Quick and Simple Guide for Using Google Analytics

What is Google Analytics and why do we use it?

Google Analytics is a program that measures how successful your website is by collecting detailed data on traffic, visitors, and content.

This provides valuable insight into what things are working well and what things may need to change within your site to achieve an optimal level of use. We believe in the importance of clients being actively involved in their site’s execution and success. This document is a reference for how to use and understand the data in Google Analytics. At iBec, we offer Google Analytics monitoring programs for our clients if it is appropriate. We are always available for questions, so feel free to contact us if you need assistance.

Logging In

1. Go to www.google.com/analytics
2. Click the “Access Analytics” Button
3. Enter you username and password.
4. Fine the site analytics you wish to view and click “View Report”

Google Analytics Dashboard

When you first log into you Google Analytics account, you will be directed to the dashboard. The dashboard is like Google Analytics’ table of contents. As a default, it includes a line graph of visitor traffic and quick visitor statistics like bounce rate, % new page visits, and page views to name a few. It also gives you the overview of each of categories:

• Visitors
• Traffic
• Content
• Map Overlay
• Goals

The dashboard is great for getting a quick look at how everything is going with your website and should be noted at least once a week to ensure no dramatic changes in site performance. Each of the categories breaks down into more detail, which can be viewed by clicking their respective menu buttons on the left side of the screen. Also, the dashboard is customizable by clicking and dragging the boxes and deleting or adding reports from the dashboard view.

Navigating Google Analytics

To find any report on Google Analytics, simple click on the menu item in the left-hand box. When you click on a category it will expand within the box to show more detailed report links. Simply click the one you wish to view and you will be directed to that report.

Also in the side box there is a help section. If you ever want to know more about the report you are viewing, click the “About this Report” link.

Exporting/Emailing reports

When you are looking at any report in analytics, there are always buttons at the top of the report that say: Export. Email. Add to Dashboard.

To Export a Report:

1. Click “Export” at the top of the report
2. Select the format you wish to export the report in (PDF, Excel, CSV, etc)
3. Save to your computer.

To Email a Report:

1. Click “Email” at the top of the report
2. Select “Send Now” tab.
3. Enter the email addresses you wish to send to, the subject, and message.
4. Select the format you wish to email the report in (PDF, Excel, CSV, etc)
5. Enter the word verification and click “Send” Analytics Education for Clients – Google Docs

To Schedule an Email:

1. After clicking “Email” on a desired report, click the “Schedule” tab.
2. Enter all the information like you would for a regular email.
3. Select the desired schedule from the drop down list.
4. Click “Schedule”

Customizing the Dashboard

Customizing your analytics dashboard makes it easier for you to quickly view and assess the data you want in Google Analytics, which is especially helpful for weekly check-ins.

To Remove a Box from your Dashboard:

1. Log in and go to your Google Analytics dashboard
2. At the top right-hand corner of every box on the dashboard there is a gray “X”. Click this to remove the box from the dashboard view.

To Add a Box to the Dashboard:

1. When you are looking a report (ex. Adwords Campaigns) The top will have a “Add to dashboard” button. Simply click that and Google Analytics will add this report to your dashboard.

Note: If you use Google Adwords, it is helpful to add this report to your dashboard as it is not a default dashboard report.

To Add a Goal/Funnel to your Analytics

1. Login to your Analytics accounts
2. Find the account you wish to create a goal/funnel for and click “Edit”
3. Under the “Conversion Goals and Funnel” box, Click “edit” to create a goal (you can have up to 4)
4. Enter the goal information. Make sure your URL is correct for the page you want viewers to visit (ex. a “thank you for purchasing” page or a e-newsletter sign-up page)
5. You can then set up a funnel for the goal. This is an ideal page-by-page path you want visitors to take through your site to complete the goal. Enter in each page URL in the order you hope visitors will take. This step is not required to create a goal, but it is useful if you have a specific path you want visitors to follow.

What is Bounce Rate?

Bounce Rate: The percentage of single-page visits. In other words, visitors who leave your site from the same page they entered on, without viewing any other pages. Bounce Rate is a measure of visit and page quality; a high Bounce Rate generally indicates that site entrance (landing) pages aren’t relevant to your visitors and need revising.

Tags: bounce rate, Google Analytics, iBec Creative, using google analytics, website metrics

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