4 New Google Analytics Hacks for Ambitious Businesses

By now, a majority of businesses are using Google Analytics to monitor, track, and manage their internet visibility and website data. However, only a small percentage are actually maximizing the value of this powerful platform.

Are you confident that your business is taking full advantage of Google Analytics?

Try These 4 Hacks

Google Analytics is an incredibly deep resource, but the size of the platform shouldn’t be an excuse for underutilization. Every business needs to leverage Google Analytics for everything its worth.

Here are a few hacks to get you pointed in the right direction:

  • Import Analytics Goals into AdWords

One of the very first things you need to do with Google Analytics is link it to your AdWords account (and vice versa). By linking Google Analytics to AdWords, you can track campaign information and hone in on different patterns that will allow you to maximize profitability. Furthermore, when you connect the two, you’re able to import new columns – such as bounce rate, pages viewed per session, and average time on site – into the AdWords platform.

While both Google Analytics and AdWords are valuable tools on their own, they become exponentially more useful when combined. Each tool feeds off each other and the data you gather can be used across several other marketing channels.

  • Use a Third Party Dashboard to Improve Visualizations

While there are some decent reporting features included with Google Analytics, there’s also much left to be desired. Unfortunately, this means it’s pretty hard to convey valuable results and develop visually pleasing reports that are capable of being sent to key decision makers. Well, here’s another useful hack: Use a third party dashboard to improve your visualizations.

“While GA is one of the easiest ways to view your website KPIs at a glance, the platform has limitations,” says Kalie Moore of datapine, a leading provider of cutting edge business intelligence tools. For example, you can’t brand your own dashboards. Instead, you’re forced to use Google’s color schemes, fonts, and layouts. Furthermore, they can only be downloaded in PDF format. Little things like this may not seem like a big deal, but using a third party tool can greatly compliment your reporting efforts.

  • Use Advanced Segmentation

Most businesses spend their time analyzing high-level metrics like bounce rates, pageviews, and conversion rates. While there’s nothing wrong with a quick glance at these valuable measures, you stand to gain much more by digging deeper with advanced segmentation.

By dividing high-level metrics into unique segments – such as by device, referral source, or location – you can begin to understand who your audience is and why they interact with your brand in the ways that they do.

  • Enable Site Search Tracking

Can visitors search your website for content? If you have a search bar feature on your site, it could hold some valuable information. How so, you may ask? Well, you can actually use a feature within Google Analytics to gain insights into what your visitors are searching for.

Once you enable site search tracking, you’ll be able to learn about different search behaviors. Based on this knowledge, you may decide that certain products or pages need to be restructured on your website.

google analytics.
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Make the Most Out of Google Analytics

It’s very rare for a business to have access to tools that are both free and useful. If you’re underutilizing Google Analytics in your business, then you’re missing out on an opportunity to grow quickly and cost-effectively.

Make a commitment to learn the ins and outs of this platform, and you’ll soon discover that it has the power to fundamentally change your entire organization for the better.

Melissa Thompson writes about a wide range of topics, revealing interesting things we didn’t know before. She is a freelance USA Today producer, and a Technorati contributor.