An Introduction to Google Analytics
In the world of digital marketing, data-driven decisions are the key to unlocking a campaign’s full potential. Here at Audeo, we believe that every CMO should look to incorporate Google Analytics. The SEO friendly free web analytics platform has the power to transform your entire strategy.
Here’s all you need to know about the free web analytics tools including the whys, whats, and hows of Google Analytics.
What is Google Analytics?
In its most basic sense, Google Analytics is a free web analytics service provided by Google to track web traffic and provide detailed reports on a number of metrics.
Google Analytics adds a tracking code to your website’s code (don’t worry, this won’t affect the look or front-end function) before recording the data relating to the actions taken by users during visits to your site – as well as their demographics data such as age, gender, country, and interests.
Once the user leaves your site, the data is sent back to Google Analytics, allowing website owners to view and analyse the aggregated data. This is all achieved from inside a user-friendly platform with a great UX.
Why do you need Google Analytics?
Before installing Google Analytics (or actually using it if you’ve previously installed it but never really used it), you’ll first need to know the reasons for doing so.
Google Analytics can provide valuable insight into a host of relevant issues that can help you understand your audience as well as the success of the site. The most significant data includes but is not limited to;
- How many people visit the site.
- Where users are based, how old they are, and the male-female ratio.
- How visitors are finding your site – social media, SEO, PPC, etc.
- What pages are most popular on your site.
- How many visitors becomes converted customers.
- Which platforms people use to access your site – desktop, mobile, App, etc.
With this plethora of information at your disposal, it’s possible to identify where your website and digital ad campaigns are succeeding and failing. In turn, you can make the necessary adjustments to ensure that all content is geared towards your audience and designed to generate leads and conversions. This can increase the efficiency of time, money, and energy to boost your strategies.
Besides, if you’re not taking advantage, your competitors will and could leave you behind.
How to install & use Google Analytics
Installing Google Analytics is very easy, and can be done by following these steps:
- Sign up for a Google Account.
- Head to Google Analytics and follow the simple 3-step process.
- Go to Get Your Tracking ID and copy the code.
- Paste the code onto every page of the site that you wish to track.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll want to use your Google Analytics dashboard to track the metrics that matter most to your business. By setting out those goals, you can easily adjust the layout of your dashboard for optimum ease. Some of the most important metrics include;
- Web visits
- User demographics
- Traffic source
- Entry pages
- Exit pages
- Bounce rates
- Time on site
- Conversions
Google Analytics is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal and the process should feel relatively simple. However, if you still need help with launching and using Google Analytics, you can always call Audeo for additional support.
