Google Analytics provides a huge amount of information about your web traffic, visitor behaviour and more. For free!
Watch a video and discover some best practices that will help you make the most of your Google Analytics data.
To take advantage of these best practices you need to have Google Analytics set up and tracking correctly. I also encourage you to become familiar with your own statistics, so that you’ll know if they change significantly and you’ll be able to figure out why.
Google Analytics Best Practices
1. Have full access to your account
2. Filter out your own visits and those of your team
Ideally use a filtered view. If you do this, make sure you keep an unfiltered view of your data so that you can get it back if your filter doesn’t work.
In the video I mention setting up a new profile and adding a filter, due to changes in Google Analytics you now need to set up a new View and add a Filter.
3. Link your AdWords and Analytics accounts
If you’re running AdWords campaigns and you don’t do this you won’t have full details about your Campaign performance available in your Analytics account.
4. Have Goals set up
In my humble option, Google Analytics Goals are gold! Without them, you won’t know if your website is, or isn’t, helping you achieve your business goals. Or whether or not you’re getting results from your marketing campaigns.
Also read about the importance of testing that your Goals are tracking correctly once you’ve set them up.
5. Create a Dashboard
Dashboards give you ‘at a glance’ stats for the information that you really care about.
Watch the video to learn more.
Want to learn more about using your Google Analytics data to improve your website and business results?
Get free instant access to my Google Analytics 101 video series.
And to keep up with updates to Google Analytics and learn more best practices, follow the Google Analytics blog.
Got questions? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Melinda
Melinda aka Mel is a Google Partner, Google Ads & Consultant, Speaker and Trainer and co-owner of Click-Winning Content.
Mel provides results-driven services to organisations around the world and is committed to never using an acronym without explaining it first. She also likes greyhounds as pets, grand slam tennis, cracked pepper and Melbourne sunsets.
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Well that was lovely, simple to understand and very informative, Mel. Thanks so much. You do make it less intimidating for me. I appreciate that.
I’m just putting the last touches (software company, not me) on my new responsive site so very interested in your information.
Thanks so much for your comment Sheila. I’m glad you found the video helpful.
Stop by anytime if you have questions about Google Analytics.
Cheers
Mel
Thanks for sharing helpful post Melinda ! I think in GA, Constantly try to find actionnable data. You can easily lose your way by the noise and volume of data. Always ask yourself if the data you are collecting could generate action. Otherwise, don’t focus on it.
Great point Kristy. And I totally agree. Personally I spend a lot of my time in Acquisition > All Traffic > Source/Medium looking at where the traffic is coming from, comparing the behaviour stats and looking at conversion stats.