The Mandela Portal – an assessment of global visitors using Web analytics

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to perform a longitudinal assessment of the visitors to the Mandela Portal using Web analytics over a period of seven years, between 2009 and 2015. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on Web analytics methodology that consists of a four-step process and utilises the first and second steps with data collected using Google Analytics. Findings The research process found a number of trends relating to the Portal’s visitors, including changes in the ranking of countries from which the visitors accessed the website as well as the variety of language settings in the Web browsers. It identified some issues both with the Google Analytics tool and broader implications on the trustworthiness of data. Originality/value This paper provides an analysis of Web visitors to the Mandela Portal, offering trends that are only possible when viewed over a long period. It also explores issues of data trustworthiness.