Using Google Analytics to Streamline & Grow Your Business
We’re not about to pretend as if every small business owner should understand the in’s and out’s of Google Analytics- but a basic understanding? Yep, that will get you started in the right direction. And the ‘why’ is just as important as the ‘how’.” By properly using Google Analytics you can better target your marketing methods to see where the traffic is coming from- and where it’s not.
Below we’re giving you our top tips for getting started with Google Analytics to best serve- and grow- your business:
DON’T BE MISLED
Think about how many times you visit your own website just to check something or manage the page. Now multiply that by several employees and weeks, and before you know it you may have a whole lot of numbers that aren’t adding up.
Don’t be misled by inorganic website visits that give the perception that your traffic is a lot higher than it is. Instead, set up a filter that helps to remove this data, giving you only the most accurate results at the end of the month.
AND ABOUT THAT SPAM…
Our best advice is always to have spam blockers set up on your website as soon as you get started. Past that we recommend filtering out spam traffic to keep your numbers accurate, similar to the internal page views we mentioned above.
GET TO GOAL SETTING
You definitely understand the importance of setting personal and professional goals, right? Then why wouldn’t you have them for your websites as well? In fact, Google has a tool to do exactly this, helping you to set goals inside your analytics and marking your progress as you go.
UTM INSIGHTS
You’re probably wondering what a UTM is in the first place- so let’s start there. UTM stands for Urchin Tracking Module, which really just means tags that you add to the end of a URL link that allows you to track where the traffic is originating. For example, say you have opt-ins or ads placed sporadically across the Internet, a UTM will help identify which are converting or not. These insights help you to target your marketing efforts more effectively and drive traffic to the right places.
AVOIDING CONVERSION TRACKING
Unless you have a website up just for the fun of it (which businesses don’t), you should be tracking as many analytics as possible- especially conversions. Without this data your business can’t possibly understand how your website is working for you and whether or not it is helping your business to grow. Conversion analytics, as well as tracking campaigns on your website, give invaluable insights into what your site visitors are interested in and what they’re clicking to learn more about.
SEGMENT YOUR AUDIENCE
Hands down one of the best tips is to use custom segments to better understand your website visitors. Using this information you can literally segment your audience by all the major demographics: age, gender, location, interests, occupations, etc. Now when you’re setting ads to specifically target certain audiences, you have a mine of data to help navigate the way.
ANNOTATE FOR ACCURACY
It’s important to understand the data in your Google Analytics, especially when it ebbs and flows. If you see a sudden spike in numbers, it’s good practice to annotate that surge with a relevant footnote, such as: “featured on X,Y,Z blog.” Now, when you look back at your data you won’t have to question- or needlessly compare calendars- to see why there was a sudden increase in traffic on your website.
Ultimately, it’s just important to get started using Google Analytics in the first place. If you’re not already using it, you’re already behind the 8 Ball- and missing tons of valuable information that can help you to streamline and grow your business. If you don’t know where to start- or simply don’t have the bandwidth to take on one more thing- contact us at 2Ten Marketing to help your Google Analytics make sense for your business today.
INSERT SHAMELESS PLUG-IN HERE:
Did you ever stop to think about how much of your TV show airtime is actual show… and how much is really scattered commercials? Sure, it says it has a runtime of 60 minutes, but if you think you’re sitting there, soaking up all the sexy drama for a full hour, you my friend, have another thing coming. Ads are everywhere, from TV, to radio, to magazines- and definitely, more than ever, on our computer screens. The marketing industry is moving and shaking like never before and your business needs it NOW to stay toe-to-toe with your competitors. If it’s not YOUR ad that someone is reading- and sharing- it will be another business that is soaking up the glorified spotlight. But with the circus that is running a business, one more To-Do may simply be your breaking point. So pass the torch to 2Ten Marketing and let us help you get your business in front of current- and potential- customers today!
Previously Published on November 14, 2017