Today I gave a talk to a Business Link networking group in Winchester, Hampshire. The talk was a sell out but unfortunately not everyone made it along to hear my presentation entitled 'Understanding Google Analytics'.
The talk was largely the same as the seminar we held in Poole a few weeks back with a few slides removed. Again, I like to think that I gave the audience plenty of food for thought, especially with regards to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for websites, 99% of people do not have these, so I hope I gave them something to focus on. I will share these on here in the coming weeks...
There were several questions after the talk which I have answered below;
Is there any way for Google Analytics to know about my website BEFORE I add the code to it?
The gentleman who asked this question wanted to know if it was possible to 'back date' the analytics information showing on his account. Unfortunately it is not possible to know this information, as Google Analytics can only collect information once it has been installed, not before. I referred the gentleman to Compete, which can give you rough information about yours and other websites based on information from ISPs. This rarely gives feedback on low traffic websites so is definitely not a replacement for you own good information.
The other option is to use an alternative website statistics package and then getting the raw log files from the server (you'd have to ask you web hosts for this) and then analysing them like that. Not a pretty solution but it could give some information about what has happened in the past.
How do you remove yourself from the Analytics's reports?
I mentioned the 'filter' options as something which is useful when it comes to understanding more about your website. I didn't go into this as I felt it was a bit techy for some, but it can easily be achieved. I could explain all about how this work but I think it's easier if Google explain how filters work in more detail...
What are longtail keywords in Google Analytics?
I gave a couple of examples of how GA can be used to identify the best long tail keywords for your website (if you don't know what the longtail is, you really need to go here!). In basic terms, Google Analytics shows you all of the phrases which people have typed in to get to your website. At the same time (provided you implemented the things I suggested :) you should also know what words were typed in to get people 'converting'.
Therefore, by looking at the graphs that Google Anayltics draws for you and spending a few minutes looking at the information available, you should be able to see the longtail working and where the best results are coming from on the website.
There were a couple more questions but after two more meetings today, I really can't remember what they were now! If they come back to me, I'll try and post here.
If you would like to ask any more questions about Google Anayltics, leave a comment below
Showing posts with label google analytics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google analytics. Show all posts
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Monday, 24 March 2008
Three talks in a week!
So, the Easter holidays are over for another year and the four days off has certainly helped the batteries recharge a little. Which is very good for me as this week I'll be giving three talks to various businesses in Hampshire and Dorset, spreading my words of wisdom about web design and online marketing.
If anyone is interested in coming along, the three talks are as follows;
Wednesday 26th March - 7am - 10am - Understanding Google Analytics
This will be very much along the lines of the talk which I gave a few weeks ago in Poole, Dorset. I'll be examining how Google Analytics can be used to get better understanding of how your website is working and how best to capitalise on the information.
Book here - http://www.businesslinkhampshireiow.co.uk/events/
results.aspx?keywords=&EventSubjects=412
Thursday 27th March - 5.30pm - 7.30pm - Benefits of social networking sites for businesses
Going on from the presentation I gave last year in Dorset, this talk will be looking further into social networks and getting to grips with how they can be used to benefits businesses looking to target more clients online.
Book here -
http://www.adido-solutions.com/resources/events/dorset-events.aspx
Friday 28th March - 12pm - 2pm - Discover the power of PR and website marketing
I will be presenting with national PR and marketing agency Aylesworth Fleming to talk about how PR, both offline and online, can be used to increase exposure for businesses to help reach new markets.
Book here -
http://www.adido-solutions.com/cms/site/news/
adido_and_aylesworth_fleming_pr_one_off_seminar_.aspx
I always like giving presentations. It helps me to clarify things in my own head sometimes and also allows me to put down how these technologies work in the simplest terms so that anyone can understand them. Standing on stage and talking for 45+ minutes isn't easy and the hardest part I find is actually knowing which level to pitch the talks at. Are the people in the crowd new to this? Have they been doing it for years?
My assumption is always that a certain percentage of people will come along because they may have heard about whatever subject it is, without knowing anything about it, so if I target the talk for them, then at least everyone should be able to understand. (e.g. What does SEO mean? PPC - how does that work?, What on earth are social networks? What's the future of the Internet? I want to know about web design basics etc)
Do I get it right all the time? Probably not, but I've got a lot better and more confident over the years and the feedback seems to be more positive.
I guess getting 'engagement' face-to-face is a lot easier than online!
If anyone is interested in coming along, the three talks are as follows;
Wednesday 26th March - 7am - 10am - Understanding Google Analytics
This will be very much along the lines of the talk which I gave a few weeks ago in Poole, Dorset. I'll be examining how Google Analytics can be used to get better understanding of how your website is working and how best to capitalise on the information.
Book here - http://www.businesslinkhampshireiow.co.uk/events/
results.aspx?keywords=&EventSubjects=412
Thursday 27th March - 5.30pm - 7.30pm - Benefits of social networking sites for businesses
Going on from the presentation I gave last year in Dorset, this talk will be looking further into social networks and getting to grips with how they can be used to benefits businesses looking to target more clients online.
Book here -
http://www.adido-solutions.com/resources/events/dorset-events.aspx
Friday 28th March - 12pm - 2pm - Discover the power of PR and website marketing
I will be presenting with national PR and marketing agency Aylesworth Fleming to talk about how PR, both offline and online, can be used to increase exposure for businesses to help reach new markets.
Book here -
http://www.adido-solutions.com/cms/site/news/
adido_and_aylesworth_fleming_pr_one_off_seminar_.aspx
I always like giving presentations. It helps me to clarify things in my own head sometimes and also allows me to put down how these technologies work in the simplest terms so that anyone can understand them. Standing on stage and talking for 45+ minutes isn't easy and the hardest part I find is actually knowing which level to pitch the talks at. Are the people in the crowd new to this? Have they been doing it for years?
My assumption is always that a certain percentage of people will come along because they may have heard about whatever subject it is, without knowing anything about it, so if I target the talk for them, then at least everyone should be able to understand. (e.g. What does SEO mean? PPC - how does that work?, What on earth are social networks? What's the future of the Internet? I want to know about web design basics etc)
Do I get it right all the time? Probably not, but I've got a lot better and more confident over the years and the feedback seems to be more positive.
I guess getting 'engagement' face-to-face is a lot easier than online!
Monday, 3 March 2008
Google analytics seminar follow up
Last Thursday saw the resumption of the Adido online marketing and web design seminar talks in Bournemouth, to give advice to our attendees on how to get the most from Google analytics. The talk covered the main areas of Google analytics that businesses struggle to get to grips with. During the talk several questions were asked that I'll answer in a bit more detail here.
What is the difference between 'absolute new visits' and 'new visitors'?
The answer I gave on this isn't 100% correct. Personally I think the labels used here are a bit misleading. An 'absolute new visit' refers to someone who has never, ever been onto the website before in the past (or at least isn't known to have come on the website before, a subtle but important difference). A 'new visitor' is someone who has been on the website before but is counted in the date range selected. So, for example, someone could have been on the website in the previous month, but if you date range is the current month and the visitor has been on the site three times in this month, they will be a 'new visitor' only once, but will not be 'absolute new visit'.
Although Google analytics shows me the keywords people type in,what about the words that they don't type in?
A common problem facing companies who want to market their website more effectively is knowing which phrases to select for their SEO campaigns. This is often best left to experienced web design companies (like us :) to carry out proper keyword research but for those just starting out, then this can be achieved using a variety of free keyword tools, like Wordtracker.
These tools are really great at helping you identify new phrases to target which you may not have thought about or considered. However, don't underestimate your web analytics or stats packages as they will tell you which words people have already typed in. This can't be underestimated, as people have already taken the effort to type in something into that search box and visit your website. Of course, it's hugely important to track this against conversions, but if you can see that people visit your website on these phrases, they may be easy 'wins' to get them pushed a bit more up the rankings to increase visability for little effort.
Other questions were asked which I am unable to recall, but with other online marketing and website talks in the pipeline in the coming weeks, I'll endeavour to take note and answer more here...
What is the difference between 'absolute new visits' and 'new visitors'?
The answer I gave on this isn't 100% correct. Personally I think the labels used here are a bit misleading. An 'absolute new visit' refers to someone who has never, ever been onto the website before in the past (or at least isn't known to have come on the website before, a subtle but important difference). A 'new visitor' is someone who has been on the website before but is counted in the date range selected. So, for example, someone could have been on the website in the previous month, but if you date range is the current month and the visitor has been on the site three times in this month, they will be a 'new visitor' only once, but will not be 'absolute new visit'.
Clear? Hopefully, but if you still don't understand what I'm on about, then why not read the official Google line absolute new Vs New visitors.
Although Google analytics shows me the keywords people type in,what about the words that they don't type in?
A common problem facing companies who want to market their website more effectively is knowing which phrases to select for their SEO campaigns. This is often best left to experienced web design companies (like us :) to carry out proper keyword research but for those just starting out, then this can be achieved using a variety of free keyword tools, like Wordtracker.
These tools are really great at helping you identify new phrases to target which you may not have thought about or considered. However, don't underestimate your web analytics or stats packages as they will tell you which words people have already typed in. This can't be underestimated, as people have already taken the effort to type in something into that search box and visit your website. Of course, it's hugely important to track this against conversions, but if you can see that people visit your website on these phrases, they may be easy 'wins' to get them pushed a bit more up the rankings to increase visability for little effort.
Other questions were asked which I am unable to recall, but with other online marketing and website talks in the pipeline in the coming weeks, I'll endeavour to take note and answer more here...
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