sample of John Freida and i have the link but when i put the mouse over it nothing? I have to tell people to copy and paste and put into your browser this just started happening .. can you help?
I have links in my blog that direct you to go to another site..
ReplyDeleteie. get a free sample of John Freida and i have the link but when i put the mouse over it nothing? I have to tell people to copy and paste and put into your browser this just started happening .. can you help?
I don't fully understand your question but am guessing this is your problem. You put the URL of a website you want visitor to click on so that they are taken to the website, but that URL is not clickable. If so, please refer to make active clickable links in post and comments.
ReplyDeleteI have also recently published Anchor text and how to make hyperlink open in new window or tab which may help you understand further this matter of hyperlink.
Please give feedback as to whether the above is helpful to you.
Dear Peter,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all a million thanks to you for your extended help for beginners, it is only with the help of your tips that I have been able to develop by blog. Everything was going fine as I was following your tips but while installing the visible stat counter I encountered a problem. It could not be installed and I received this error code..."bX-xnsita"...Kindly help...!!!!!
Regards
Tanu
Get the script from Statcounter again and try once more. While I am very happy with Statcounter, perhaps you might want to explore Google Analytics. See some of my posts regarding Google Analytics:
ReplyDeleteGoogle Analytics - a comprehensive visitor counter
Individual post visitor counter with Google Analytics
Google Analytics site layout
Demak, 01 September 2009, Jam : 08.39 WIB
ReplyDeleteSaya terinspirasi untuk mencobanya
Thanks so much! I could NOT figure out the directions from Blogger, but yours were so much clearer. One thing I would add is that page layout option did not show up, I had to use "add a gadget". That said, without your site's help, I would not yet have a counter - so many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, your step by step was very helpful and it walked me through the ENTIRE thing!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. You give great help. Much thanks for your time helping others.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, 'tis appreciated.
ReplyDeleteNice post! This is what I was looking for. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, its the best stat tracker i have seen.
ReplyDeleteHi Basil,
ReplyDeleteI now uses 2 visitor counter - Statcounter as well as Google Analytics. There are stats you can get from Statcounter that you can't get from Google Analytics, and vice versa. Example, Using Google Analytics as an individual post visitor counter while with Statcounter, you have Recent Pageloads which shows from which websites your visitors are coming from which Google Analytics don't have.
nice info
ReplyDeleteThank You So much ..Have been looking for a simple stats counter for a while and didn't believe in site's that need to register first...After reading your view, I am confident in using it and now I think It's GREAT....Thank You
ReplyDeleteI would really like to add a section on my blog for my very own "tip of the day". Could you advise how I would go about doing this. I am a beginner so please if you can be very detailed with me or I am sure to get lost.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
"add a section"?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you can do with a sub-domain for "Tip of the day". I will be publishing a post on sub-domain soon, so perhaps you should subscribe to the feed for this blog (or subscribe by email at second right sidebar) so you would be informed when I do that.
Or perhaps just make the tip as an ordinary post for you blog and add the label "Tip of the day".
If all I wrote is Greek to you, ask me to explain again.
Thank you! I was just looking for the same thing! Have a great Day, you already made mine :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this information Peter. It will help me make a decision on the type of counter I'll use for my on-line used book stores.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Hey, while I still love statcounter and will continue to use it, although I didn't bother much about Google Analytics because too much data, not too long ago, I have started to use 2 together. One can complement the other actually. Posts re: Google Analytics
ReplyDeleteGoogle Analytics User Interface
Individual post visitor counter
Google Analytics site layout obscure problem
Thank you! I found you by searching on google for blog stat counter. Very easy to follow instructions. I will be back. You have a great site.
ReplyDeleteThank u its useful
ReplyDeleteCan u give link to me at
http://www.tipstothpeople.blogspot.com
So helpful and easy to follow thanks!
ReplyDeleteVery Cool. I had a blog before and this feature was one of the options but now I see it's not offered anymore. It's good to know there are other options out there but the two things I wanted to know is which one would work best for me and how do I intall it. You answered both questions. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Cute profile.
Hi my dear freinds.. suggest me some ideas by seeing this www.tipstothepeople.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteOh this is so exciting, thank you so much, I had no idea that you could add widgets from third parties! Lol, you've opened up a whole new world to me! Thank you Peter, you and your blog are BRILLIANT!
ReplyDeleteHi. Thanks. Its really a good information.
ReplyDeletethans, this is what i looking for
ReplyDeletegood araticale thank u for u i add visible counter ,who is online, flag,today visitor,last day visitor,iast hour visitor on the blog see www.srilankan-jokes.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI thought that I h ad added the new gadget counter from Blogger to my blog, but I cannot see it. What are the steps for adding this new gadget? Can any new template show this? Thanks
ReplyDelete"What are the steps for adding this new gadget?"
ReplyDeleteYou mean the new Blogger Stats gadget? I did nothing and in my Dashboard for every blogs, there is a Stats (statistics) tab, so is that what you want? If not the stats in the Dashboard, then perhaps you are referring to the stats gadget I just added in my Test Blogger Beta blog (at the bottom of the left sidebar)
hi peter, your instructions has been very clear to me and i followed everything but it seems that i can't see the gadget that i've added, it is right bellow my feedburner (which is unfortunately not moving). Why is it invisible?
ReplyDeleteNice O. Urdaneta, my instructions were for an invisible counter where you can only view the stats when signed into statscounter.com. However, no big deal, just sign into your statscounter account select your project, click the (from memory) spanner icon for editing the project, go through it step by step and this time select visible counter. If you still have problem, ask again maybe I update this post with instructions for visible counter.
ReplyDeletePeter, this is a wonderful service you provide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I loaded the new counter without any problems.
ReplyDeleteThese are so easy to use all you have to do is place a simple line of code on you webpage and you get informatiion about your hits, unique hits, predictions and even more.
ReplyDeleteI use absalon webadmin
http://absalon.free-online.co.uk/webadmin/
Many thanks for blogging. That is the most awesome informative tips I have found on this topic.
ReplyDeleteNice Post.. i will try this one..
ReplyDeletevisit my blog sometimes http://http://teleserye-tv.blogspot.com/
i WIll try this one.... visit my blog sometimes
ReplyDeletehttp://teleserye-tv.blogspot.com/ thank you
Thanks very much for the help. It works.
ReplyDeleteCome and visit my blog some time. Soon I shall put there a stop-smoking chemicals-free method.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy choices: Clicky (great interface) and Google Analytics.
i have a blog
ReplyDeletebeautiful place of Bangladesh
http://incrediblebangla.blogspot.com/
how to ad real counter
Great Post! Very clear, easy instructions. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeletethis one is better guys , its the most accurate now on the web , I love it :
http://www.eaglestats.com/
thanx
This post is good in regards of both knowledge as well as information. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeletewww.allindiainstitutions.com
Well the counter lets you track the number of visits or hits on your website. This will give you idea if there is an improvement of your site traffic.And yes its true that there are many free website analysis tools available on the net now a days.Its upto your choice and need what you want.I have used counterforsite and quite satisfied with it.
ReplyDelete