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Anyone who has ever logged on to Google Analytics knows that it can be intimidating and confusing, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. On this week’s podcast, Tom chats with Google Analytics pro, Jeff Sauer of Jeffalytics about how you can customize Google Analytics to suit your website’s needs and then use it to boost your business.
GOOGLE ANALYTICS BASICS
When you first look at your data on Google Analytics, it can seem pretty useless.
Most of the data won’t be relevant to you or your business. That’s because that dashboard is set up for the millions of people who are using it for their websites.
That means every website from a single-person blog to huge websites.
So when you look at the homepage, they aren’t telling you what is important for you, it’s just a giant compromise between all websites.
But if you decide you want to keep using and understanding Google Analytics, there are tools and filters you can use to make it perfect for your needs.
CUSTOMIZING YOUR GOOGLE ANALYTICS DASHBOARD
“You can’t break anything by looking at a report.”
It’s okay to just look at your homepage. If that’s all you’ve done for the past 8 years, at least you took that initiative. But if you’re serious about understanding where your site stands on Google, take a look around.
Jeff encourages you to explore Google Analytics and see what sticks out to you.
“You can’t break anything by looking at a report.”
That means you should feel free to look around without worrying about messing anything up. Click on everything you can and see what you can find.
You might not understand anything, but now you know what’s exciting you to, what you would like to keep looking at, and you’ll have an idea of what you should do next.
Based on your interests, you can begin to customize your Google Analytics dashboard. You can set up your Google Analytics goals, name your channel groupings, group your content markets, and make sure all of your data presented suits your needs.
GOOGLE ANALYTICS ISN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER
“Google Analytics may not be best in class at any one thing.”
Jeff also reminds us that while Google Analytics is great for presenting data, it is not a one-stop-shop for all of your answers.
“It’s the central nervous system of all of your marketing. It’s at the center of everything.”
Google Analytics is a great place to discover potential problems with your website; however, once you know what needs work, don’t be afraid to move to a specialty tool that works best for your problem.
If you’d like to set-up your first SEO analytics, or if you’d like to get more our of Google Analytics, Sure Oak can help. We offer analytical and metrics tracking services tailored to your business needs.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Don’t be intimidated by Google Analytics’s initial dashboard.
- Look around! “You can’t break anything by looking at a report.”
- Google Analytics isn’t a one-stop-shop for answers.
JEFF’S TAKEAWAYS
- Don’t be scared. It’s a way to get better at everything you are doing.
- It’s not the answer to everything, but it is a good way to find answers.
- Be curious, play around, and discover what is relevant to you. Make it your own.
MORE FROM JEFF
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