Archives.gov Metrics FAQs
What does NARA Measure?
NARA's web statistics standard measurement is "visitors," - the number of instances in which visitors come to our web sites and explore our services. It is a session of continuous activity for one visitor to a site. We are not measuring page views.
What do the numbers tell us?
One of the most challenging things about web analysis can be figuring out what to measure and what the numbers really mean. A number by itself doesn't really tell you much about your site. It's when you compare numbers and look for trends and changes that you can start to understand and improve the effectiveness of your web pages.
Where does the information come from?
We continually gather web site data and user feedback from WebTrends reports, American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey data, site search data, and visitor comments. The reports helped us gather information about visits, customers, and tasks.
How do we use this information?
We review trends and feedback to determine whether tweaks are needed on Archives.gov. This information is used to continue making improvements as part of the Archives.gov goals.