🌍 New Feature

We can now identify exact visitors in 173+ countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and more!

Learn more

Understanding the Two Main Types of Web Analytics: A Guide for B2B Marketing Teams

Written by
Bradley Moore
Published on
January 16, 2026
Table of contents

See the exact people visiting your website and Follow up with them.

Create your 100% Free Account

In today's digital landscape, understanding web analytics is crucial for B2B marketing teams aiming to boost their growth. With the right insights, you can transform your marketing strategies and drive better results. This article will delve into the two main types of web analytics: descriptive analytics and predictive analytics, and how they can help your business.

GIF

What are Descriptive Analytics?

Descriptive analytics focuses on analyzing historical data to understand what has happened on your website. This type of analytics answers questions like: What pages did visitors spend the most time on? and How many visitors came from a specific campaign? By leveraging this data, marketing teams can identify trends and patterns.

  • Key Metrics: Page views, bounce rate, session duration.
  • Tools: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics.
  • Use Case: Understanding which content resonates most with your audience.

The Power of Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics takes a step further by using historical data to forecast future outcomes. This type of analytics can help you answer questions like: Which leads are most likely to convert? and What content should I create to attract more visitors? By implementing predictive analytics, you can make informed decisions that enhance your marketing effectiveness.

  1. Key Metrics: Lead scoring, conversion probability.
  2. Tools: HubSpot, Salesforce Einstein.
  3. Use Case: Targeting high-potential leads with personalized campaigns.

Combining Descriptive and Predictive Analytics

The real magic happens when you combine both descriptive and predictive analytics. By analyzing past performance and predicting future trends, you can create a robust marketing strategy. For instance, if you notice that certain types of content lead to higher conversions, you can focus your efforts on producing similar materials.

  • Actionable Tip: Regularly review your analytics to refine your marketing strategies.
  • Don't: Rely solely on one type of analytics; both are vital for comprehensive insights.

Statistics That Matter

According to a study by Statista, businesses that leverage analytics are 5 times more likely to make faster decisions. Additionally, 70% of marketers believe that predictive analytics is crucial for their success in the next 5 years. These numbers highlight the importance of integrating analytics into your marketing strategy.

How Happierleads Can Help

By utilizing tools like Happierleads, you can identify and engage with anonymous website visitors. This personal level identification allows you to qualify leads more effectively and tailor your marketing efforts accordingly. Boost your B2B leads today by leveraging Intent Data with Happierleads!

In the world of B2B marketing, understanding your website's performance is crucial. Web analytics can be categorized into two main types: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative analytics focuses on numerical data, such as page views, bounce rates, and conversion rates. For example, a software company might analyze how many visitors land on their pricing page and how many of those visitors actually sign up for a free trial. This data can reveal patterns in user behavior, helping marketers identify which aspects of their website are effective and which need improvement.

The Role of Qualitative Analytics in Understanding User Behavior

On the other hand, qualitative analytics digs deeper into the reasons behind user actions. This can include user feedback, surveys, and session recordings. For instance, a B2B marketing team might use tools like heatmaps to see where users click the most on their website. If they notice that users are frequently clicking on a specific section but not converting, it may indicate that the content is engaging but not persuasive enough. By understanding these nuances, marketers can tailor their strategies to better meet the needs of their audience.

Integrating Both Types of Analytics for Comprehensive Insights

Combining both quantitative and qualitative analytics provides a more comprehensive view of website performance. For example, a B2B company might find that while their website attracts a high number of visitors (quantitative), the conversion rate is low (qualitative). By analyzing user behavior through qualitative methods, they can identify specific barriers to conversion, such as confusing navigation or unclear calls to action. This holistic approach allows marketing teams to make informed decisions that enhance user experience and drive more leads.

In conclusion, understanding the two main types of web analytics—quantitative and qualitative—is essential for B2B marketing teams looking to optimize their online presence. By leveraging both types of data, teams can gain valuable insights into user behavior, ultimately leading to more effective marketing strategies. If you're ready to take your analytics to the next level, consider signing up for a free account with Happierleads. Our platform specializes in identifying, qualifying, and engaging with anonymous website visitors, allowing you to convert more of your existing web traffic into valuable leads.

faqs

Website Identification FAQs

Does Happierleads have a Free trial?

We show you who is visiting your website for free for 30 days. If you’d like to keep using it afterward—and export a CSV or send emails via our built-in Email Automation app or your CRM—the cost is $99/month.

What is Happierleads?

HappierLeads is the only solution that enables you to identify, qualify, and engage with your anonymous B2B website visitors—all within a single tool. No additional licenses or integrations with other outreach automation tools are necessary.

Who typically uses Happierleads?

Happierleads is used by Sales, Growth, and Marketing teams across various industries. If you are a B2B company, we are the solution for you. Sales teams use the platform to turn anonymous traffic into opportunities and increase productivity. While on the other hand, Marketers use the platform to automate lead generation, increase conversions.

How is this different from Clearbit, 6Sense, or DemandBase’s Website Identity Solutions?

Most companies rely on ‘Reverse IP Lookup’ technology to connect IP addresses with company names. At Happierleads, we use a completely different approach—our fully-permissioned, proprietary publisher network—allowing us to identify the exact individuals visiting your website. Discover more about how we identify your site visitors here.

Why is Happierleads ranked number #1 for data quality on G2 and Capterra?

Happierleads offers an advanced feature that automatically filters out bots, ISPs, and other non-qualifying traffic sources to ensure you receive only high-quality leads. Additionally, unlike other tools, Happierleads provides the flexibility for you to manually remove leads as needed.

What about U.S. state privacy laws, like the California CCPA and CPRA?

If you are compliant with these state-level regulations, the use of our product will not change that compliance status. We can now identify exact visitors in 173+ countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and many more. For GDPR-restricted countries (primarily EU member states), we use reverse IP lookup which only provides company information to adhere with GDPR requirements.