Web Analytics
“Marketing without data is like driving with your eyes closed.”
− Dan Zarella, Social Media Scientist at HubSpot.
A business needs it to collect the data about ongoing activities, results, and effects of policies and strategies, etc., when it comes to online marketing. Web analytics comes to help to do this.
Web analytics is used to determine the performance of investments assigned in terms of online advertises, customers, and business profitability. Web analytics plays an important role in calculating ROI of your business.
What is Web Analytics?
Web Analytics or Online Analytics refers to the analysis of quantifiable and measureable data of your website with the aim of understanding and optimizing the web usage.
Web analytics focuses on various issues. For example,
- Detailed comparison of visitor data, and Affiliate or referral data.
- Website navigation patterns.
- The amount of traffic your website received over a specified period of time.
- Search engine data.
Web analytics improves online experience for your customers and elevates your business prospects. There are various Web Analytics tools available in the market. For example, Google Analytics, Kissmetrics, Optimizely, etc.
Types of Web Analytics
There are two types of web analytics −
On-site − It measures the users’ behaviour once it is on the website. For example, measurement of your website performance.
Off-site − It is the measurement and analysis irrespective of whether you own or maintain a website. For example, measurement of visibility, comments, potential audience, etc.
Metrics of Web Analytics
There are three basic metrics of web analytics −
Count
It is most basic metric of measurement. It is represented as a whole number or a fraction. For example,
- Number of visitors = 12999, Number of likes = 3060, etc.
- Total sales of merchandise = $54,396.18.
Ratio
It is typically a count divided by some other count. For example, Page views per visit.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
It depends upon the business type and strategy. KPI varies from one business to another.
Micro and macro Level Data Insights
Google Analytics gives you more insight data accurately. You can understand the data at two levels micro level and macro level.
Micro Level Analysis
It pertains to an individual or a small group of individuals. For example, number of times job application submitted, number of times print this page was clicked, etc.
Macro Level Analysis
It is concerned with the primary business objectives with huge groups of people such as communities, nation, etc. For example, number of conversions in a particular demographic.
Web Analysis - What to Measure?
These are the few measurements conducted in web analytics −
Engagement Rate
It shows how long a person stays on your web page. What all pages he surf. To make your web pages more engaging, include informative content, visuals, fonts and bullets.
Bounce Rate
If a person leaves your website within a span of 30 sec, it is considered as a bounce. The rate at which users spin back is called the bounce rate.
To minimize bounce rate include related posts, clear call-to-action and backlinks in your webpages.
Dashboards
Dashboard is single page view of information important to user. You can create your own dashboards keeping in mind your requirements. You may keep only frequently viewed data on dashboard.
Event Tracking
Event tracking allows you to track other activities on your website. For example, you can track downloads and sign-ups through event tracking.
Traffic Source
You can overview traffic sources. You can even filter it further. Figuring out the key areas can help you learn about the area of improvement.
Annotations
It allows you to view a traffic report for past time. You can click on graph and type in to save it for future study.
Visitor Flow
It gives you a clear picture of pages visited and the sequence of the same. Understanding users’ path may help you in re-navigation in order to give customer a hassle-free navigation.
Content
It gives you insight about website’s content section. You can see how each page is doing, website loading speed, etc.
Conversions
Analytics lets you track goals and path used to achieve these goals. You can get details regarding, product performances, purchase amount, and mode of billing.
Web Analytics offer you more than this. All you need is to analyze things minutely and keep patience.
Page Load Time
More is the load time, the more is bounce rate. Tracking page load time is equally important.
Behavior
Behavior lets you know page views and time spent on website. You can find out how customer behaves once he is on your website.
