What is Google Analytics?

In the tireless quest to make the Internet a place where we can all turn to get answer,s Google launched Google Analytics in 2006.  Google analytics is a statistics package which monitors your web site traffic and helps you understand almost everything you need to know about your web site's visitors. 

When I am starting a new search engine optimization campaign the first step I take is to set up the web site with Google Analytics.  Setting up a typical site can Roomtake about 20 minutes for your web master.  If he asserts that you already have web site statistics being collected on your site, insist on Google Analytics.  It will help us to be speaking the same language as we progress through the course.  Google Analytics is easy to use, works on ANY web site, it is easy to read, easy to set up and, best of all it is 100% free!

You can sign up for Google Analytics by visiting http://www.google.com/analytics

It’s is important to set this up as early as possible.  As your progress in developing your web site you will want to track how traffic is growing and glean clues about what to do next with your web site’s content development.   It will be most gratifying to look back at the progress you’ve made from the beginning of your Internet Marketing efforts.
It is important to note that your web master can set up Google Analytics to send weekly reports in PDF format right to your email.   Later in the course we will return to your statistics and talk about how to use the data to inform your web marketing strategy.   DO IT NOW!