Google Analytics has a good thing going: they have permeated the market with a powerful and free tool.
They have little to no competition and they have huge brand name recognition.
If you are interested in understanding patterns in how people are using your website, then read this article! Do You Want to Know Personal Information on Your Visitors? A lot of data can be gleaned from a statistical analysis package.
If you want to know personal information about the visitors to your site, then you'll be disappointed.
Google Analytics does not tell you the name and physical address of the person or people who visit your website.
So, What's in it for Me? Once you sign up, you will receive a unique code, which will need to be embedded in each page of your website.
It's that simple.
Once the web crawler indexes the unique code in your website, the data will automatically begin to accumulate in your account.
Google Analytics is a system which provides up to about 140 reports.
There is a lot it can do.
On the most basic reporting level, information is provided about the number of people who visit your site, the time they spend on each page, how they found you in the first place, and the page where they decided to exit your website.
When you log in to your account, you view the reports, and you begin to get a more clear picture of how your website is performing.
Your Website Performance Getting a website live is not the most difficult thing to do.
Understanding performance takes a little more thought.
It is the understanding of the performance of your website that will directly impact your future actions and decisions, and, in turn, your future website traffic and overall success.
This statistical analysis system delivers numbers to you.
When you collect and review the numbers over a period of 3-5 months, patterns begin to emerge.
It is the review of these patterns that is important.
Propelling your website forward and achieving more traffic will require a long term commitment some kind of system of data analysis.
Google Analytics is one very popular platform that ordinary folks can begin to leverage to understand the performance of their website.