Hit counters are a common website tool that allows webmasters to track the number of "hits" or page views their website gains. Counters can be placed on any page of a website and can keep track of which pages generate the most traffic on that website. For amateur or recreational websites, there are numerous free hit counters available as well as paid counters with added benefits.
Significance
Hit counters, primarily, are used to count the number of visitors to a website, or certain page in a website. They can also track other pieces of information about your page visitors (IP address, frequency), which can help a webmaster determine certain features of his web audience. Some hit counters can even help webmasters determine what day of the week the website gets the most traffic, or from what part of the world the majority of users hail from.
Function
Hit counters increase by one every time a user accesses the website via a web browser. Some hit counters only count the number of page views, rather than the number of visitors, which means some hit counters may inflate the actual number of site users. For instance, counting the five times the same user returned to the home page, rather than only counting that visitor the first time he accessed it that session. Counters are added to websites most frequently by inserting a piece of code into the body of the web page.
Identification
Hit counters are most often found at the bottom of web pages, occasionally accompanied by explanatory text or website copyright and credit information. They can come in a variety of styles, but the traditional look appears like a car odometer counter. Other counters appear in plain text and some are invisible, seen only to the site's webmaster.
Benefits
Hit counters generate statistics that webmasters can then use to pitch for advertisers. Placing them on various pages of a website can allow the webmaster to know what parts of the website bring in the most traffic, allowing the webmaster to tailor the website to those areas or know which areas of the site require further development.
Depending on the hit counter and what information it reports, webmasters may also use the information to stop and prevent click fraud and other harmful web activities on his website. If the hit counter also provides IP addresses, webmasters can block harmful users and, if applicable, bring about legal charges.
Warning
Although some free hit counters come seemingly "no strings attached," others require an ad or other unsightly web elements on your website in exchange for the hit counter services. It has also been found that some companies, in a form of SEO spamming, have paid to have their web addresses listed in the HTML codes of certain free hit counters, adding a link to the user's page as a way to accrue hits to the company's own website. Be sure to investigate what free hit counter you decide to use before placing the code in your website in order to avoid any negative surprises.
