Google Analytics [Paperback]

Mary E. Tyler (Author), Jerri Ledford (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470053852 | ISBN-13: 978-0470053850 | Publication Date: September 12, 2006 | Edition: 1

You know you need to analyze the success of your Web site, but how? Do you even know what to look for? Is there a tool powerful enough to help you evaluate your marketing efforts, products, and services, but simple enough to use if you're not a propeller-head?

Google Analytics is that tool, and this is the handbook you need to make it work for you. Learn to set up Google Analytics, understand the reports it generates, and use the information to make your Web site a real asset to your business.

• Get familiar with the concept of analytics, what Google Analytics offers, and how it compares to popular site statistics programs.
• Learn to set up the program, navigate the interface, understand filters, and use goal-setting features.
• Integrate Google Analytics with Google AdWords.
• Make the most of reporting dashboards.
• Find out how to use analytics for marketing and content optimization.
• Understand what each type of report means and how to interpret it.
• Explore how other companies have used analytics to improve site performance.
• Investigate how to use Google Analytics for complete e-commerce analysis.

Order your copy today and make your Web site work for you!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... a good, in-depth guide to this service and all of its various settings." (Jem Matzan, TheJemReport.com, January 2007)

"…invaluable…If you are starting out with Analytics, or even if you are reasonably expert, this book is well worth the investment." (Performance Measurement and Metrics, May 2007)

From the Back Cover

You know you need to analyze the success of your Web site, but how? Do you even know what to look for? Is there a tool powerful enough to help you evaluate your marketing efforts, products, and services, but simple enough to use if you're not a propeller-head?

Google Analytics is that tool, and this is the handbook you need to make it work for you. Learn to set up Google Analytics, understand the reports it generates, and use the information to make your Web site a real asset to your business.

• Get familiar with the concept of analytics, what Google Analytics offers, and how it compares to popular site statistics programs
• Learn to set up the program, navigate the interface, understand filters, and use goal-setting features
• Integrate Google Analytics with Google AdWords
• Make the most of reporting dashboards
• Find out how to use analytics for marketing and content optimization
• Understand what each type of report means and how to interpret it
• Explore how other companies have used analytics to improve site performance
• Investigate how to use Google Analytics for complete e-commerce analysis

Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470053852
• ISBN-13: 978-0470053850
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #927,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Find, October 12, 2006

By 

Joyce A. Anthony - See all my reviews

This review is from: Google Analytics (Paperback)

Google Analytics is one of the best finds for those of us who find ourselves technically-challenged in a technically-heavy world.

This book covers every possible aspect of Google Analytics. I found the language simple, without talking down to anyone. By the time I had completed it, all my questions were fully answered.

I highly recommend Google Analytics to anyone who wants a down-to-earth explanation of the ins and outs of Google Analytics.

46 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag of Content, October 19, 2006

By 

Jase T. Wolfe - See all my reviews

This review is from: Google Analytics (Paperback)

In a nutshell, Google's Analytics service is a web traffic analyzer and marketing performance manager provided for free to anyone with a Google account, but especially geared to those who participate in their AdWords program. This book serves as an introduction and walkthrough guide to Google's Analytics service for those that do not already know about it. The authors have written this title in a in a "for dummies" format, primarily for small web site authors and bloggers that have not had experience in web traffic analysis software before.

Google Analytics is a mixed bag of content, and it is really up to the reader to determine if the amount of time invested reading the book is paying off more than simply scouting Google's Analytics site and reading all of Google's on-line help would. Many chapters are little more than walkthroughs of the Google screens, providing explanations of the obvious, rehashes of the on-line help, and excessive screenshots (often one per page), all of which is very often presented in that cutesy writing style popular today in computer books aimed at beginners. The authors also make the assumption that software in use on their system is in use on yours. As an example, an entire chapter is dedicated to reviewing another web site analyzer, AWStats, without ever actually introducing where it came from, how you can get it, the basic usage of it, etc.

If you do not actually read the book from cover to cover, but rather read only sections relevant to your needs, readers can often find very valuable information. An example of this is chapter 6, "Filtering Your Data", where the authors thoroughly go over not just how to create filters, but how to create more intelligent filters using Regular Expressions, a more difficult topic I was surprised to find handled so well. Because the book is well organized and divided, readers may find that the title can serve as a spot reference for areas within the Analytics service where Google's help is not readily apparent, or where a different phrasing or a specific example is more beneficial.

If you are already successfully using Google's Analytics service or are a more seasoned webmaster, this title will not provide you with additional information or advanced tips. However, if you are new to analyzing web traffic for your small web site or blog, this is a good introduction to Google's service.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners, October 12, 2006

By 

Jack - See all my reviews

This review is from: Google Analytics (Paperback)

As a small business owner I found this book to be very helpful in getting started with Google Analytics. Analytics can be extremely complicated and the
conversational tone of the book makes the topic easier to understand.

I found the examples useful especially where analytics was applied to real world situations. As the owner of a home decor business technology is not my strong suit. So I found this book helpful.