To make it easier to answer this question, I will describe the advantages of both methods of data reduction statistics: Counter – advantages over log analyzer: Ability to accurately determine the user through the 'Cookies; Ability identify old / new user, possibility to determine display settings for user ability to determine the use of user-Java, JavScript, Cookies; Ability to determine the use of user version of JavScript; Ability to determine the use proxy user; Ability to determine the use of frames; Ability to determine user's time zone; Ability to determine the user's browser language; Opportunity O graphical counter on your web pages; – advantages over Counter: If the user leaves the page quickly, the counter may not have worked, respectively, the loss of accuracy statistics, but the server always commits to a log file entry user No one counter is not the following information: downloading files, multimedia files, flash objects, pictures, etc.; Recognition of search engines; Counting traffic; analysis of access codes to the pages; Determination method of access to pages; Determination of hacker attacks on your server. So, if you want to solve the marketing problem, then it is necessary counters, as log analyzers critically ill-considered visitors. If you need technical information from the site, you need a log analyzer. Typically, these two methods of counting used in parallel to each other..