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Why You Should Be Considering a Google Analytics Alternative   Are you struggling to navigate the complexities of Google Analytics 4 just to understand where your website traffic is coming from? According to reddit, you’re not alone. The shift to GA4 has left many marketers feeling lost in a sea of confusing interfaces and less intuitive data, making what should be simple analyses feel like deciphering an ancient script. This frustration is widely shared, as users grapple with the steep learning curve and lack of straightforward reporting that was once a staple of its predecessor. Enter Abralytics—a streamlined, Google Analytics alternative designed to cut through the complexity and bring clarity to your analytics efforts. Imagine GA4 alternative that not only simplifies your data but also enhances your ability to act on it, all without the hassle of endless configuration. With Abralytics, you’re not just overcoming the limitations of GA4; you’re setting a new standard for how data drives your business decisions.   The Case for an Alternative to Google Analytics 4 ‍ Users have become frustrated with GA4, and I don’t blame them‍   The transition to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) has not been smooth for many businesses. While GA4 promises advanced features and insights, the reality for most users is a platform that feels more like a step back than a leap forward. This is not just about nostalgia for the old ways; it’s about practicality, efficiency, and accessibility in data analytics. In this blog post, we will delve into several key areas where GA4 may fall short for businesses, and how an alternative like Abralytics could bridge that gap: Complex Setup and Learning Curve: We’ll explore why GA4’s setup and learning curve can be prohibitive for many, especially for those without technical expertise. Data Accessibility and Reporting Issues: Discuss the challenges with data granularity and the creation of meaningful reports in GA4. Privacy and Compliance Concerns: Examine how GA4’s approach to data privacy may not align with all business needs or regulatory requirements. Abralytics as a User-Friendly Alternative: Highlight how Abralytics addresses these issues with its intuitive design and user-centric features. Following these topics, we’ll dive deep into the nuts and bolts of why choosing an alternative might not just be a preference but a strategic necessity for many businesses. Get ready to see how Abralytics can turn the tide on analytics frustrations, offering a clearer, more efficient, and more compliant way to understand your data.   Tackling the Steep Learning Curve of Google Analytics 4 ‍ Google Analytics 4 represents a significant departure from its predecessor, Universal Analytics, in both functionality and user interface. This shift brings with it a set of challenges that can be especially daunting for users without a strong technical background. ‍Completely New Interface: GA4 introduces a completely redesigned interface that, while powerful, is substantially different from what users have grown accustomed to in Universal Analytics. The navigation paths, menu layouts, and even the terminology used are new. This unfamiliarity requires users to essentially relearn the system from scratch, which can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. Event-Based Tracking Model: Unlike the more straightforward session-based model used by Universal Analytics, GA4 operates on an event-based data model. This means that interactions are tracked as individual events, which offers greater flexibility but also adds complexity. Users must now set up and customize events to track specific interactions, a process that requires a deeper understanding of both the platform and the underlying analytics concepts. Advanced Tagging and Configuration Needs: Setting up GA4 often involves advanced tagging setups using Google Tag Manager or modifying website code to track the correct data. This level of configuration demands technical skills that not all users possess, potentially leading to incomplete or incorrect data collection if not implemented properly. The combination of a new interface, a complex event-based tracking system, and advanced configuration requirements, makes GA4’s setup and learning curve prohibitive for many users, particularly those without technical expertise. This can lead to frustration and potential disengagement with the analytics tool, impacting the ability of businesses to effectively monitor and analyze their online traffic and performance. A google analytics alternative like Abralytics can mitigate this frustration ‍ “Google Analytics was too complicated. I save 2 hours every week with Abralytics.”   Ryan McK – Founder of Subversive Design Agency Start your 30-day free trial No credit card required Cancel anytime Navigating the Complexities of Data Accessibility and Reporting in GA4 Diving into Google Analytics 4 can feel like stepping into a thick fog, where clarity and detail are obscured by complexity. This shift has introduced several significant challenges that impact how users access and report on their data. Reduced Data Granularity: GA4 has moved away from the session-based data model familiar to many users, opting instead for an event-based model. This change, while flexible, often results in less granular data. Users find themselves unable to access the same detailed level of user behavior metrics they depended on in Universal Analytics. The aggregated nature of GA4’s reporting complicates the task of drilling down into the specifics of individual user actions or page-level interactions.‍ Complex Reporting Interface: The interface of GA4 is not just different; it’s more complex. Users accustomed to the straightforward, intuitive reports of Universal Analytics are now met with a platform that requires navigating through a more complicated setup to create meaningful reports. This complexity can be a barrier, especially for those who are not deeply versed in analytics, making it difficult to quickly pull out the insights needed to inform business decisions.‍ Custom Report Creation: While GA4 offers customization in reporting with explorations, this feature is a double-edged sword. The ability to create custom reports, although powerful, demands a higher level of expertise and a deeper understanding of the system. For many users, this means either a steep learning curve or the need to rely on experts, which can delay access to critical data and insights necessary for agile business operations.‍ Inadequate Historical Data Comparison: One of

If you are not very familiar with the sources of your website traffic, you might be missing out on a lot of optimization opportunities. ‍ Think about it this way, If you don’t know whether your website traffic comes from social media, or you have no knowledge of the email campaign that generated more signups, you will have almost zero clue on what to optimize. ‍ In fact, the best Digital Marketers understand their traffic sources and can optimize their strategies for better results. ‍ So, in this detailed article, we will break down all the traffic sources available in Google analytics, how they closely relate to medium, and how to build custom sources using parameters. First Thing, What Are Sources In Google Analytics? ‍ If you have a live website, there are chances that your website is receiving traffic, no matter how small. ‍ The traffic can come from searches, social media, other websites, etc, and these domains that send traffic to your websites are called “sources” in Google analytics. ‍ Knowing your traffic sources don’t only tell you where your traffic is coming from, but how people are engaging with your campaign. ‍ You can periodically check your source/medium dashboard to know which traffic source is performing better. ‍ Better off, if you want a done-it-for-you experience, you can switch to Abralytics, an alternative to Google analytics with faster load time, then you can expect to receive AI-based opportunities sent to you. ‍ You get conversion rate and user experience improvement ideas that you can implement for better conversion. ‍ Medium Vs. Sources, What’s The Difference? ‍ Well, in Google analytics, the terms are subject to your website’s traffic and its referral, and as such, they are mostly confused to mean the same thing. ‍ While they closely relate to your website’s traffic, the “medium” of your traffic in Google analytics particularly means the category of your sources. For instance, you can have organic search as your medium, but within that category, your sources can be Google, Baidu, Bing, etc. ‍ List Of Sources Available In Google Analytics ‍ Here are the default sources you will find on your dashboard. ‍ Google Search, Baidu, DuckDuckGo… Etc. ‍ This refers to the traffic coming from an actual search engine. ‍ When people visit your website directly from the search engine result page for the keyword they are searching for, then Google records the source of the traffic with the “search engine name”. ‍ Source: Google Analytics Dashboard ‍ Facebook, Twitter, Instagram… Etc ‍ Just like Google, Baidu and other search engines, Google records any traffic coming from social media platforms. So if your website visitors are coming from Facebook for instance, Google will record the traffic as data from social, which is Facebook.. ‍ Source: Google Analytics Dashboard ‍ CNN.com, nytimes.com, And Other Websites ‍ When people visit your website from other websites like CNN.com, Google categorizes that traffic as referral traffic. ‍ One thing to note here is this, “referrals” isn’t the actual term you will see on your source tab, rather you will see the URL of the website where your traffic is coming from. ‍ Now, you might be asking, what if people type your website URL, or click on your website from a document on their device, what traffic source would that be? ‍ Well, Google has a term for that and they call it “direct” traffic. ‍ What Does Direct Traffic Mean In Google Analytics? ‍ Source: Google Analytics Dashboard Ever looked at your Google Analytics report and scratched your head at the giant chunk of traffic labeled “Direct”? You’re not alone. While it might seem straightforward, “direct” traffic in Google Analytics can be a bit of a mystery. The “Direct” source tells Google that the traffic is coming either from a direct search, a bookmark, or that the original website where the traffic is coming from has little to no data. ‍ Though direct traffic is a nightmare to a lot of digital marketers because of its analytics limitations and so many other reasons, MOZ has nailed a complete guide on how to use advanced analysis and segmentation to understand direct traffic. Direct traffic signifies website visits where Google Analytics couldn’t pinpoint the exact source. In simpler terms, it means someone arrived at your site without going through a search engine, clicking an ad, or following a link from another website. A high percentage of direct traffic might seem like a good thing – people know your brand and are coming straight to you, right? Well, yes and no. While a healthy amount of direct traffic indicates brand awareness, a disproportionately large chunk could indicate missed opportunities to track where your visitors are coming from. Let’s say you run a local bakery with a booming direct traffic percentage. This could be because people are familiar with your name and website, but it might also suggest they’re finding your address through offline sources like flyers or business cards – which wouldn’t be reflected in “direct” traffic. Let’s say you run a local bakery with a booming direct traffic percentage. This could be because people are familiar with your name and website, but it might also suggest they’re finding your address through offline sources like flyers or business cards – which wouldn’t be reflected in “direct” traffic. What Does “Unassigned” Traffic Mean In Google Analytics? Sifting through your Google Analytics report, you might stumble upon a category called “unassigned” traffic. Unlike “direct” traffic, which has a clear explanation, “unassigned” can leave you wondering – where on earth did these visitors come from? GA4 unassigned traffic simply refers to website sessions that Google Analytics couldn’t categorize into any of its standard traffic sources (like organic search, social media, or paid ads). It’s like having a guest at your party but forgetting how they got there! There are a few reasons why traffic might end up unassigned. The most common culprit? Missing or incorrect UTM parameters.

So you’ve finally managed to differentiate your metrics from dimensions, and sessions from web page views. And now you’re scratching your head wondering what on earth a Google Analytics hit is? Fear not, the Abralytics team has come to the rescue once again. In this article, we’ll consider the following: What is a Google Analytics hit? What are the 7 categories of hits sent to the Google Analytics servers? Is there such a thing as a hit limit? Where do you find the number of hits sent from your website, blog, or app? ‍ Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels ‍ What Is a Hit in Google Analytics? A hit is any interaction between a user and your website. Google Analytics can monitor this data by attaching a tracking code to website pages. When a tracking code is triggered, a “hit” is sent to Google Analytics servers which in turn analyzes them and turns them into useful reports. Your unique tracking code will need to be added to the HTML of your website. To find your code, open up Google Analytics→Admin→Tracking info→Tracking code The Seven Hits Tracked by Google Analytics Source: Abralytics‍ ‍ * The Social Interaction & E-commerce hits will need to be set up in Google Analytics. Social Interaction: Acquisition → Social → Plug-ins  E-commerce: Admin → Ecommerce settings ‍ What Are Google Analytics Hit Limits? ‍ Photo by Mikael Blomkvist from Pexels The free version of Google Analytics limits the number of hits which can be processed per  property (property is a website, blog, or app). Property limit – 10 million hits per property per month Session user limit – 500 hits per session User level limit – 200,000 hits per day per user Timing hit limit (include site speed hits) – 10,000 hits or 1% of the total number of page views per day Concurrent limit – Limits the number of hits that can be sent concurrently and differs according to the tracker used. Wait, What Happens When I’ve Reached My Hit Limit? Once the limits are reached, Google Analytics will likely implement client sampling to reduce the amount of data sent to Google Analytics, as well as request you to sign up for the paid version called Google Analytics 360.  At this stage, you either settle for less than perfect data taken from samples, fork out a lot of money for the paid version, or will need to consider using an alternative web analytic software. How Can I See the Total Hits on My Property? Because there are limitations, it’s great to know how many hits are taking place on your website or app and plan accordingly. These numbers can easily be found if you open up Google Analytics, click on Admin → Property Settings → Property Hit Volume Source: Google Analytics demo version I’m Still Lost – Is There a Simpler Alternative to Google Analytics? Absolutely! If you’re done with the jargon and complicated reports, consider signing up for Abralytics. It’s easy to install and delivers all the relevant information 20% of the time. A simple report is conveniently delivered to your inbox either daily, weekly, or monthly.

Whatever your industry – healthcare, automotive, travel, or beyond – Analytics can help you get a better understanding of your client behaviour and will help improve your ROI. Surprisingly, many websites with Google Analytics installed don’t have their Goals set up. In this article, we’ll take you through the goals available in Google Analytics and how to use them. We’re excited to share with you everything you need to know about GA Goals and to improve your online business with data-driven decisions. Let’s get started! First, What are Google Analytics Goals? Goals in Google Analytics help you track the different actions performed by users on your website. These actions include visiting a page, submitting a form, buying a product, etc. They also measure the conversion rates of certain goals you set in place. Tracking website goals that are aligned with your business goals can help you understand your marketing effectiveness and profitability. This means, before you can determine the effectiveness of your goals, you first have to determine the kind of actions you want your website visitors to make. Do you want them to make a purchase? To watch a video? Or perhaps to request a quote? These goals are trackable in Analytics. Just click the “Admin” tab. In the View column, click “Goals.” They can be applied to know how many pages users view in a session, the specific pages they visit, or the events they trigger while on your website. Read on to know which goals are available in Google Analytics. Where to Find Google Analytics Goals (Setting Up Your Goals) 1. Go to Google Analytics standard reports 2. In the top right portion, click the “Admin” button 3. Click on “Goals” 4. To set your Goal sets, click “+ New Goal” or Import from Gallery so you can create a new goal. You can also click on an existing goal and simply edit its configuration. The Three Basic Options for Creating Goals in Google Analytics Creating Custom Goals Creating Smart Goals Using a Goal template If you choose option 3. That is, using a Goal template, just select a template from the list and click “Next Step” so you continue setting up your goal. The templates available in Google analytics will help you set actionable goals that follow the standard business objectives. Before saving one goal, you can edit any template field, such as Engagement, Inquiry, Acquisition, or Revenue. Here’s a complete breakdown of the Google Analytics goals you want to build so you can start tracking the metrics that will lead to the success of your business! 5 Google Analytics Goal Types That Are Important To Your Business 1. Destination Goals Destination goals allow you to track users whenever they land on a specific page on your website. Simply enter the URL of any page as your goal and GA will track it as a conversion whenever someone visits that page! Simple, isn’t it? But, how is this destination goal useful for you? Well, this is perfect for tracking how many visitors land on your order confirmation pages, thank you pages, or add-to-cart pages, to name a few. For example, you have a Thank You page on your website. This is the page that a visitor sees after they signed up for your email newsletter. If you set up a destination goal for this URL, you can see the number of people who have subscribed to your newsletter by simply counting the page views. Setting the Destination Goal As you set up the destination goal, there are different settings you can change. First, match the URL type and select from the following: Begins with – If you have more than one page to track, then use Begins with to track all your links. This is also best to use if you have set up custom URLs with UTM tags or codes for your campaigns. Equals to – If you have a specific page to track, then you can select Equals to then add the web address (www.example.com/order-completed  or /order-completed, for tracking. Regular expression – This provides more flexibility when it comes to defining URLs and is ideal if you want to specify segments, filters, UTM codes, subdomains, and more by yourself. Case Sensitive If uppercase or lowercase characters in your URL go to more than one page, make sure to check the case-sensitive box. Usually, it is best to leave this box unchecked. Goal Funnels In URL Destination Goals, this part is useful as it allows you to see how many people move through every step of the marketing process. You will know which page needs fixing, how many people abandon the funnel at a certain step, and many more. A funnel is a series of web pages that lead up to the goal destination. For instance, it may include steps in your eCommerce website’s checkout process that lead to the Thank You page (or goal). But be careful with goal funnels. That’s because they only work when you need your visitors to move through a series of web pages. Keep in mind that visitors seldom follow a clear path when visiting a website. So, creating a goal funnel may not help your business make sense of how visitors are moving from one page to another. Also, Google Analytics tracks visitors in the funnel by default even if people jump into the middle. There you go! Once you have selected the URL match for your destination goal, you may also assign a monetary value for conversion. You can do that in the Value option. This is best for eCommerce websites so it’s easy to track purchases. Once you verified a destination goal and are satisfied with all the settings, click the “Save” button. 2. Duration Goals Duration goals allow you to determine how much time visitors are spending on your website. These goals are useful if you want to track user engagement. For instance, you can see how many users actually stay on the site

What Referral Traffic Is In Google Analytics Have you ever felt lost in the labyrinth of Google Analytics, especially when trying to pinpoint exactly where your traffic is coming from? Navigating the maze of menus and options can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, leaving you frustrated and unsure if you’re making the most of your traffic data. According to Google, Referral traffic is identified as visitors that arrive at your site from direct links on other websites rather than directly or through searches. Referral traffic is crucial yet often misunderstood. Many marketers share this common predicament, struggling to translate referral traffic into actionable insights. That’s where Abralytics can come in—offering a streamlined, user-friendly alternative that simplifies your analytics needs. Understanding Referral Traffic: Why It Matters Referral traffic isn’t just another metric in Google Analytics; it’s a window into the effectiveness of your online partnerships and the external perceptions of your brand. Recognizing the sources that bring visitors to your site can help you identify which partnerships are fruitful and which platforms you might be overlooking. Here’s what we’ll cover to demystify referral traffic and maximize its potential: Definition and Importance: What referral traffic is and why it should matter to you. Identifying Referral Sources: How to find and analyze your referral traffic data in Google Analytics. Leveraging Referral Traffic: Strategies to optimize and increase traffic from referrals. Abralytics Advantage: How Abralytics simplifies tracking and enhances the insights from referral traffic. Next, we’ll dive into the core of referral traffic, starting with its fundamental definition and importance. You’ll learn not just to track but also to leverage this data to forge stronger relationships and boost your digital marketing strategy. Understanding Referral Traffic: Definition and Why It’s Crucial Many marketers overlook referral traffic, focusing instead on direct visits or search engine traffic. However, understanding where your visitors come from can reveal which external sites are boosting your traffic and which might be leeching your credibility without providing value. Here’s how to make the most of this data: Start by filtering your Google Analytics to view referral traffic sources. This gives you a clear picture of which websites link to your page and how their audiences engage with your content. This information is vital for recognizing high-value partnerships. For instance, a high number of visitors from a niche blog could indicate a strong alignment with that audience, suggesting potential for deeper collaboration or targeted content. Evaluate the quality of traffic from each referral source based on metrics like session duration, bounce rate, and conversions. This assessment helps you distinguish between sources that drive engaged visitors and those that don’t. Create a simple dashboard in Google Analytics to track these metrics regularly, allowing you to quickly spot trends and adjust your strategy accordingly. Use the data to tweak existing campaigns or to inspire new initiatives. For example, if a particular referral source regularly leads to high conversions, consider investing more in similar channels or exploring co-marketing opportunities. A/B testing different referral strategies can help refine what works best for your audience, potentially increasing both traffic and conversion rates. Referral traffic isn’t just a metric to monitor; it’s a strategic tool that, when understood and utilized properly, can significantly enhance your online presence and marketing effectiveness. ‍ Identifying Referral Sources: Navigating Google Analytics Uncovering where your referral traffic originates can seem daunting, but it’s a crucial step in harnessing the full potential of your digital strategy. Here’s how you can effectively identify and evaluate your referral sources: Source: Google Analytics Demo Account Begin by accessing the ‘Acquisition’ section in Google Analytics, then navigate to ‘Traffic Acquisition’ and search ‘Referral’. This report lists the domains that have sent traffic to your website, providing a straightforward view of your referral landscape. Viewing this data allows you to see not just who is sending traffic, but also how much they’re sending, which can be pivotal in assessing the value of your external relationships. For each referral source, analyze key metrics such as page views, average session duration, and bounce rates. These indicators help determine the engagement and quality of the traffic coming from each referring site. You could use a visualization, like a heatmap, to quickly identify which sources are most valuable based on engagement metrics. This visual tool highlights areas of success and opportunities for improvement. Identifying and analyzing your referral sources in Google Analytics allows you to not only understand where your traffic comes from but also how to engage these visitors effectively. By focusing on data-driven insights, you can optimize your marketing efforts to leverage the most beneficial partnerships and channels. ‍ Leveraging Referral Traffic: Enhancing Your Marketing Strategy Once you understand where your referral traffic is coming from and how it behaves on your site, the next step is leveraging this information to optimize your marketing efforts. Here’s how you can actively use referral data to boost your traffic and conversions: Identify which referral sources bring the most valuable traffic—those with high engagement and conversion rates—and focus on building stronger relationships with these partners. This might involve more collaborative content, joint promotions, or shared campaigns. Consider reaching out to these partners for guest blogging opportunities or joint webinars, which can further engage their audience and bring more qualified traffic to your site. Analyze the content preferences of visitors from different referral sources and tailor your content to better suit their interests. This targeted approach can significantly increase relevancy and engagement. If visitors from a particular tech blog engage more with your software tutorials, consider creating more content in this vein or even developing specific features or services based on this feedback. Optimize the paths that visitors take once they arrive via referral links. Ensure that the landing pages are highly relevant and offer clear, actionable information aligned with the interests of the referral traffic. You might create customized landing pages for visitors from specific referral sources. These pages could highlight information or offers that are especially relevant to that

Google Analytics is a free tool used by businesses to provide insight into who visits their site and what they do there. While a Google Analytics account provides amazingly rich data, you may not always know how to turn the data into actionable steps. This is a real shame, as the insights it provides could mean the difference between an okay site or ad campaign, and an outstanding one that keeps visitors returning for more (or even better, one that results in hard-earned sales). So, this article will answer a few important questions: What is a metric in Google Analytics?  What are some of the most important metrics that I can track? How do these metrics help me with my site performance? ‍ Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels ‍ What is Metrics in Google Analytics?  Every report in Google Analytics is made up of both Metrics and Dimensions.  Metrics are quantitative measurements. Anything that can be measured with a number is a metric in a Google Analytics report. For example, the number of visitors, the average time spent on the site, or the number of pages they visited. Dimensions, on the other hand, organize all these numerical data into categories. An example of this would be the browser, location, or language of traffic to your site. Dimensions are always expressed in non-numerical terms. Primary dimensions are default dimensions automatically added by Google Analytics. You can also add a secondary dimension to narrow your results into smaller categories. How Many Metrics Should I Track? According to supermetrics.com, there are about 500 metrics and dimensions that can be tracked on Google Analytics. But wait, no need to panic! The good news is that not every metric needs to be used to have a successful digital marketing campaign. Each business is different and the metrics you choose to track should be customized to suit your needs. For this reason, we will look at only the Top 10 Metrics we believe every small to medium size business should track. But first, let’s briefly discuss the 4 main categories or reports provided by Google Analytics. Photo by Lukas from Pexels ‍ The 4 Main Categories of Google Analytics Metrics Audience – These user metrics help you understand who your audience is. Acquisition – This is the kind of metric that will help you understand how someone got to your site. Behavior – This metric allows you to determine what users do on your site. Conversions – These metrics track your goals. How many users clicked on that link, signed up for the newsletter, or viewed the discounted deal at the end of the page. Top 10 Google Analytics Metrics for SEO & Ad Campaigns Here are the 10 most relevant Google Analytics metrics that you should be tracking, which category they belong to, and a definition or suggestions on how to analyze them. 1. Number of Users (Audience) Overview: Dashboard → Audience → Overview Definition: This metric tracks how many people visited your website over a specific date range. Why Is This Metric Important? It helps you gauge how successful your marketing efforts are at attracting new and returning visitors. Depending on the type of site you have, repeat visitors are very important. On a blog site, for example, returning visitors show that people find your content engaging and want to read more. How Do I Improve This Metric? Advertise using paid methods, like Google or Facebook Ads Post content on Social media sites like Facebook or Linkedin Encourage first-time visitors to sign up for a newsletter. A monthly newsletter is a subtle reminder that you exist and encourages visitors to return. 2. Demographics  (Audience) Overview: Dashboard → Audience → Overview Definition: This metric tells you more about your visitors by age and gender. Why Is This Metric Important? Knowing your audience helps you to direct your marketing efforts to the right platforms where they spend most of their on-screen time. How Do I Improve This Metric? If most users are over 50, consider using larger text and making your website easier to navigate If most users are in their early 20s, you may choose to use platforms like Instagram or TikTok for paid advertising 3. Average Session Duration (Audience) Overview Dashboard → Audience → Overview In-depth Analysis: Dashboard → Audience → Behavior → Engagement Definition: This metric tracks the average time a user spends on a website in any single session. The period begins when the user enters the website to either the point they leave or after 30 minutes of inactivity. ‍ Note though that page time is only included if the user moves on to another page on the same website. So a user may spend 10 minutes on the first page, but if they don’t move to another page, the session time = 0.00 (these are considered as bounced sessions). In the same way, the time spent on the last page they visit is also omitted. ‍ There are ways around this, but If nothing else, listen to the experts who say a good average session duration should be between 2-3 minutes.  Why Is This Metric Important? If the average session duration is low, this is an indication that either visitors are not finding what they are looking for, your site provides a bad user experience, or lacks engaging content. How Do I Improve This Metric? Add videos to your website pages to keep users there for longer Provide links to other pages of your site Using images to break up huge chunks of text will make the article easier to read 4. Average Pages per Session (Audience) Overview: Dashboard → Audience → Overview In-depth Analysis: Dashboard → Audience → Behavior → Session Quality ‍ Definition: This refers to the average number of individual pages viewed in a single session. This metric is calculated by dividing the number of page views by the total number of sessions. Why Is This Metric Important? If visitors view several pages per session,

A Dimension in Google Analytics is an attribute or description of data. ‍ Every report in google analytics is made up of Metrics and Dimensions. The dimensions of a report give you different attributes of the data you’ve collected. ‍ For example, a dimension could be the City from which a set of metrics is taken in a report, like Istanbul, New York, or Paris. ‍ A Dimension is different from a metric in that it doesn’t have any numerical value. It simply describes the data set, organizing numerical data into categories. ‍ Studying the dimensions in your reports will help you better understand critical factors like where your website visitors are from, the language they speak, and the platforms or gadgets they use to navigate your website. Primary Dimensions When viewing only one of the default dimensions in Google Analytics, it is considered viewing a primary dimension. ‍ Google Analytics Demo‍ ‍ In the example above, the primary dimension is the country from which a user started a session. ‍ Although this data is valuable, it doesn’t tell you how the users found the website, or how long they viewed individual pages. But by layering different dimensions, you will get a more comprehensive picture. ‍ Examples of default Google Analytics Dimensions include Gender, Age, City, Source / Medium, Keyword, Browser, Device Category, and Operating System. Secondary Dimensions A secondary dimension gives you a more in-depth understanding of the primary dimension. ‍ In the example used above, the primary dimension showed you where your audience originates from. ‍ Google Analytics Demo‍ ‍ The secondary dimension highlighted above tells you what the most popular landing page is (the page on which traffic enters your site). In this example, it is the homepage. How to Create and View Secondary Dimensions As secondary dimensions are already pre-defined by Google, you simply have to add them to your custom report to benefit from the metrics that go along with them. Step 1 In your Google Analytics report, you can view various dimensions on the left-hand drop-down bar. ‍ In our example below the primary dimension is set to Language as part of the GEO funnel. ‍ With this dimension, you’ll be able to see what language users prefer to view content in, as part of our Audience Overview Report. This is because Google Analytics records the Langauge settings in your users’ browser settings. ‍Google Analytics Demo ‍ The dimensions in the example are the languages spoken by your audience: US English, British English, and Chinese. ‍ The Metrics are grouped on the right under Users, New Users and Sessions Tabs. Note that metrics have a numerical value added to them. Step 2 Once you’ve chosen the Primary dimension, you’ll be able to view possible secondary dimensions by selecting one from the drop-down list. ‍ Predefined dimension funnels in Google Analytics include Acquisition, Advertising, Behaviour, and Users. ‍ In the example shown we’ll use the Age dimension which is selected under the Users funnel ‍ ‍‍Google Analytics Demo Now we’ll be able to view the age bracket of our users in the different language groups. ‍ ‍Google Analytics Demo ‍ With a side-by-side view of two different dimensions, we get a better understanding of our audience. ‍ But what if I need a secondary dimension, not available in standard Google Analytics reports? ‍ That’s where Custom dimensions come in. How to create and view Custom Dimensions Custom dimensions, much like default dimensions, help you to layer information in a more in-depth way. ‍ These custom reports go a long way in helping you understand your users better as you’re able to hone in on niche-specific data. ‍ But there’s a catch to creating custom dimensions. The device category has to be enabled or alternatively, contain at least one app reporting view. ‍ Custom dimensions also require additional setup in your Google Analytics Account and tracking code. You’ll only be able to view these dimensions after completing the setup process of both these steps. How to create a  Custom Dimension: ‍ Step 1 – Sign in to Google Analytics. ‍ Step 2 – Click Admin, and navigate to the property to which you want to add custom dimensions. ‍ Step 3 – In the Property column, click Custom Definitions > Custom Dimensions. ‍ Step 4 – Click New Custom Dimension. ‍ Step 5 – Add a Name. This can be any string, but use something unique so it’s not confused with any other dimension or metric in your reports. ‍ Step 6 – Select the Scope. Choose to track at the Hit, Session, User, or Product level. ‍ Step 7 – Check the Active box to start collecting data and see the dimension in your reports right away. To create the dimension but have it remain inactive, uncheck the box. ‍ Step 8 – Click Create. How to View Custom Dimensions in Google Analytics ‍ Step 1 After signing in to your Google Analytics account, you’ll be able to view different dimensions on the left-hand drop-down menu. ‍ Let’s use the same example with the primary dimension set to Language as part of the GEO funnel. Step 2 Rather than select one of the predefined dimensions, scroll down to Custom Dimensions. The dimensions that you’ve set up in the 8-step process to create custom dimensions will appear here. ‍ In the example, we chose the Sales region as the Custom Dimension. ‍ ‍Google Analytics Demo Now you’ll be able to view this custom dimension (in blue) alongside one of the standard dimensions (in red) that you already have selected, as depicted below. ‍ Google Analytics Demo‍ ‍ This custom dimension helps you understand in which sales region a particular product is most popular. What is the difference between Dimensions and metrics? In all Google Analytics Reports, Metrics are quantitative measurements and Dimensions are the labels used to describe them. ‍ ‍Google Analytics Demo To put it simply, Metrics are always expressed by numbers (number values,

Aah, yes – the mysterious “Other” found under Google Analytics Traffic Channels. ‍ It has left many analytics newbies scratching their heads in confusion. ‍ Should you ignore it? ‍ Is there any way to see what “other” includes?  ‍ Is there a way to solve the “other” dilemma? ‍ Grab a cup of coffee and let the Abralytics team provide you with all the answers. ‍ ‍ Let’s begin by explaining what the various traffic channels are. What is a Traffic Channel in Google Analytics? A traffic channel or source tells you how a visitor landed on your website. Pretty simple, right? ‍ Why does this matter? ‍ Because knowing where your visitors came from can help you channel your money and efforts in the right place. ‍ For example, if the Acquisition report shows that most users came from Direct Search, you know your offline advertising campaigns are a tremendous success. But, you may need to allocate additional resources to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), so more customers can see you in search. ‍ Acquisition → Overview Page → Top Channels ‍ In the Acquisition Overview report, you’ll find a pie chart and table showing your Traffic Channels. ‍ These can include ‍ Direct: ‍ Direct traffic means the user has typed your URL directly into their browser. It also includes people who have clicked a link to your site on a pdf, Whatsapp message, Facebook Messenger or email. ‍ Paid Search ‍ Traffic that comes from any paid ad that appears in search results. ‍ Display ‍ Traffic that lands on your site after clicking an ad you placed on another website. For example, a banner ad on a blog. ‍ Affiliates ‍ Traffic as a result of affiliate marketing. Your product or service appears on another website with a link to your site. This is done in exchange for a small commission on every item bought. ‍ Organic Search ‍ Visitors who found your site after typing a word or phrase into a search bar. Your page appeared in search results as a relevant match, and the user clicked through to your site. ‍ Source: Pexels ‍ ‍ Social ‍ Users who click through to your site from a social network page or app. This could include LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest, among others. ‍ Referral ‍ Referral traffic comes from backlinks –  when a user lands on your site by clicking a link on another website. ‍ Email ‍ Visitors who land on your site as a result of your email marketing campaigns. ‍ Other ‍ Last but not least, “other” makes a sneaky appearance. So let’s dive in. What is “Other” in Google Analytics? A source is categorized as “other” if Google doesn’t recognize it as belonging to a specific channel. ‍ The source doesn’t play by the (predefined) rules and GA can’t say how these users came to your site. ‍ This can happen when a UTM tag has been placed in an URL incorrectly. ‍ Let’s see how this happens: Incorrect UTM tags ‍ A UTM tag can be created using a UTM Tag Builder. It is a small string of text placed at the end of a URL to help you see exactly which pieces of content are performing well and driving the most traffic to your site. ‍ So while an analytics tool can tell you where your web traffic comes from, a UTM tag tells you which specific posts, pages or ads they clicked on. ‍ So without one, you’ll be able to see that 1000 visitors came from a Social Channel, but you won’t know from which Social Channel. ‍ But when a UTM tag is created incorrectly, it could cause GA to categorize it incorrectly. Instead of ending up under Social, it could be categorized as Other. Here are some common errors when creating UTM tags that are easy to fix: ‍ Mixing lowercase and uppercase letters. Channel definitions are case-sensitive. Inconsistent tagging. For example, using the term “paid” on one tag, but “ad” on another Campaign names that are too long Spelling mistakes Not using Source/Medium consistently Using UTMs for internal links Can you just ignore it? ‍Source: Pexels ‍ You probably shouldn’t. If you chose to ignore the “other” sources, you could miss out on valuable pieces of data. ‍ And like when building a jigsaw puzzle, the larger the number of missing pieces, the less clear the picture becomes. In the same way, the more traffic bucketed under “Other”, the less accurate your data collection is. ‍ If you have a personal site or small business, you may get away with just checking what’s under “Other” on a regular basis. ‍ But the bigger your website is, you’ll want to find a way to sort the problem out. Is there any way to see what “other” includes? Absolutely – Just follow the steps outlined below: ‍ Step 1: Sign into your Google Analytics account ‍ Step 2: Open your Google Analytics Dashboard → ‍ Acquisition → All Traffic → Channels→ Default Channel Grouping column ‍ Step 3: Click on “Other” ‍ ‍Source: Getelevar ‍ Step 4: Change your Secondary Dimension to Medium (Acquisition – Source/medium) ‍ Source: Getelevar‍ ‍ And now you can see where the “Other” traffic originated from. Is there a way to solve the “other” dilemma for good? Yes, depending on your skill level, you could either: ‍ Move them to an existing Google Analytics channel Create a new custom channel grouping ‍ Move them to an existing Google Analytics channel Let’s use #8 on the image above as an example. Follow steps 1- 4 above. Step 5: Identify which channel group each row could belong to. Social Instagram should go under the Social Traffic Channel Step 6: Click on Admin → Channel Settings → Channel Grouping → Default channel grouping settings Step 7: Open the desired channel, which is Social in our example Step 8: Select “Medium” from the

Do you want to increase conversions and ROI? Understanding user behavior and analyzing site traffic via Google Analytics will help! ‍ The catch is, you have to understand and be familiarized with certain terms before you can make use of the data and drive real change in your business. One of those is “Active Users.” Not all GA users fully understand this core metric. ‍ That’s why we’ll focus on it today and find out how to apply it in order to optimize your site.  So, What Are Active Users in Google Analytics?       The term “Active Users” can be a little misleading. Some people think it’s the same thing as a real-time user – someone who is on your site at this moment. ‍ But actually, your active users are different from your real-time users. Active users are those who have engaged in your website over a certain time period. Google Analytics looks at active users in terms of one day, seven days, 14 days, or 30 days. ‍ So, depending on your campaign needs, you can set the time period as daily (default setting), weekly, biweekly, or monthly to use the Active Users report. The default setting simply measures how many users are active on your site every day. ‍ Through the Active Users report, you will see the number of users who visited your site at least once in the last 1, 7, 14, or 28 days in a selected time period. This same report gives you a clear idea of the retention rate of your site, especially if you compare active user counts over time. Definition of a “User” In broad terms, “Users” mean the total number of new as well as returning visitors that get to your website. The numbers in the report are related to the timeframe you specify in Google Analytics. How to Access the Active Users Report To access the Active Users report, simply click on the “Audience” menu in your Google Analytics reporting view. How to Read the Active Users Report In the Active Users report, you’ll see the “Active Users” metric. Basically, there are four different types of Active Users: 1. 1 Day Active Users (Daily Active Users) These are unique users who visited your site at least once on the last day for a selected period of time. 2. 7-Day Active Users (Weekly Active Users) These are unique users who visited your site at least once in the last 7 days for a selected period of time. 3. 14-Day Active Users; and These are unique users who visited your site at least once in the last 14 days for a selected period of time. 4.  28-Day or 30-Day Active Users (Monthly Active Users) These are unique users who visited your site at least once in the last 28 or 30 days for a selected period of time. ‍ Note: 7-day active users may also include 1-day active users. In the same way, 28-day active users may also include 14-day active users.  ‍ Google breaks your website’s active users into four different time frames so it’ll be easier for you to see the number of users visiting your site in a certain period or date range. How to Use the Google Analytics Active Users Report The Google Analytics Active Users report is useful in understanding or analyzing how often users are coming back to your website. The report will also be beneficial in measuring the success of your promotional campaign while it’s still running.  ‍ For instance, you have just started running a promotion a few weeks ago. You hope for new traffic and hope to retain them. This Google Analytics Active Users report will be a great place to get a quick look at how successful your campaign has been. ‍ Hover over the chart and see the different metrics. You’ll also find their ratios to make comparisons. These ratios include: ‍ Daily active users / monthly active users Daily active users / monthly active users Weekly active users / monthly active users ‍ Looking at the active user count data by cohort could also provide you insight on certain points in a client or customer’s life cycle where they stop being active. That way, you can create intentions to retain those uses. ‍ [Recommended Article For You: Google Analytics – Paid vs Free] When to Use Active User Report and When to Use Real-Time Reports Didn’t we say earlier that the “Active Users” metric can be a bit misleading? To remove the confusion, we suggest you use real-time reports if you want to know the number of users that are currently on your site or if you want to validate your tracking. ‍ For instance, you have implemented a tracking event on your site and wanted to check if it is working well. In that case, navigate the Events section and check the real-time reports. ‍ On the other hand, use the Active User report, if you have just recently launched a campaign and wanted to understand its performance. ‍ Pro-Tip: use advanced segments along with Google Analytics Active Users report to see the effect of the active users on the data you are collecting on Google’s web analytics service. Using both would enable you to answer questions, such as are engaged users more active compared to the non-engaged ones? or are users from paid traffic less active than users from email traffic? How Are Google Analytics Users Tracked?     Once you install Google Analytics on your site, it tracks users automatically. The data about each user is stored in your browser as a cookie. That cookie includes the client ID and this is how the platform recognizes your visitors. ‍ If you want to find the unique client ID for a website, simply go to the developer tools > Application> Cookies> and click your domain. Find _ga in the list of your cookies and there you’ll see the Client ID after the second

Video is fast-progressing as one of the most versatile and potent marketing tools out there. ‍ Did you know that video constitutes a whopping 82% of all internet traffic? In fact, YouTube experiences a footfall of roughly 1.7 billion unique users every month! ‍ People don’t simply watch videos—they also actively search for them. ‍ 88% of internet users say they would like brands to publish more video content in 2022. ‍ Given the popularity and lasting influence of video, companies are clamoring to create video content to educate audiences, increase engagement, and boost ROI. ‍ Nearly 86% of businesses have already embraced video in their online marketing strategy. An impressive 94% or marketers believe that video has helped their business boost user understanding of their services or products. ‍ But how do you determine what kind of videos you should put out? How do you reel in massive crowds and boost your revenue with video? ‍ If you work with video or are planning to create video content, you’ve probably asked yourself this question. ‍ How do you determine if a video content strategy is helping you reach business goals? ‍ The answer is simple: by tracking video insights. ‍ For every goal you set, there needs to be a related metric that will help you ensure if your content strategy is hitting the mark or not. ‍ This is arguably the most crucial aspect of the entire video process. ‍ In this article, we’ll find out why video engagement metrics matter and how you can leverage them to skyrocket business revenue. Using Video to Foolproof Brand Experience While videos are rather complex to produce and smoothly integrate with a user interface, they help capture your target audience better and faster as compared to other types of content. ‍ From bolstering the efficacy of information exchange to constructively pitching ideas and products, video content plays an indispensable role in achieving business goals and objectives. ‍ Let’s quickly look at how videos boost UX experience: ‍ Information Exchange The primary reason why video content is regarded as a game-changing aspect of the user interface is because of how clearly and efficiently it facilitates the flow of information. ‍ A compelling 30-seconds video is capable of communicating more knowledge than a large paragraph of text coupled with images and mockups. ‍ As it happens, text-based content struggles to create an impact as potent as video content. As per a Neilson research, your audience reads only about 20% of an web page containing an average of 593 words. ‍ Training guides, tutorials, and explainers when repurposed in a video format have the power to make your audience stop and reflect. It catches their audience’s eye in the first few seconds—ensuring they stick around until the end. ‍ A web page with a video playing in the background does not just enhance visual appeal but also sets the tone for your website. It captures the audience’s attention and establishes an emotional connection with them—thereby helping you avoid bounce rates. ‍ Presenting and pitching Ideas Possibly the greatest advantage video content offers businesses is that they can demonstrate their products and services in a way that invites engagement and conversions. Site visitors needn’t scroll or connect images with pieces of text to understand your vision. Videos successfully communicate your ideas and vision to your audience—and even create lasting impressions—by stimulating the human senses. ‍ According to Hubspot, embedding videos on your landing page can boost conversions by 80%! Another study by Precision Marketing Group demonstrates that videos in emails increase click-through rate by 200 to 300%! ‍ If you are looking to promote your products or services and encourage quality click-throughs, it’s only fitting that you leverage video content for maximum benefits. ‍ Storytelling Medium Video content presents before you the unique opportunity to connect with your site visitors by telling them a compelling, relatable story. It is one of the more effective ways of sparking emotion and making a brand align with human experience. ‍ Stories help gain better clarity of things; they take viewers through the 3 basic phases of a buyer’s journey —from identifying pain points, resolving to eliminate them, and eventually finding a solution. ‍ Did you know 95% of site visitors are more likely to pay attention to a CTA in a video as opposed to the 10% in a text format? ‍ The human connection in videos also instills trust among customers, which helps build credibility around your brand. A survey conducted by WYZOWL showed that 79% of buyers are compelled to purchase a product after watching a video. 3 Reasons to track video engagement metrics With videos helping you effectively communicate your message to your audience, build trust, and rank better in search results, it is imperative for brands to optimize their video content for maximum results. ‍ This is possible with tracking engagement metrics to measure the overall success of your videos. Here are 3 reasons why video engagement metrics are worth paying attention to: ‍ Understanding target audience and subscriber base The foremost reason for tracking engagement metrics is to gain a better understanding of your customer base. ‍ With insight into your customers’ browsing habits, you can optimize your video content to deliver top-notch user experience. ‍ For instance, tracking your watch time is highly advantageous. You can determine at which point in the video your audience tends to bounce off, how long they stay engaged with your video, and what the optimum duration of your video should be. ‍ This way, you can include your brand message and CTA appropriately in your video to ensure maximum ROI. ‍ Another metric—called max concurrent users—shows you when your target audience tends be most active. This allows you to time your content publishing to grab maximum eyeballs. ‍ Gaining advantage over competitors Video provides much-needed competitive edge to companies to thrive in a high-stakes market and take their business to the next level. ‍ By