1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,480 All right, welcome to another deep dive. 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,200 This time, we're taking a look at something 3 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,320 that, well, let's be honest, 4 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,400 might not sound super exciting at first glance. 5 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:10,560 Web analytics. 6 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,640 Yeah, not exactly the stuff of blockbuster movies, but. 7 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,440 But essential for anyone with a website, right? 8 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,120 Absolutely, and today we're going even deeper. 9 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,520 We're diving into the world of Matomo, 10 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,720 that open source alternative to Google Analytics. 11 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,920 The one that promises you can actually own 12 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,120 and control your data. 13 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,220 That's the one, and we're gonna figure out 14 00:00:29,220 --> 00:00:30,560 if it lives up to the hype. 15 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,400 We've got a stack of Matomo's GitHub documentation 16 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,160 and marketing materials right here. 17 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:36,360 Ready to get our hands dirty. 18 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,760 Exactly, but first a quick shout out 19 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:40,200 to our sponsor, Safe Server. 20 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,040 If all this talk about self-hosting has you thinking, 21 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,380 whoa, hold on, I don't know about all that. 22 00:00:45,380 --> 00:00:47,380 Then Safe Server is here to help. 23 00:00:47,380 --> 00:00:49,740 They're experts in digital transformation, 24 00:00:49,740 --> 00:00:52,980 hosting solutions, and making tech less scary. 25 00:00:52,980 --> 00:00:54,920 Plus, they know Matomo inside and out, 26 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:56,720 so if you decide to take the plunge, 27 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,960 they can help you get set up and running smoothly. 28 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,960 Check them out at www.safeserver.de. 29 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:05,780 Okay, back to Matomo. 30 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:06,620 Let's do it. 31 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:07,460 Let's start with the basics. 32 00:01:07,460 --> 00:01:09,980 What exactly is Matomo? 33 00:01:09,980 --> 00:01:13,540 So Matomo is a web analytics platform. 34 00:01:13,540 --> 00:01:15,060 Okay, kinda like Google Analytics, right? 35 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:18,260 Exactly, but with one major difference. 36 00:01:18,260 --> 00:01:19,100 Hit me with it. 37 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:20,540 You host it yourself. 38 00:01:20,540 --> 00:01:22,180 Wait, on my servers? 39 00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:25,300 Yep, meaning you and only you have control 40 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:26,780 over where your data is stored. 41 00:01:26,780 --> 00:01:27,780 And how it's used. 42 00:01:27,780 --> 00:01:28,620 You got it. 43 00:01:28,620 --> 00:01:30,900 Okay, that sounds like a lot of responsibility. 44 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:33,820 It is, but think of it this way. 45 00:01:33,820 --> 00:01:36,380 Owning your data is like owning your house 46 00:01:36,380 --> 00:01:37,900 versus renting it. 47 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:38,860 Oh, I like that analogy. 48 00:01:38,860 --> 00:01:40,780 You're in charge of the upkeep, sure, 49 00:01:40,780 --> 00:01:41,900 but you also have the freedom 50 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:43,500 to do whatever you want with it. 51 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:45,060 No more nosy landlords. 52 00:01:45,060 --> 00:01:47,740 Exactly, no more Google looking over your shoulder. 53 00:01:47,740 --> 00:01:50,460 Okay, I'm starting to see the appeal. 54 00:01:50,460 --> 00:01:52,900 But beyond that sense of ownership, 55 00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:55,980 what are the actual advantages of Matomo? 56 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:57,620 Well, they make a lot of promises. 57 00:01:57,620 --> 00:01:59,900 Their website is definitely very enthusiastic, yeah. 58 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:02,580 First and foremost, they really push data privacy. 59 00:02:02,580 --> 00:02:03,940 Which is a big deal these days, right? 60 00:02:03,940 --> 00:02:04,740 Huge. 61 00:02:04,740 --> 00:02:07,500 Matomo is fully compliant with those regulations 62 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:09,780 like GDPR and CCPA. 63 00:02:09,780 --> 00:02:12,780 Ah, yes, those acronyms that everyone's heard of, 64 00:02:12,780 --> 00:02:14,900 but maybe not everyone fully understands. 65 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:15,740 Exactly. 66 00:02:15,740 --> 00:02:17,620 But the point is, with Matomo, 67 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:19,500 you're ticking those compliance boxes. 68 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:20,340 Okay, that's good. 69 00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:22,260 So compliance is one big plus. 70 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:23,100 What else? 71 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:26,300 Another major selling point is the data accuracy. 72 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:27,460 Okay, tell me more. 73 00:02:27,460 --> 00:02:29,380 Matomo claims 100% accuracy 74 00:02:29,380 --> 00:02:31,740 because they don't do any data sampling. 75 00:02:31,740 --> 00:02:33,540 Wait, remind me what data sampling is. 76 00:02:33,540 --> 00:02:35,540 So Google Analytics and some others, 77 00:02:35,540 --> 00:02:37,380 they sometimes extrapolate data 78 00:02:37,380 --> 00:02:39,660 based on just a subset of the information. 79 00:02:39,660 --> 00:02:41,820 So they're basically making educated guesses. 80 00:02:41,820 --> 00:02:43,880 Kind of, it's a way to save resources, 81 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:45,500 but it means you might not be getting 82 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:47,380 the full accurate picture. 83 00:02:47,380 --> 00:02:49,100 Okay, yeah, I see how that could be a problem. 84 00:02:49,100 --> 00:02:50,220 But with Matomo, 85 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:52,580 they analyze every interaction on your site. 86 00:02:52,580 --> 00:02:55,140 So you get the complete unfiltered truth. 87 00:02:55,140 --> 00:02:55,980 Precisely. 88 00:02:55,980 --> 00:02:57,580 That's gotta be valuable for anyone who needs 89 00:02:57,580 --> 00:02:59,260 those really granular insights. 90 00:02:59,260 --> 00:03:00,460 Absolutely. 91 00:03:00,460 --> 00:03:02,900 Now there's also something else that's pretty interesting. 92 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:03,860 Okay, lay it on me. 93 00:03:03,860 --> 00:03:07,360 Matomo can actually track personal data, 94 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,340 but in a secure and privacy-focused way. 95 00:03:10,340 --> 00:03:11,500 Wait, hold on. 96 00:03:11,500 --> 00:03:14,360 Tracking personal data, that sounds like a slippery slope. 97 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:15,580 I know, right? 98 00:03:15,580 --> 00:03:17,780 But they're very clear about how they handle it. 99 00:03:17,780 --> 00:03:22,260 So how does it work while still being privacy-focused? 100 00:03:22,260 --> 00:03:25,120 Transparency and control are key. 101 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:26,300 Okay, that makes sense. 102 00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:28,620 You can choose to collect that personal data, 103 00:03:28,620 --> 00:03:31,480 but you absolutely have to be upfront with your users. 104 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:32,740 No sneaky business. 105 00:03:32,740 --> 00:03:33,580 Exactly. 106 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:34,880 Tell them what you're collecting 107 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,120 and how you're gonna use it. 108 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:37,100 And of course you have to follow 109 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:39,060 all those data protection regulations. 110 00:03:39,060 --> 00:03:39,900 Absolutely. 111 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:42,580 Okay, so it's more about using that data responsibly, 112 00:03:42,580 --> 00:03:43,860 not spying on people. 113 00:03:43,860 --> 00:03:44,700 Exactly. 114 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:45,520 But let's be real, 115 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,180 for a lot of folks who are switching from Google Analytics, 116 00:03:48,180 --> 00:03:50,220 it's not about tracking more data. 117 00:03:50,220 --> 00:03:52,060 Right, it's about taking back control. 118 00:03:52,060 --> 00:03:54,380 And that's where Matomo's open source nature comes in. 119 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:57,460 Ah, yes, the magic of open source. 120 00:03:57,460 --> 00:03:59,900 Can you remind me again why that's so important? 121 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:02,140 It's a good thing I know, but. 122 00:04:02,140 --> 00:04:05,040 So open source essentially means the code 123 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,940 that makes Matomo tick is publicly available. 124 00:04:07,940 --> 00:04:09,420 Okay, so anyone can see it. 125 00:04:09,420 --> 00:04:10,980 And modify it even. 126 00:04:10,980 --> 00:04:12,340 And that's great for security, 127 00:04:12,340 --> 00:04:14,460 because the community can spot and fix 128 00:04:14,460 --> 00:04:16,540 any vulnerabilities way faster. 129 00:04:16,540 --> 00:04:17,380 Makes sense. 130 00:04:17,380 --> 00:04:18,700 More eyes on the code, the better. 131 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:19,680 Exactly. 132 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,420 And it also means you're not locked in with one provider. 133 00:04:23,420 --> 00:04:25,820 So I'm not at the mercy of some giant corporation. 134 00:04:25,820 --> 00:04:26,660 Nope. 135 00:04:26,660 --> 00:04:28,940 You can customize Matomo to your heart's content, 136 00:04:28,940 --> 00:04:30,980 hire a developer to build custom features, 137 00:04:30,980 --> 00:04:31,820 whatever you need. 138 00:04:31,820 --> 00:04:33,420 So it's like having the blueprints 139 00:04:33,420 --> 00:04:35,420 to your own analytics platform. 140 00:04:35,420 --> 00:04:36,600 That's a great way to put it. 141 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,460 But with all this talk of self-hosting in open source, 142 00:04:39,460 --> 00:04:40,880 it makes me wonder, 143 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,500 do I need to be a tech whiz to even use Matomo? 144 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:44,540 That's a great question, 145 00:04:44,540 --> 00:04:46,580 and that's exactly what we'll be tackling next. 146 00:04:46,580 --> 00:04:49,300 So is Matomo actually user-friendly? 147 00:04:49,300 --> 00:04:51,740 Can someone like me, who's not a coding whiz, 148 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:53,220 actually use this thing? 149 00:04:53,220 --> 00:04:54,700 Yeah, that's the big question, right? 150 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:56,380 All this power is great, 151 00:04:56,380 --> 00:04:59,060 but if it takes a team of engineers to set it up? 152 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,780 Well, the good news is Matomo has been working hard 153 00:05:01,780 --> 00:05:03,860 to make their interface more accessible. 154 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:06,620 Okay, so we're not talking command line interfaces 155 00:05:06,620 --> 00:05:07,860 and cryptic code here. 156 00:05:07,860 --> 00:05:10,620 No, I think dashboards, colorful charts, 157 00:05:10,620 --> 00:05:12,580 the kind of data visualizations 158 00:05:12,580 --> 00:05:14,300 that actually make sense to humos. 159 00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:15,980 Phew, that's a relief. 160 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:17,360 I was picturing like a black screen 161 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,280 with green text raining down. 162 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:22,020 Nope, Matomo's interface is clean, intuitive, 163 00:05:22,020 --> 00:05:24,260 really designed for exploring your data. 164 00:05:24,260 --> 00:05:26,860 You can navigate reports, filter data, 165 00:05:26,860 --> 00:05:29,300 even create custom segments. 166 00:05:29,300 --> 00:05:32,020 So like if I wanted to see how many people visited, 167 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:33,420 let's say my blog post 168 00:05:33,420 --> 00:05:35,500 about the best noise canceling headphones. 169 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:37,180 You got it, you could see where they came from, 170 00:05:37,180 --> 00:05:38,500 what devices they were using, 171 00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:40,240 how long they stayed on the page. 172 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,100 Even what they did after reading the post, 173 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:44,140 like did they click on any affiliate links? 174 00:05:44,140 --> 00:05:46,880 Exactly, you can track all sorts of actions like that, 175 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,060 downloads, form submissions, you name it. 176 00:05:49,060 --> 00:05:50,340 Okay, that's pretty powerful. 177 00:05:50,340 --> 00:05:51,180 Yeah. 178 00:05:51,180 --> 00:05:52,660 Without needing a degree in data science. 179 00:05:52,660 --> 00:05:53,900 Precisely. 180 00:05:53,900 --> 00:05:55,700 But speaking of powerful, 181 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:58,060 we can't forget about the Matomo community. 182 00:05:58,060 --> 00:05:59,700 Ah, yes, the open source army. 183 00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:00,740 Exactly. 184 00:06:00,740 --> 00:06:04,800 And they are constantly creating new plugins and add-ons 185 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,100 to extend Matomo's functionality. 186 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:09,240 So if there's something specific I need, 187 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,220 chances are someone has already built it. 188 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:12,340 More than likely. 189 00:06:12,340 --> 00:06:15,380 It's like having a giant toolbox at your disposal. 190 00:06:15,380 --> 00:06:18,540 And if you do get stuck, the community is super supportive. 191 00:06:18,540 --> 00:06:20,940 Okay, so there are forums, documentation, 192 00:06:20,940 --> 00:06:21,780 all that good stuff. 193 00:06:21,780 --> 00:06:22,780 Tons of resources. 194 00:06:22,780 --> 00:06:25,440 You're never really alone when you're using Matomo. 195 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:26,940 But I know what you're thinking. 196 00:06:26,940 --> 00:06:29,500 Self-hosting still sounds a little intimidating, right? 197 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:30,260 I get it. 198 00:06:30,260 --> 00:06:31,780 It can feel like a big step. 199 00:06:31,780 --> 00:06:34,460 But that's where services like our sponsor, Safe Server, 200 00:06:34,460 --> 00:06:35,180 come in. 201 00:06:35,180 --> 00:06:37,260 They can handle all that hosting stuff for you. 202 00:06:37,260 --> 00:06:39,400 Safe Server, always saving the day. 203 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,580 So if I don't wanna mess around with servers and all that. 204 00:06:41,580 --> 00:06:43,200 Exactly, they've got you covered. 205 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,740 But let's say you are feeling adventurous 206 00:06:45,740 --> 00:06:47,220 and wanna try self-hosting. 207 00:06:47,220 --> 00:06:49,600 Okay, let's say I'm feeling brave. 208 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,900 What are the basic requirements? 209 00:06:51,900 --> 00:06:56,420 Well, you'll need a web server that supports PHP and MySQL. 210 00:06:56,420 --> 00:06:57,540 Okay, and those are? 211 00:06:57,540 --> 00:07:00,300 Basically, the technologies that power a lot of websites 212 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:02,060 already, fairly common stuff. 213 00:07:02,060 --> 00:07:04,700 All right, so it's not like building a rocket ship. 214 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:08,020 But still, things can go wrong, right? 215 00:07:08,020 --> 00:07:09,980 Or backup security. 216 00:07:09,980 --> 00:07:11,760 That's the stuff that keeps me up at night. 217 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:12,600 I hear you. 218 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,740 Those are definitely important considerations. 219 00:07:14,740 --> 00:07:18,540 Regular backups are essential and security audits are key. 220 00:07:18,540 --> 00:07:20,900 Think of it like insurance for your data. 221 00:07:20,900 --> 00:07:22,780 Okay, good analogy. 222 00:07:22,780 --> 00:07:24,740 But again, if I'm not exactly a tech expert. 223 00:07:24,740 --> 00:07:26,220 Safe Server can help with all that too. 224 00:07:26,220 --> 00:07:28,260 They can provide that extra peace of mind. 225 00:07:28,260 --> 00:07:30,900 Safe Server, the data superheroes. 226 00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:32,540 All right, so we've talked about the interface, 227 00:07:32,540 --> 00:07:34,900 the community, even self-hosting. 228 00:07:34,900 --> 00:07:37,260 But before the break, you mentioned these other features 229 00:07:37,260 --> 00:07:40,060 like internet analytics and log analytics. 230 00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:42,940 Oh, right, those, they're pretty cool. 231 00:07:42,940 --> 00:07:45,300 Internet analytics is all about tracking 232 00:07:45,300 --> 00:07:48,400 how people use your company's internal website. 233 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,100 So like if I'm spending too much time 234 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:51,700 on the company's meme page. 235 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:53,660 Well, maybe, but it's really about understanding 236 00:07:53,660 --> 00:07:56,260 how employees interact with internal resources. 237 00:07:56,260 --> 00:07:58,460 Okay, so it's about making the workplace better, 238 00:07:58,460 --> 00:07:59,660 not spying on people. 239 00:07:59,660 --> 00:08:01,600 Exactly, identifying bottlenecks, 240 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,240 improving communication, that sort of thing. 241 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:04,720 And then there's log analytics. 242 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,420 Which sounds even more intense. 243 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:09,980 It's basically analyzing the raw data 244 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:11,460 that your web server generates. 245 00:08:11,460 --> 00:08:14,680 Everything from visits to downloads to error messages. 246 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:18,240 Wow, okay, so who exactly needs that level of detail? 247 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,260 Anyone who wants a really deep understanding 248 00:08:20,260 --> 00:08:22,560 of how their website is working. 249 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,320 So developers, system administrators, 250 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,500 maybe even marketers who want to get really granular 251 00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:29,340 with their data. 252 00:08:29,340 --> 00:08:30,760 You got it, and because it's your data, 253 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,320 you can customize the alerts, dig into the details, 254 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:34,360 really get your hands dirty. 255 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:35,340 Sounds powerful. 256 00:08:35,340 --> 00:08:36,280 Yeah. 257 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:37,640 But also a little overwhelming. 258 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:38,480 Yeah. 259 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:39,600 How does this all connect back 260 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,280 to that idea of data control though? 261 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,780 Is this something the average person needs to worry about? 262 00:08:43,780 --> 00:08:45,600 It really depends on how comfortable you are 263 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,960 with getting technical and what your specific needs are. 264 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,800 But the point is, with Matomo, you have that raw data, 265 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,220 you can choose how to use it, 266 00:08:53,220 --> 00:08:54,560 and you decide who has access. 267 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:55,400 That's a good point. 268 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:56,400 It's about having the freedom 269 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,100 to do what you want with that data. 270 00:08:58,100 --> 00:08:59,300 Exactly. 271 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:01,800 But let's be honest, even with all these features, 272 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,320 there must be some downsides to choosing Matomo 273 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,800 over, say, Google Analytics. 274 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:09,840 Every rose has its thorns, right? 275 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,280 What are we sacrificing here? 276 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,080 Well, Matomo definitely requires 277 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:14,920 a bit more technical know-how. 278 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,720 Even with Safe Server's help. 279 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,400 And the community support is amazing. 280 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:19,440 Don't get me wrong. 281 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,400 But you might not have that same level 282 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,760 of instant 24-7 support that a big company 283 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:25,720 like Google can offer. 284 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:26,800 So it's a trade-off, right? 285 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:27,680 Exactly. 286 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:31,460 More control often means more responsibility. 287 00:09:31,460 --> 00:09:34,640 But in the end, it all comes down to what you value most. 288 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:35,640 Absolutely. 289 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,080 If data ownership, privacy, transparency 290 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:39,800 are your top priorities, 291 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,280 then Matomo is definitely worth a serious look. 292 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,760 Okay, so we've talked about user-friendliness, 293 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,240 advanced features, even the potential drawbacks. 294 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,180 But the big question remains, 295 00:09:50,180 --> 00:09:52,560 does Matomo really deliver on its promise 296 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:55,360 of giving you complete control over your data? 297 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,920 Well, to answer that, we need to go even deeper. 298 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,480 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. 299 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:00,880 We've been wrestling with this question 300 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,720 of whether Matomo really gives you control over your data. 301 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,480 And I think it's time we get to the bottom of it. 302 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,880 So no more beating around the bush. 303 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,120 Does Matomo actually live up to that promise? 304 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:11,200 In a nutshell, yes. 305 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,420 Okay, but what does that actually look like in practice? 306 00:10:14,420 --> 00:10:15,960 I need more than just a yes. 307 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:16,800 Fair enough. 308 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,040 With Matomo, your data actually lives on your servers. 309 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,200 Not in some Google data center somewhere. 310 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:23,040 Exactly. 311 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,420 You own the hardware, the software, the whole thing. 312 00:10:25,420 --> 00:10:27,440 It's like, remember that analogy we used earlier? 313 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,000 The owning a house versus renting one? 314 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:29,840 Yeah. 315 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,360 This is you owning the whole property. 316 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:32,920 You get to set the rules. 317 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,880 You decide how that data is collected, 318 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,400 how it's stored, how it's used, even how it's deleted. 319 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,140 So if I decide I don't wanna track 320 00:10:42,140 --> 00:10:45,720 a specific piece of data anymore, I can just stop. 321 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:46,580 You got it. 322 00:10:46,580 --> 00:10:48,720 You can anonymize it, aggregate it, 323 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,000 delete it, whatever you want. 324 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,320 Okay, now that's what I'm talking about. 325 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:52,460 That's real control. 326 00:10:52,460 --> 00:10:53,300 Right. 327 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:55,280 But of course that comes with some responsibility too. 328 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,320 Oh yeah, I was just thinking that. 329 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,440 More control means more responsibility, right? 330 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,880 I'm now in charge of security, backups, 331 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,720 making sure I'm complying with all the regulations. 332 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:05,560 Exactly. 333 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:07,880 But remember, you don't have to go it alone. 334 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,160 Services like Safe Server can help with all that. 335 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,100 Right, Safe Server always there to back us up. 336 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:14,920 But even with Safe Server's help, 337 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:16,840 there's still a learning curve, I'm assuming. 338 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,740 Definitely, there's no way around that. 339 00:11:18,740 --> 00:11:20,680 But speaking of regulations, 340 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:25,240 Matomo is all about being GDPR and CCPA compliant, right? 341 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,560 What does that actually mean for someone like me? 342 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:29,660 Well, it means Matomo is built with privacy 343 00:11:29,660 --> 00:11:31,060 as a core principle. 344 00:11:31,060 --> 00:11:33,560 They have features like cookie consent management, 345 00:11:33,560 --> 00:11:35,600 data and optimization tools. 346 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,640 They even respect do not track requests. 347 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,200 So I can actually offer my users a real honest to goodness, 348 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,920 opt in experience. 349 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,560 Not one of those cookie banners that nobody understands. 350 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:49,180 Exactly, you're giving your users a real choice. 351 00:11:49,180 --> 00:11:50,520 Which is good for everyone, right? 352 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,360 Absolutely, it builds trust, it's ethical, 353 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,440 and it helps you avoid those big fines. 354 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,160 Can't argue with that. 355 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:58,400 So let me get this straight. 356 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,080 Matomo gives me control over my data, 357 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:02,600 it helps me stay compliant, 358 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,240 and it gives my users a real say in how their data is used. 359 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:07,320 That's pretty good summary. 360 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,280 And on top of that, don't forget the accuracy 361 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,160 we talked about earlier, the open source flexibility, 362 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:13,760 the customization options. 363 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,080 Yeah, we covered a lot. 364 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,600 So if someone is thinking about making this switch 365 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,600 from Google Analytics, what would you say? 366 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:20,560 What's the main takeaway? 367 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:22,880 The takeaway is you have options. 368 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,960 You don't have to hand your data over to a big tech company. 369 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:29,440 There are alternatives out there, like Matomo. 370 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,720 Alternatives that put you in control. 371 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,720 And if you need a little help navigating 372 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,680 this new world of data ownership, 373 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:37,320 well, you know who to call. 374 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:38,440 Safe Server. 375 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,280 They can make that transition a whole lot smoother. 376 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:45,760 You can find them over at www.safeserver.de. 377 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,160 All right, so we've taken a deep dive into Matomo. 378 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,760 We've explored the features, the benefits, even the challenges. 379 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:53,300 But now the question is, what are you 380 00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:55,080 going to do with this information? 381 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,040 Is Matomo the right choice for you? 382 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,600 That's something only you can decide. 383 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,880 But hey, if you do take the plunge, let us know. 384 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,560 We'd love to hear about your experience. 385 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:04,160 Absolutely. 386 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,160 We're always eager to hear from our listeners. 387 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,720 That's all for this episode of the Deep Dive. 388 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,760 Until next time, keep exploring and stay curious.