SiteScan™ from EpikOne — Set up Google Analytics The Smart Way!

SiteScan Frequently Asked Questions

More Q and A, news and updates available at SiteScan Support Blog!

GENERAL FAQs

What is SiteScan?

SiteScan is a free diagnostic tool from EpikOne that verifies if your Google Analytics (GA) tracking code is installed properly on your website.  It is a helpful tool to verify first-time installation, each time new web pages are added and tracking code installed, and conversion from older urchin.js to ga.js tracking code.

What does SiteScan cost? 

SiteScan is a free service provided by EpikOne that scans up to the first 1000 pages of a website.  It verifies your Google Analytics tracking code and provides resources to correct any identified problems.   Further support to correct identified problems is available via Google Analytics and Analytics Experts.  If you are a "power user" of SiteScan and use it on a regular basis, SiteScan Premium is available with a subscription to AnalyticsView.  SiteScan Premium allows you to scan more pages in less time as it is hosted on a dedicated work server. 

How many times can I use SiteScan? 

SiteScan allows you to scan the same URL once every six (6) hours, allowing for up to three (3) times in a twenty-four period.  However, you cannot resubmit the same domain again until the previous scan is completed.  Free scans are limited to three (3) per day per email address. 

Who developed SiteScan?

SiteScan was created by EpikOne, a Google Analytics Authorized Consultant (GAAC). EpikOne helps companies of all sizes to improve website performance through strategic consulting as well as a variety of service, support and training options to set up, configure, audit and effectively use Google Analytics. Along with SiteScan, EpikOne is also the creator of AnalyticsView, a Google Analytics Reporting tool. Both of these valuable tools, plus others in development, were created by EpikOne out of necessity to improve and streamline their own consulting efforts.

Why should I use SiteScan to test my website?

Improperly installed Google Analytics tracking code can result in inaccurate visitor and site activity data.  To ensure that all of your pages are being tracked and included in Google Analytics reports, it is in your best interest to verify that they are tagged properly.   With more websites being converted from the older urchin.js to ga.js tracking code, SiteScan provides further verification that this procedure is being completed properly. 
 

Does SiteScan work on websites that do not use Google Analytics?  Does it scan other analytics tools and software?

It does not.  SiteScan was developed specifically for websites that have Google Analytics tracking code installed.  It does not work on websites without Google Analytics, or those using other analytics tracking applications.

How do I get Google Analytics on my website?

Google Analytics is an invaluable sales and and marketing tool that tells you where visitors come from and how they interact with your website.  This information allows you to make improvements on your website for better performance.  Google Analytics is a hosted service that is free and available at the Google Analytics Website.

How long does it take SiteScan to verify my website?

Once SiteScan begins to scan your website, some reports are completed in just a day, while others take up to a week to complete.  Time to completion depends primarily on number of pages, page navigation and server workload. Once SiteScan is completed scanning your site, you receive an email with a link to your results page.   In the event that SiteScan is unable to complete a scan of your website, additional attempts are made to identify the issue and produce a successful scan.  If still unsuccessful, you will be notified that SiteScan was unable to verify your website.  Whenever possible, you are provided with suggestions why the scan was unsuccessful.  If you are a "power user" of SiteScan, we recommend SiteScan Premium.  It allows you to scan up to 30,000 pages per submission, unlimited daily scans and is hosted on its own dedicated work.  So your requests are always in a priority queue.  SiteScan Premium is available with a subscription to AnalyticsView.
 

If SiteScan finds improperly tagged pages on my website, will it fix them?

SiteScan does not fix the improperly tagged pages, it only identifies them.  However, within the results report, you are provided with details on each page and the likely cause of being tagged improperly.  The report also includes links to resources for fixing these errors.  Additional help is available at Google Analytics and Analytics Experts.  In the event that you are still unsuccessful in fixing your errors with the readily available free resources, consider getting professional assistance through an Hourly Support Plan through AnalyticsExperts.

After I make the corrections suggested by the SiteScan report, how do I verify my corrections?

The best way to gauge if your corrections are accurate is to use SiteScan to rescan your website.  Be sure to enter the URL exactly as you did for the first scan.

What if I require further assistance to make corrections to the page errors identified by SiteScan?

If you are unable to successfully get 100% of your pages properly installed with the Google Analytics tracking code, we highly recommend the following free resources for further support:
AnalyticsExperts
Google Analytics Help Center
Google Analytics Help Group

In the event that you are still unsuccessful in fixing your errors with these readily available free resources, consider getting professional assistance through an Hourly Support Plan through AnalyticsExperts.


TECHNICAL FAQs

Are there any known limitations with SiteScan?

SiteScan Does Not Scan or Complete the Following: 

1. Directories with more then 1000 files or websites greater than 1000 pages (whichever comes first)
2. Pages that are protected by a Robot.txt file (meaning that if your pages are not indexed by Google or Yahoo, they will not be scanned).
3. Pages that are password protected
4. Checkout Pages or any area of your website that requires a certain sequence of events or trigger to access (Like adding a product to cart before checking out)
5. Repair identified errors or change your Google Analytics configuration.

Problems Starting a Scan?

• Make sure your site is web accessible.

• Make sure your site is indexed with Google and Yahoo search engines.

• Make sure you do not have a robots.txt file blocking your site.

• Make sure you have Javascript enabled
  

Why should I upgrade from the urchin.js to the ga.js tracking code?

Installing the new Google Analytics Tracking code (ga.js) will enable the Site Search and enhanced Event Tracking reports in your Google Analytics profile.  if you require assistance installing the ga.js tracking code, we encourage you to download a free copy of our Google Analytics Setup Guide.   EpikOne recomends and is assisting our clients to convert to ga.js.

Do I need to upgrade to the ga.js Google Analytics Tracking Code?

No. You can continue to use the old tracking code on your site without a problem. The only disadvantage is that you will not be able to take advantage of the new features of the ga.js, including site search reports and enhanced event tracking.  EpikOne recommends and is assisting our clients to convert to ga.js.

What is the difference between old and new tracking code? 

The new Google Analytics tracking code adapts an object based approach to logging and managing the visitor traffic on a website. The new object oriented approach allows much more flexibility in customizing your Google Analytics configuration to meet your business and marketing needs. Additionally, the new Google analytics tracking code unlocks the Site Search and Event Tracking reports in the latest release of Google Analytics.


I submitted my website, but SiteScan responded with a message saying, "We can't find your site".  My website is definitely live and reachable, and I am sure I entered the proper domain.  What's wrong?

Your website has probably not been indexed by Google and Yahoo search engines.  If you have a sitemap.xml, SiteScan will use this to generate a list of your page links.  If not, SiteScan queries search engines to build a list of links.  For more information on indexing your website with Google: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/docs/en/about.html
And for Yahoo:  http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit/.

The same holds true for new pages added to your site.  They will not be detected by SiteScan until they are indexed by a search engine or your sitemap.xml file is updated.  We recommend that you index your website with both Google and Yahoo.

It can take a period of a week or more before it indexed, so wait at least a week before giving SiteScan another try.  In the meantime, you can test individual pages with SiteScan Lite.  A link to it can be found on the SiteScan homepage.

For the most accurate scan results, we highly recommend creating a sitemap.xml for your website. This is the first source SiteScan looks for page.html. It one is not present, it queries Google and Yahoo for your web pages (which also kicks in the 1000 file directory limit).  A help document for setting up a sitemap.xml can be found at AnalyticsExperts. 


Even though I am sure that I have my tracking code installed, website is indexed, and created a sitemap.xml, I am still getting an error when trying to submit a SiteScan.  What's going on?

Ensure that your website is indexed with Google and Yahoo.  While you do have sitemap.xml, SiteScan reaches out to Google and Yahoo to verify that a website is valid before proceeding.  if you recently submitted your site to Yahoo, it can take a period of a week or more before it indexed.  We recommend giving SiteScan another try after a week or so.

In the meantime, you can test individual pages with SiteScan Lite.  A link to it can be found on the SiteScan homepage. 


SiteScan Resources

Verify and Index Your Website with Google
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/docs/en/about.html

Verify and Index Your Website with Yahoo!
http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit/
 
Create a Sitemap.XML
http://www.analyticsexperts.com/sitemap-tutorial/

Free Google Analytics Setup Guide
http://www.analyticsexperts.com/google-analytics/setup-guide/

Ask An Expert about Google Analytics
http://www.analyticsexperts.com/resources/ask-an-expert/

Google Analytics Help Center
http://www.google.com/support/analytics/?hl=

Analytics Talk Blog
http://www.epikone.com/blog/


More Q and A, news and updates available at SiteScan Support Blog!