Google Analytics Adds Real-Time Traffic Data
Google Analytics is likely to be the most used website analytics tool on the planet. Besides being made by Google, it is completely free and offers a lot of great reports and features we need when tracking our website traffic and marketing goals.
The problem with Google Analytics has always been the delay of data being updated. Sometimes this delay is up to 3 hours and made tracking the performance of our online marketing campaigns more into an afterthought than an on-the-fly analysis. In some cases, we could spend hundreds of dollars on a campaign before we get even the first glimpse that it is actually performing poorly or losing money.
Now, with the release of Real-Time Traffic Data from Google Analytics, we can immediately track our websites traffic and campaign performance. This will allow online marketers to accurately optimize campaigns as traffic comes in, not after the fact.
Another great use for Real-Time is to ensure that you have properly setup campaign tracking within Google Analytics to ensure that everything is being tracked properly before you start driving traffic to your landing pages. This used to take several hours to verify your pages were properly setup, now, with Google Analytics Real-Time, you will know right away.
Using the Real-Time traffic reports requires you to use the new version of Google Analytics. If you are not using the new version, or are unsure, select New Version at the top of your analytics page. The new real-time reports will be available to everyone using Google Analytics over the next few weeks. If you would like to sign-up for early access, please visit https://services.google.com/fb/forms/realtimeanalytics/.
Bill Karas is the Director of Online Marketing at Discovery Communications Group and specializes in SEO, SEM, Performance Marketing, Analytics and Landing Page / Conversion Optimization Services. You can reach him directly at 603-685-2919 or email him at billk@discoverycomm.com
