However, being able to understand and convert the information into useful data could be a struggle for beginners.
Getting used to any analytics tool is tricky, and even though Google has created an internal search to make it more user friendly, there are still lots of tips and tricks you’ll need to know in order to get the most out of it.
We’ve compiled a list of helpful Google Analytics tips to make the most out of your consumer data. You should also take a look at our list of SEO tips for startups.
Some of the tips offer the manual way of finding something out, if you can’t find it in the internal search bar previously mentioned.
Make sure to check out Google Sheets tips, Google Slides tips and Google Docs tips too.
Make a favourites list for quick access
Once you’ve logged into the Google Analytics, you’ll notice a drop down menu next to the GA logo in the top left-hand corner.
If you click on it you’ll see a list of all your accounts. This could include different websites and mobile sites, for example.
Next to each name you’ll notice a star symbol. If you want to make an account a favourite, click on the star and it will be added to the list.
This should make it easy if you want to gather some data from GA in a rush.
Gather additional insights from Google
Google has now made its tutorials, blogs and additional information even easier to find.
If you start typing a topic into the search bar, you’ll notice suggested articles under ‘Search Help’.
Use Search Console
If you’ve got Google’s Search Console integrated into your Google Analytics, you’ll be able to take advantage of some user search data.
Search Console highlights what terms have got people to your site from Google’s search engine and what ranking in Google your website has for those terms.
Follow these steps:
‘Acquisition’, then ‘Search Console’, and then ‘Queries’.
Find out exactly what mobile device they’re using
To find out what mobile device your audience is using when they visit your site, follow these steps.
Head to ‘Audience’, then ‘Mobile’, and finally, ‘Devices’
Track the consumer
Here’s how to monitor the path your consumers have taken from the entrance to the exit of your website:
Go to ‘behaviour’, then ‘site content’ and finally ‘content drilldown’.
As the name suggests, the entrance rate refers to the number of people that have visited your site. The bounce and exit rates while similar do have some notable differences. The bounce rate refers to users that have visited only one page on your site – not visiting any other pages from that point. Whilst the exit rate factors in additional pages that visitors have, or may have visited before leaving the said page.
Create custom alerts
Get email alerts to increased bounce rates, changes in page views and other key metrics. Here’s how to do it.
Go to ‘reporting’, then ‘intelligence events’.
Next select one of the timeframes listed and choose ‘create a custom alert’.
From there you can create alert conditions.
Analyse new and returning visitors
Having a large and loyal audience is vital to a brand’s success, so the balance between new and returning visitors should be monitored each week. Here’s what to do.
Select ‘audience’ then ‘behaviours’.
Next choose ‘new vs returning’.
Which browser are your consumers using?
Track which browsers are bringing in the most traffic with this easy tip:
Go to ‘audience’, then ‘technology’ and finally ‘browser and OS’.
Locate your audience
To find out where your consumers are visiting from couldn’t be easier.
Go to ‘audience’, ‘geo’ and finally, ‘location’.
Find out more about your engaged users
Find out how long people are staying on your website and why by following this route:
Go to ‘audience’ then ‘behaviour’ and finally ‘engagement’.
Search terms
Here’s how to find out what key terms your consumer typed into search engines that delivered them to your site:
Go to ‘behaviour’, ‘site search’ and then ‘search terms’.
Find out who’s referred you
If another website provides a link to your site you can find out in a few clicks.
Go to ‘acquisition‘ then ‘all traffic’ and finally ‘referrals’.
Analyse individual webpages
This Google Analytics tip will bring up an image of your webpage and by hovering over links/tabs on the page will highlight how many clicks each have received. Here’s what to do:
Go to ‘behaviour’ and then ‘in-page analytics’.
Gain social insights
Here’s how to find out which social channels are bringing in the most traffic:
Go to ‘acquisition‘ then ‘social’ and finally ‘network referrals’.
How fast is your site?
Here’s how to check your site speed:
Go to ‘behaviour’ then ‘site speed’.
Find out what people are internally searching
Your internal search bar might be getting more attention than you think. Here’s how to check:
Go to ‘content’ then ‘site search’ and finally ‘overview’.
Find out who’s visiting your site regularly
Any visitor is great, but building an interactive community with frequent visitors is important and valuable.
Go to ‘audience’ then ‘behaviour’ and finally ‘frequency and recency’.
