Review: Understanding Google Analytics

ebook review - understanding google analytics

 

A couple of months ago I was honored and privileged to be asked by Andy Hayes to review an advance copy of a new eBook from Travel Online Partners.

Many of you already know Andy through social networks and his consumer travel website and travel blog, “Sharing Travel Experiences“, but you may not know that Andy also provides products, services, and consulting for businesses and individuals in the tourism industry, including travel bloggers just like you, through Travel Online Partners, so he has a great deal of knowledge and experience to share.

If you’re serious about blogging, you should be monitoring how your blog performs. This eBook will teach you how to do that.

The new eBook – just launched earlier this week – is “Just What Works: Understanding Success With Google Analytics“, and since it’s by the same folks that have produced

you might expect that it would be of the same high-caliber quality and as easy to understand as those eBooks.

Well you’d be right.

Google Analytics is an amazing tool that offers a wealth of information to website owners – in fact, so much information that what’s most amazing about it is that it’s free – but trying to explain all that it offers can be a monumental undertaking.

Understanding Google Analytics
Which is why I was so impressed with the job that Andy and his co-author, Sara Borghi, did with breaking down the subject into very easy to comprehend sections with clear explanations and good solid advice.

With lessons ranging from learning your way around Google Analytics, to installing the code needed to use it, to understanding the reports it gives you, Understanding Success With Google Analytics is a complete resource, and even includes some very useful worksheets to help you create concrete goals based on the information you’ll get from Google.

It can sometimes be confusing to learn a new tool – especially one that makes extensive use of jargon, so I loved that the book begins with an explanation of all those technical terms.

While it’s most useful for beginners or those not already accustomed to using web traffic analytic tools, even those with some basic understanding of Google Analytics will come away with a few new tips and expert advice. And even though Google gives you an almost-overwhelming amount of information, Andy and Sara make a point of telling you what’s important to focus on, and what you should not worry about.

By following along with each Chapter, and making use of the worksheets that come with it, anyone – beginner or expert alike – will be able to use the valuable data that Google Analytics provides to make measurable improvements to their website traffic and audience engagement.

If you’re serious about blogging, you should be monitoring how your blog performs. This eBook will teach you how to do that.

~Trisha
P.S. In the interest of transparency, yes – those are affiliate links that earn a little bit for TWE. I’d appreciate it if you’d use them if you’re going to buy the eBook, as every little bit helps keep this community going!

Do you use Google Analytics? Share your experience!

About Trisha Miller 116 Articles
Trisha Miller Editor-in-Chief, TravelWritersExchange.com - Trisha joined the Travel Industry in 1996 with a background in telecommunications and helped to build (and later sell) one of the industry's top inbound call centers specializing in air travel. Her career in Travel Writing began with creating destination-specific content for a corporate travel intranet, and continued as she contributed content to a large number of travel-related companies that were establishing an online presence throughout the late '90's and early '00's. Currently she is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, and a former Board Member of the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (2009-2015).  Still a frequent world traveler, and occasional guest-blogger on a number of other Travel Blogs, Trisha writes about travel and technology, sometimes both at the same time. You can follow Trisha on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/TravelWriting

5 Comments

    • Hi Jo

      Well honestly it’s not a definitive guide to every aspect of Google Analytics, but it’s not meant to be….it’s really a good, clear overview for beginners who might otherwise be intimidated by GA, and basically tells the reader “here’s what you should pay attention to” and “here’s what you can ignore” and “here’s what to do with what you get from it”.

      So it helps people to get started with Google Analytics and actually make use of it, which in my opinion is much more than adequate for most blogs and websites.

  1. This is something Dave and I have to work on more. We keep telling ourselves that we have to monitor traffic, but we use the excuse that while on the road, we are just too busy. I have read a couple of Andy’s books and he is fantastic! He has done wonders for our blog and even though we understand Analytics a little, we just may buy his book because he has always offered such insight into the business of Blogging. Thanks for the review!
    .-= Dave and Deb´s last blog post: Tips for Trekking to Everest Base Camp =-.

  2. Thanks for the review. As a writer, I realize that I need to understand Google Analytics better. I am happy that Google offers the analytics service for free. Good to know that Andy Hayes has another option to bump up my knowledge level.

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