DIGGING INTO THE DATA: EXAMINING RESOURCE USE ON AN AMATEUR PALEONTOLOGY WEBSITE

One of the many goals of an amateur paleontology website is to pique interest in the field of paleontology by providing accessible scientific information presented in a format that is relevant and readable to website visitors. Analyzing data trends of website visitors is a clear way to determine the extent to which this goal is being met. Using a free and widely-available web analytics service, a preliminary study of user behavior was conducted on a sample avocational paleontology website, www.fossilguy.com. The purpose of this investigation was to explore how visitors use available resources at the website. Having a clear comprehension of visitor resource usage enables content creators to better tailor the website to attract and engage more paleontology enthusiasts, whether professional or avocational. By understanding key aspects of user interest, scientific content, and readability, web pages can be crafted to meet informational needs. Thus, data trends from amateur paleontology sites like www.fossilguy.com can be used to inform content creation on any paleontology-related website trying to engage users, including museum websites.