We all know how important it is for businesses to track their website’s performance. Naturally, the most commonly used tool for this purpose is Google Analytics. However, as a European business owner, I think it’s time to say goodbye to Google Analytics and switch to a cookie-free tracking tool. In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons behind this recommendation.

First, let’s talk about cookies. Cookies are small text files that are placed on a website visitor’s computer when they visit a website. They store information about the user’s visit, such as the pages they visited, the time they spent on the website, and the links they clicked on. Cookies are an essential component of many tracking tools, including Google Analytics. However, under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), websites must obtain explicit consent from visitors before storing cookies on their computers.

Now let’s talk about Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a powerful tool that provides valuable insights into a website’s performance. It tracks user behavior and provides data on the number of visitors, their location, the pages they visited, and more. However, Google Analytics also uses cookies to track user behavior, which means that it’s subject to GDPR regulations.

Under the GDPR, website visitors must provide explicit consent for their data to be collected and processed. This includes the use of cookies for tracking purposes. However, Google Analytics doesn’t offer a cookie-free tracking option, which means that website owners must obtain explicit consent from visitors before using the tool. This can be a significant barrier for businesses that want to use Google Analytics.

So, what’s the alternative? A cookie-free tracking tool. These tools don’t use cookies to track user behavior, which means that they’re not subject to GDPR regulations. Instead, they use other methods, such as browser fingerprinting and IP tracking, to track user behavior. This means that businesses can track their website’s performance without having to obtain explicit consent from visitors.

There are several cookie-free tracking tools available, including Fathom Analytics, Plausible Analytics, Simple Analytics and Analyzati, that we use at WP Oomph. These tools provide similar data to Google Analytics, such as the number of visitors, their location, and the pages they visited. However, they don’t use cookies, which means that they’re GDPR-compliant and don’t require explicit consent from visitors.

In conclusion, as a European business owner, it’s better to avoid using Google Analytics and switch to a cookie-free tracking tool instead. This will help you comply with GDPR regulations and avoid the hassle of obtaining explicit consent from visitors. If you’re interested in switching to a cookie-free tracking tool, contact me to discuss your options 🙂