When you’re running a small business, it is very easy to simply forego tracking any data associated with your website. This is always a mistake. Having data not only about your own site but competitive intelligence about your competitors is vital if you wish to spot opportunities to profit.
The first and sometimes only reason this doesn’t happen is that it’s a technical area, and most of us aren’t up to speed on what it takes to make it happen. Is it a software you have to buy, or who’s going to make it work the way it should? Let’s look at the answers you need to these questions, and get you started collecting your data today.
Top tools for collecting data and analyzing it
There are lots of tools available out there for tracking and collecting website data, but for those just starting out the best option is unquestionably Google Analytics.
Google Analytics is a free tool provided for you that gives you a peek into how visitors are using your pages. Not only that, it cuts down on customer acquisition costs by allowing you to target your marketing, organic search and advertising campaigns far more effectively. This tool has more in it than you’ll probably ever use!
What sort of data do you need to track?
There is a wealth of items you might want to track, but at the start here are 5 important ones that everyone should look at.
- Where’s your traffic coming from? – One of the most important stats to see is where your traffic is coming from? You’ll be surprised at the source of some of it, and this data helps marketing your business.
- What pages are converting? – This data is invaluable, as it directly affects your bottom line. See what’s working and what isn’t easily.
- Keyword data – See which keywords people are typing in to find your pages, and this can lead to better optimization and results.
- Which pages are performing best? – Off the top of your head do you know which of your pages are doing the best? The answers may surprise you, and help you make a profitable shift in your marketing.
- How long do people stay on a page – This data is important for helping you rank your pages in Google’s search results.
The ability to track and understand your website data is key to making good and profitable decisions in your small business. Get stated tracking today!
