Marketing Optimization with Google Analytics

Improve ROI from Shopping Comparison Sites These days, I'm getting a lot of clients who want to increase their ROI on referral site campaigns. We'll explore this topic by talking specifically about shopping comparison sites. The same techniques are generally applicable to all kinds of referring sites. My goal...

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Back to Basics: Control access to your data

Many Google Analytics account owners give people access to their account (e.g. account manager, clients, staff members) in order to get help with managing their account or interpreting the data in their reports.Luckily, the User Manager feature in Analytics prevents you from giving out your user name and password to dozens of people – which means no worrying about people poking around in your account...

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Google Analytics Cake

Umm... delicious. Nice work Tim and Clarkson!Find out how he made it.Posted by Sebastian Tonkin, Google Analytics T...

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Using Google Analytics to Create an Optimization Plan

Let’s face it, your website is never really finished. Testing pages is an inexpensive way to manage a constantly shifting audience and market. It's great for: Increasing ROI on your advertisingTeaching you about the likes and dislikes of your customersTrying out alternatives used by competitorsBreaking down...

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Back to Basics: Is your website a "closer"?

Many successful sales people describe closing a sale as a process that is composed of many steps. It's a dialogue -- a series of information exchanges that culminates in the ultimate sale or final agreement. This closing process occurs thousands of times every day on websites around the world. Websites and visitors engage in a dialogue during which products are chosen, shipping and credit card information...

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Google Analytics at SES NY

SES New York is next week and Google Analytics will be there. You can come by the booth to meet members of the team and learn more about the latest features. Here are a couple of sessions that you might enjoy:Pay Per ConversationTuesday, March 24th, 1:45pm to 2:45pmSandra Cheng, Product Manager for Google Website Optimizer, and Bryan Eisenberg, will discuss a different approach to looking at your...

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Introducing Hourly Tracking and more for your TV Campaigns

Imagine you're advertising on national television. You've selected several programs and networks that you think will deliver your message to the right audience. Now, wouldn't you want to know which of those target placements was most effective at driving traffic to your website? Well now it's even easier for...

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Tips for Tracking Email Marketing Campaigns

Email campaigns are a cost-effective way of attracting quality return visitors to your site. It's important that you tag your email campaigns with campaign tags so that you can track how well each email performs. This lets you optimize your efforts and track your return on investment.What are campaign tags?...

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Back to Basics: Quick tracking code fixes

While browsing through some of the entries in the Google Analytics Help Forum, I found a useful thread on how to troubleshoot tracking code errors. Borrowing heavily from the conversations in the thread, I've summarrized the top ways to fix your tracking code here on the blog. Hopefully, after reading this post, you'll never have to return to work after the weekend to find that you have...

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New Podcast "Get Your Google Analytics On"

Check out this new podcast from Startup Nation. This week's episode gives a great beginner overview on how to get the most out of Google Analytics. It starts by explaining how to get up and running, and then explains how Startup Nation has used analytics to improve the performance of their own site. If you'd like to check out the contents before listening, you can also find an overview here.Thanks...

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Motion Chart Scavenger Hunt Followup

Last week we launched some new features in Motion Charts. Instead of telling you what they were, we decided to let you discover them for yourself and post what you found in our blog comments.It didn't take long for several of you to find the new features. Karthik was first to notice that you can now control bubble opacity and that you can zoom into the chart. This is a great feature that allows you...

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Seminars for Success coming to Austin and Philadelphia in March

Seminars for Success are day-long seminars designed to help you improve your online marketing and get the most out of Google Analytics and Google Website Optimizer. We've selected industry professionals from our Google Analytics Authorized Consultant network to teach these seminars in cities around the U.S.Google Analytics – Introduction & User TrainingWednesday, March 18 - Austin ,TXMonday,...

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Back to Basics: New Getting Started Guide for Google Analytics

Hot off the presses, the Google Analytics Help Center has published yet another informative online resource - the Getting Started Guide. The guide's purpose is to walk new users through the basics of having an Analytics account, and it also picks out must-know definitions like goals and funnels. It also has a diagram of the reporting interface so first time users can follow along and learn about the...

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Control Your Search Result URL

Tracking parameters allow analytics programs to differentiate between paid ads and other sources of traffic, such as direct visits, organic searches, or referrals. They are invaluable for understanding the effectiveness of online advertising.From an SEO perspective, URL parameters can be somewhat problematic. People who click on your ads may like the content so much that they decide to share your...

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Motion Chart New Features Scavenger Hunt

Beginning today, you may notice a few new features in Motion Charts. But, we're not going to tell you what they are...yet. First, we'd like to see how many enhancements you can find. If you find a Motion Chart improvement, be sure to add a comment about it to this post. We'll follow up in a few days with a post highlighting all the changes and those people who were first to find new features.Happy...

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What is your Google Analytics IQ?

In today's economic climate, data-driven marketing and website decision making is increasingly important. If you have solid Google Analytics skills, more than ever, your talents are needed. But, even if you're just starting out learning Google Analytics, we have some good news for you.Beginning today, we are offering an online course in web analytics techniques and Google Analytics implementation,...

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Back to Basics: Install your tracking code in under two minutes

This post is the second post in our "Back to Basics" Series. Last week we covered accounts vs profiles.Before you can start gathering data about your visitors to your website, the very first thing you have to do is to install the Google Analytics Tracking Code on your site. It sounds simple enough, but this...

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