This blog post introduces the world of self-hosted analytics, an ideal solution for those who prioritize privacy and want to control their data, and provides a step-by-step guide to installing Matomo (Piwik). It first explains what self-hosted analytics is, then lists the technical requirements for installing Matomo. It provides guidance on understanding tracking data obtained with Matomo, and addresses common user errors and solutions. Finally, it aims to enhance readers' self-hosted analytics experience by providing practical tips for optimizing Matomo usage and achieving more accurate results.

What is Self-Hosted Analytics?

Data analytics for websites and online applications today is critical for understanding user behavior, optimizing performance, and developing business strategies. While traditional analytics solutions are typically provided by third-party services, self-hosted analytics solutions allow you to host and control your data on your own servers. This approach offers significant advantages, especially for businesses that prioritize privacy and data security.

Feature	Traditional Analytics	Self-Hosted Analytics
Data Control	Third Party	Full Control
Security	Limited Control	High Confidentiality
Customization	Annoyed	High Customization
Cost	Subscription Fees	Server Cost

Self-hosted analytics One of the most popular examples of their solutions is Matomo (formerly Piwik). Matomo is an open-source web analytics platform and a powerful alternative to Google Analytics. By installing it on your own servers, you maintain control over all your data. This is especially important when complying with strict data privacy regulations, such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Key Features

• Data Privacy: All your data is stored on our own servers and is not shared with third parties.
• Full Control: You have full control over data collection and processing.
• Customization: You can customize and expand the platform according to your needs.
• Open Source: Being free and open source offers the advantage of community support and continuous development.
• GDPR Compliance: Helps you comply with data privacy regulations.

Self-hosted analytics Their solutions are an ideal option for businesses that prioritize data privacy and want full control over their data. Platforms like Matomo offer powerful and flexible tools to meet this need. This allows you to better understand user behavior, optimize the performance of your website or app, and make more informed decisions.

Data privacy and control are more important than ever in today's digital world. Self-hosted analytics solutions offer businesses the ability to maintain this control and be transparent with their users.

Requirements for Matomo (Piwik) Installation

Self-Hosted Analytics One of their solutions, running Matomo (formerly Piwik) on your own server, allows you to maintain data privacy and control. However, it's important to meet certain requirements before starting the installation process. In this section, we'll cover the essential elements needed to get Matomo up and running smoothly.

To successfully install Matomo, certain server-side requirements must be met and the necessary software must be installed correctly. Otherwise, you may encounter various issues during or after installation. To avoid these issues, it's important to consider the minimum and recommended requirements listed in the table below.

Need	Minimum	Recommended	Explanation
PHP Version	7.2.5	7.4 or higher	PHP is the core operating system of Matomo.
MySQL Version	5.5	5.7 or MariaDB 10.2	It is necessary for storing data.
Web Server	Apache or Nginx	Nginx	Required to access Matomo.
PHP Extensions	PDO, pdo_mysql, mysqli, session, libxml, SimpleXML, dom	Additionally: GD, curl, iconv, zlib	It is required for various features of Matomo to work.

The following list outlines the steps you need to follow when installing Matomo. By following these steps carefully, you can successfully complete the installation process.

1. Check Server Requirements: Make sure that the versions of PHP, MySQL, and any required extensions are compatible.
2. Download Matomo: Download the latest version of Matomo from the official website.
3. Upload Files to Server: Upload the downloaded files to a suitable directory on your server.
4. Run the Setup Wizard: Launch the installation wizard by accessing the Matomo installation directory through your web browser.
5. Enter Database Information: Enter your MySQL database information (server name, database name, username, password) correctly.
6. Create Super User: Create a superuser account to access the Matomo dashboard.
7. Add JavaScript Tracking Code: Add the JavaScript tracking code generated by Matomo to your website pages.

To ensure the installation goes smoothly your server configuration Make sure it's correct. Issues such as missing permissions or missing PHP extensions can cause installation issues. Therefore, it's important to carefully check your server environment before installing.

Server Requirements

For Matomo to function smoothly, your server must meet certain technical specifications. These include the PHP version, MySQL version, web server type, and required PHP extensions. These requirements are critical for Matomo to perform its core functions and perform data analysis. Additionally, your server's resources (CPU, RAM) must be adequate for your website's traffic. High-traffic sites may require a more powerful server.

Software to be Installed

To install Matomo, you must first PHP And MySQL Essential software such as must be installed on your server. Additionally, various PHP extensions required for Matomo to function must be installed. These extensions enable Matomo to establish database connections, process data, and generate graphs. Missing extensions may cause some Matomo features to malfunction or cause errors.

Remember that, security should always be a priority. It's important to regularly update your server and Matomo installation and use strong passwords to ensure their security.

Matomo is a free and open source web analytics application. It is used by individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises to track website visitors and analyze their behavior.

Understanding Tracking Data with Matomo (Piwik)

Self-Hosted Analytics Matomo (Piwik), one of its solutions, provides you with in-depth insights into your website visitors. This data is crucial for optimizing your marketing strategies, improving user experience, and improving your website's overall performance. Matomo's comprehensive tracking features allow you to analyze visitor behavior in detail and make data-driven decisions.

The data you can obtain with Matomo is quite diverse. In addition to basic metrics like visitor count, page views, and session duration, you can also access information about your traffic sources, which pages are most popular, and what actions visitors take. This data helps you understand your website's strengths and weaknesses and helps you identify areas for improvement.

Data Available for Analysis

• Number of Visitors and Demographic Information
• Page Views and Popular Pages
• Traffic Sources (Search Engines, Social Media, Reference Sites)
• Session Duration and Bounce Rate
• Conversion Rates (Goal Completion, E-commerce Transactions)
• User Behavior (Click Maps, Form Analysis)
• Device and Browser Information

Using this rich dataset from Matomo, you can continuously monitor and improve your website's performance. For example, if a particular page has a high bounce rate, you can improve the content or design on that page to encourage users to stay on the site longer. Similarly, if conversion rates are low, you can optimize your sales funnel to convert more visitors into customers.

Metric	Explanation	Importance
Number of Visitors	The total number of people who visited your website.	It shows the popularity and reach of your website.
Page Views	The total number of pages viewed by visitors.	It shows how engaging your content is.
Traffic Sources	Where visitors come to your website from (e.g. Google, Facebook).	It helps you measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.
Conversion Rate	The proportion of visitors who complete a specific goal (e.g., fill out a form, purchase a product).	It demonstrates the success of your website in achieving its business goals.

Remember that, analyzing accurate data Making the right decisions based on this data is crucial to your website's success. Matomo provides a powerful tool for this process, helping you unlock your website's full potential.

Common Errors and Solutions When Using Matomo

Self-Hosted Analytics The advantages offered by these solutions are undeniable. However, it's possible to encounter some common errors when using platforms like Matomo. Being aware of these errors and knowing how to resolve them will improve data accuracy and the quality of your analyses. In this section, we'll discuss common problems encountered when using Matomo and practical solutions to these problems.

Many data analysis problems stem from deficiencies in the installation and configuration phase. For example, incorrectly configured tracking code can lead to incomplete data collection or inaccurate analysis. To avoid such issues, it's important to carefully follow the installation and configuration steps and perform regular checks. Furthermore, leveraging Matomo's advanced features allows you to conduct more in-depth data analysis.

Errors and Solutions
• Wrong Tracking Code: Make sure the tracking code is placed correctly. Check that it works on all pages.
• Incomplete Data Collection: Ensure that goals and activities are defined correctly. Add custom activity tracking codes if necessary.
• Incorrect Configuration of Filters: Check that filters are working properly regularly. Incorrect filters can cause data loss.
• Bot Traffic: Enable Matomo's bot detection feature or create custom filters to filter out bot traffic.
• Outdated Software: Fix vulnerabilities and bugs using the latest versions of Matomo and plugins.
• Lack of GDPR Compliance: Configure GDPR-compliant settings and update cookie policies to protect user privacy.

The table below outlines in more detail some technical issues and possible solutions encountered while using Matomo. This table can help guide you through the troubleshooting process and help you find quick solutions.

Problem	Possible Causes	Solution
Data Not Collected	Tracking code misplaced, JavaScript errors, cookie issues	Check tracking code, fix JavaScript errors, check cookie settings
Reports Show Incorrect Data	Filters incorrectly configured, bot traffic, duplicate tracking codes	Check filters, filter bot traffic, remove duplicate tracking codes
Performance Issues	High traffic, insufficient server resources, unoptimized database	Increase server resources, optimize database, use caching
Plugin Issues	Incompatible plugins, outdated plugins, conflicting plugins	Update plugins, disable incompatible plugins, detect conflicting plugins

Self-Hosted Analytics One of the biggest advantages of their platform is the customization and control it offers. However, this also means greater responsibility. To take advantage of Matomo's advanced features and prevent potential issues, you should regularly check your system, monitor updates, and incorporate user feedback. This will help you improve the accuracy and reliability of your data analysis and make more informed decisions.

Matomo's community support and rich documentation can greatly assist you in troubleshooting. Searching forums and other resources for issues you encounter can help you learn from the experiences of other users experiencing similar issues. Matomo's official documentation also provides detailed information on installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.

Conclusion: Tips for Improving Matomo Usage

Self-Hosted Analytics To get the most out of Matomo's offerings as a web hosting solution, it's important to be open to continuous learning and improvement. The topics we cover in this article, including installation, data analysis, and troubleshooting common errors, will enrich your Matomo experience and help improve your website's performance.

While taking advantage of Matomo's advanced features, respecting data privacy and user confidentiality is crucial. Collecting and using user data ethically not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also helps you earn the trust of your users.

Clue	Explanation	Importance
Regular Updates	Keep Matomo and its plugins updated to the latest version.	High
Data Backup	Backup your data regularly.	High
Target Identification	Set clear goals for your website and track them in Matomo.	Middle
A/B Tests	Get the best performance by testing different content and design variations.	Middle

The following list contains some practical tips you can follow to further improve your use of Matomo:

1. Regular Updates: Using the latest versions of Matomo and its plugins closes security vulnerabilities and allows you to take advantage of new features.
2. Data Backup: Make regular backups to avoid losing your data in case of any problems.
3. Target Tracking: Track your progress towards achieving the goals you set for your website through Matomo and adjust your strategies accordingly.
4. Creating Custom Reports: Make data analysis more meaningful by creating reports specific to your needs.
5. User Permissions Management: Ensure data security by defining appropriate permissions for different user roles.
6. Conducting A/B Tests: Increase your conversion rates by testing the performance of different elements on your website.

Remember that, making data-driven decisions and striving for continuous improvement are key to maximizing the analytics power Matomo offers. By using Matomo effectively, you can significantly contribute to your website's success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use Matomo (Piwik) instead of a tool like Google Analytics? What are the advantages of Matomo?

Matomo (Piwik) gives you full control over all your data. Because your data is stored on your own servers, it offers greater privacy assurance and eliminates reliance on third-party services like Google Analytics. It also offers more customization options and helps you comply with data privacy regulations like GDPR.

What are the disadvantages of using a self-hosted analytics platform? What should I consider?

Disadvantages of using a self-hosted solution include setup, maintenance, security updates, and server resources. Managing these processes requires technical knowledge and time. Important considerations include securing your server, performing regular backups, and staying up-to-date on the latest version of Matomo.

How much technical knowledge do I need to install Matomo? Is the installation process difficult?

To install Matomo, you'll need basic server administration knowledge, database (usually MySQL), and the ability to use tools like FTP or SSH. The installation process can be streamlined through control panels like cPanel, but in some cases, manual configuration may be required. We've tried to simplify the process by explaining the installation process step-by-step in our blog post.

What types of data can I track in Matomo and how should I interpret it?

Matomo allows you to track a variety of data, including visitor counts, page views, session duration, bounce rate, conversions, downloads, clicks on external links, and demographics. When interpreting this data, you should focus on your website's goals, identify trends, and identify areas for improvement.

How can I ensure accurate data collection after installing Matomo? What should I do to verify data accuracy?

After installing Matomo, you can verify that data collection is working correctly by checking real-time reports and tracking your own visits. You can also check data consistency across different browsers and devices. If you're using a tag manager, ensure your tags are firing correctly.

What are the common errors I might encounter when using Matomo, and how can I fix them? For example, data collection issues or performance problems.

Common errors include incorrect JavaScript code injection, insufficient server resources, database connection issues, and plugin conflicts. To resolve these errors, you should first check the error messages, ensure you're using the latest version of Matomo, review the server logs, and seek help from the Matomo forums or communities if necessary.

How does Matomo ensure GDPR compliance? What steps should I take?

To ensure Matomo's GDPR compliance, you must first anonymize IP addresses, transparently disclose cookie usage, offer visitors the option to opt out of data collection, and clearly state your data retention policies. You must also be able to respond to visitors' requests for access, correction, and deletion of their data.

What plugins or features should I use to use Matomo more effectively? Do you have any recommended plugins or customizations?

To use Matomo more effectively, you can use features like session recordings, heatmaps, A/B testing plugins, and custom reports. Recommended plugins include SEO plugins, form tracking plugins, and e-commerce tracking plugins. You can also create custom reports tailored to your goals to make your data more meaningful.

More information: Matomo Installation Guides