How to Obtain Free Google Analytics for your Website.
Website statistics packages offered by most web hosts are often largely inadequate. This has generally been because, to keep prices down, hosts have elected to not invest in expensive statistics packages but instead opted for free software such as Webalizer. While there is no reason to overly mistrust the figures generated by these packages, they are not comprehensive and often difficult to interpret. Some time ago we published a guide to Webalizer, a widely used tool but to be honest, this really only threw limited light on the subject.
Google Analytics is a free offering from Google.com which supplies much better information than the software provided by web hosts. As Google modestly puts it: "Google Analytics is the enterprise-class web analytics solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features now let you see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way. With Google Analytics, you're more prepared to write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites."
As mentioned, the service is free.
To view the data it will be necessary for you to open a free Google Account and sign up for Gmail if you don't already have it. Opening a Gmail account won't affect your normal email or have any impact on your web hosting.
A cookie will be set on your PC by Google that will mean you won't have to remember your Gmail log-in detail when you return to view the statistics.
If you are a Designamo client, send me your Gmail address, I will enable your access to Google Analytics. If you are setting up your own Analytics, there are easy to follow tutorials:-
Google (naturally)
Conversation Marketing
Mahalo
If you are serious; The Grok's FutureNow "Missing...Manual" (Recommended)
Viewing the Statistics
To use the facility go to www.google.com/analytics/ click on "Access Analytics" and just enter your gmail address and password. You will be taken immediately to a page that displays your stats.
Getting to learn Google Analytics isn't a major and should give you good information on your website's visitor behaviour.
Any questions, let me know.
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