Archive: Web Analytics

Install New Google Analytics Tracking Code

Last Updated by Michelle Sullivan

Brief overview of Google Analytics tracking code and how to set it up properly


Google analytics tracking code

Google Analytics (GA) is a web analytics tool that works based on the page tagging method. To set up Google Analytics on your website, you need to tag individual web page with the tracking code (written in Javascript). When a tagged web page is open in the web browser, the tracking code is triggered and begins to collect web traffic data. The tracking code, thus, is the center of Google Analytics. Properly installing it on your site will be the first essential step in using this application.  Read more...


Web Analytics Methods

Last Updated by Man Tran

An overview of the two methodologies used in web analytics: page tagging and web log file

Web analytics method

As mentioned in my other post about What Google Analytics Can’t Do, one of the key factors of getting your site a visible ranking is to know how well it performs with search engines and how well it meets your site visitors’ needs. To know about this, you must use one or more web analytics tools, whose function is to provide collection, measurement and reporting of web traffic data. There are different tools and most if not all of them are based on either one of the two methodologies: page tagging or web server log files.  Read more...


What Google Analytics Can’t Do

Last Updated by Michelle Sullivan

An overview about what Google Analytics can’t tell you in its reports

Google analytics

One of the key factors of getting your site a visible ranking is to know how well it performs with search engines and with your site visitors. Google Analytics (GA) is a web analytics tool that reports performance metrics of your website as well as give you insights into your web visitors’ behaviors and their activities while they are on the site. Performance metrics/indicators can vary depending on the priorities and goals of your site, but basically they include metrics like average time on site, number of page views, number of visitors and unique visitors, bounce rate, entry and exit points, goal conversion and so on. Those metrics are fundamental as they quickly let you know the overall health of your site, how it is performing against your goals. Google Analytics reports basic metrics and much more, but what can’t it tell you?  Read more...


Flash Website And Search Engines

Last Updated by Michelle Sullivan

All Flash website — what you want may not always good for your business.

Web usability | Flash website is not always good.

As a member in the marketing team, you may be responsible for either designing or coordinating the design process of the new website. You may want a complete Flash-based website because many of your clients have Flash websites, and you really like the interactive, animated site navigation, and the visual effects including the page transitions on each and every page. Well, that’s what you like, but is it good for your online marketing and for your business as a whole?  Read more...


Web metrics: Average Time on Site: The Longer The Better?

Last Updated by Michelle Sullivan

Sorry to hear that your viewers stay on your website so long!

Web usability | Viewer's longer stay - not always a good thing

The story

A marketing/web coordinator has just finished his first web traffic analysis and report, and he is very pleased with the company website performance / web metrics in the last few months. The best item of all he thinks is the “Average time on site” item — telling him how long on average his viewers stay on the site. It’s about 5 minutes, so people must find his company website interesting and stay long to find more information.  Read more...


Web metrics: Website traffic – The More The Better?

Last Updated by Michelle Sullivan

With this post and some other posts about web usability and web metrics I take a different approach. Instead of going straight to the point and talking about web metrics and web usability, I chose a lengthier but more unexpected route — telling story for a change. Hopefully, you find it useful and interesting to read.

Sorry to hear that your website has tons of traffic!

Web usability | High traffic - not always a good thing

The story

A web designer guaranteed his client “I’ll optimize your website so that in the next couple of months you’ll get tons of traffic to your online store!” A couple of months later, the client came back to see her designer and requested “Could you… somehow de-optimize the site so that it gets less traffic?” “Huh????”  Read more...