We've added a very insightful 'Returning Visit Stats' to the Standard StatCounter Project that allows you to see how 'sticky' your website is. You can quickly see if you have faithful visitors or if they are all just one hit wonders! If you have a low return visit frequency you might want o increase the stickiness of your website, and offer something that will make your visitors return again and again.

We finished all the drill down reports - no more of that "this feature is currently being developed". We also added basic weekly and monthly email reports which can now be configured by logging into your account and clicking the little email icon beside your project name. We are working on making the reports better, but they are a good start.

Upgraded Member Perks

All upgraded members now have the option of disabling the tribal fusion banner ad that appears on StatCounter in the top right corner when you login to view your stats. If you are a web design company with clients who use StatCounter - you can also replace that banner ad, with your own company logo. Allowing your to co-brand your service alongside StatCounter.

We've added a secure tracking option for all upgraded accounts, so if your website has a shopping cart on a secure website (e.g. it uses https) you won't be getting any confirmation messages about using a non secure server. To use this option you need to generate the code with the https option ticked on.

Upgraded members also now have access to a special "daily email report" which will send you your stats everyday. We are still working on this to make it better, but again it is a good start. It won't contain any information that isn't already available from your real-time stats in your account.

Advanced StatCounter Project

We don't have a specific date for the release of the Advanced StatCounter Project yet, but it will definitely be before the end of 2004.

The fundamental focus change in the Advanced StatCounter Project from the Standard StatCounter Project will be the amount of data stored and archived. The Advanced StatCounter Project will be able to store very large log sizes, and will have a greater reporting capability, being able to select specific periods you want your really detailed stats for, instead of just the last xxx number of pageloads. Unfortunately this type of service is only possible as part of a paid service.

Thank You!

As always we have to thank our loyal members, who make StatCounter possible and especially to our many upgraded members now. Please keep recommending the service to your friends, and if you can afford the upgrade please do so, the perks and stats are great and it helps us to keep the service profitable.

Our costs have definitely been growing. Just over 12 months ago it was running on 1 dedicated server with just myself and getting about 10,000 pageloads a day. Now we are running across 12 dedicated servers with a team of 5 people and getting 400,000 pageloads a day!

That's all for now folks. Stay tuned for more updates on the Advanced StatCounter Project before the end of the year.

Talk about this news item here in the user forum!