Whether you’re using Google Analytics to learn more about your website traffic or to measure the ROI of advertising campaigns, understanding Google reports and utilizing the Analytics tools can enable businesses to reach marketing goals and convert more visitors to customers.

1. Understand your report
The Google Analytics reporting feature enables you to quickly view a graph of your site visits by day, week, month or a specific date range. Like a stock chart, you can choose which metric to view or compare. The chart makes it easy to see spikes in traffic on specific days or during specific times.

Click here to watch the Google dashboard tutorial on YouTube. 

2. Breaking down the site usage terminology
In order to fully understand how your site is being used and by whom, it’s important to learn the differences between industry terms such as “visits” vs. “pageviews.”

A “visit,” for instance, is simply a single session. In other words, one person visiting your site and then closing the browser when they’re done is considered one visit. A “pageview,” however, is tallied each time a page is loaded (as long as that page contains the tracking code). So one visitor could generate many pageviews. The number of pages per visit (“pages/visit”) is simply an average based on these two numbers.

The “bounce rate” refers to the percentage of visitors who left the site after the entrance or landing page. This doesn’t necessarily mean they landed on the home page and left – the visitor could have entered on any page of the site. A high bounce rate could mean they have entered a landing page, filled out the requested information and left. Or, if they’re entering your home or another website page and leaving, it may mean you need to modify your message to drive people deeper into your site vs sending them away.

“Avg. time on site” refers to the average time a visitor remained on the website. And the percentage of “new visits” is recorded when a visitor accesses your site for the first time from a browser. Google is able to determine this by placing a cookie on the person’s browser.

3. Understanding your visitors
The Visitors Overview provides at-a-glance numbers and chart for the “Absolute Unique Visitors”. As opposed to the number of “visits” listed under Site Usage, this section gives you incite into who the individual visitors are. After all, a unique visitor can visit your website more than once during the reporting time period.

The map report enables you to view a detailed overlay of exactly where your visitors are from – you can view a global overview or drill right down to the city simply by clicking on any highlighted section of the map. This is a great resource if you’re running a localized ad campaign. 

4. Determine how your visitors found you and what they visited
The Traffic Sources report provides detailed information regarding how your visitors found you. For example, did the visitor come directly to your website? Did they click a link on another website (a “referring” site)? Or did they find you on a search engine?

Once they arrived on your website, the Content Overview report provides a detailed analysis of what they did. You can find out which page they entered, how they navigated through your site, and which pages they viewed. The content section provides a variety of tools to enable you to understand how your visitors view your site and what you can do to optimize your web pages as well as landing pages.

5. Use your reports to improve your website and advertising campaigns
Whether you simply want to learn more about your visitors, are trying to increase conversion goals, or are running campaigns, Google offers many tools to help you drive traffic and increase ROI. For instance, if your goal is to motivate visitors to register by offering a free white paper with sign-up, the Google Analytics “Goals” section enables you to setup your objective and track all traffic and conversions. For more information, click here.

For more information on using Google Analytics Goals and optimizing your e-commerce website, click here to watch the video tutorial. 

The reporting feature also enables you to track events, Google AdWords campaigns and keywords, analyze ad conversion, setup alerts, custom reports, and more. To get the most from your Google Analytics account, we recommend visiting the vast collection of resources and tutorials Google offers. We’ve listed a few below to get you started:

Google Analytics Resources:

1. For a more detailed breakdown of the Google Analytics report, view the guide.

2. For a detailed terminology guide, reference the Glossary.

3. Visit the Google Analytics YouTube channel for videos on learning and using their tool.

4. Get free online training at Google Conversion University.

5. Have questions? Visit the Help center.

6. For Google Analytics products, support and education, click here.

Part 1 – Getting started

As organic traffic to your website (aka: website traffic you don’t have to pay for) becomes a vital method of marketing, selling and branding for any size site, Google Analytics can play an important role in helping you understand your visitor, generate additional traffic, analyze campaigns and more.

An enterprise-class tool, this service is offered free by Google, and it takes only minutes to setup and begin tracking. The search engines already track your site’s performance and traffic – you now have the ability to see what they see and use this information to put yourself ahead of the pack. Follow these four simple steps to get started:

1. Get a Google account.
If you already have a Google account, you can simply use it to sign in. If you do not already have an account with Google, you can sign up for one (it’s also free and easy and gives you access to all of Google’s tools). You can use any emaiI on your account (it does not have to be a Gmail address). When you sign up for a new account, be sure to check your Inbox to confirm your account.

2. Sign up for Google Analytics.
Now that you have a Google account, and are signed in, you will need to signup for Google Analytics (another free and easy signup):

Enter the details regarding your website (in two very short forms, and agree to their terms), and you’ll be off and running!

3. Add the tracking code to your site.
Once you’ve created your Google Analytics account, you’ll be given a script which needs to be placed within the code of the website you’re tracking.

If you’re unsure how to add the tracking code to your website, copy and paste the script to a text file and save it. Then contact the Brookfield Group, and a representative can help you place the code on your site. Without the tracking code on your site, Google will be unable to track and display your website data in your Analytics account.

You can also click here to use Google’s handy online guide to troubleshoot.

4. Check your status.
It may take up to 24 hours for Google to begin tracking. If your tracking code was placed on the site correctly, then once Google detects the tracking code on your website, your “status” icon will change. Click here to see the icons and definition for each or view diagram below.

If you have any issues getting the tracking code to work properly, please contact a Brookfield Group representative to assist you.

Google also offers a video tutorial to help you get started quickly and easily:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8BYmKvMSW8 

Once you’ve successfully setup your Google Analytics account and your website data is being populated into your reports, it’s time to begin analyzing the data and using it to improve your business. To learn more, come back next week to read Part 2 of Using and Understanding Google Analytics.

As cloud computing has gained momentum over the last several years, it has become less of a possible passing IT fad, and more of a viable means of managing business applications cheaper and faster by leveraging the cloud to reduce costs and increase speed and scalability.

The term “cloud” has been in use for decades by the telephony companies who used an image of a cloud to represent the telephone network. In an attempt to utilize their bandwidth more effectively, telephony companies began offering VPN services which allowed them to balance traffic based on usage. This network structure was represented with the image of a cloud.

Today, cloud computing follows a similar philosophy on a grander scale. Although some have tried to use the term “cloud” synonymously with the internet, and others have referred to it as another form of software-as-a-service (SAAS),  the cloud can offer these services and much more. In its simplest form, it is a real-time, subscription-based service used to enhance IT capabilities.

Whether you need applications, services, storage or infrastructure, cloud computing providers such as the Brookfield Group, enable rapid deployment, cost savings, and scalability. Some of the components found in the cloud include:

1. Software-as-a-service (SAAS): Provides web-based applications to clients, thus eliminating the cost of software licensing, servers and hosting, upgrading and maintenance, and other requirements.

2. Web services: Provides APIs that enable clients to enhance their websites and web-based services. You may already be using web services in the cloud such as Google Map’s API.

3. Platform-as-a-service (PAAS): PAAS enables clients to build their own application and distribute it to their own users via the cloud.

4. Managed services: Providers manage their clients with a set of scalable IT services for a subscription fee. Examples include anti-spam, anti-virus, virus scanning for email, and a variety of other services.

5. Utility computing: Similar to the telephone network, utility computing offers a package of IT resources such as storage and virtual servers and typically charges for these services based on usage.

Chart: Average worldwide traffic for “cloud computing” on Google from 2004 until now.

As cloud computing continues to grow, providers continue to develop new services and components. The basis for the cloud computing, however, remains the same – from rapid deployment of services to reduced costs, the cloud has begun to change the IT scene by offering businesses the ability to operate their IT systems more efficiently.

The advantages include:

1. Ability to rapidly deploy services

2. Reduction of costs and capital expenditures – the cloud reduces hardware, software, licensing, maintenance, administrative and other costs.

3. Scalability – easily expand or reduce services to fit your business needs.

4. Disaster recovery – your information is protected and backed up in the cloud.

5. Web-based access – The cloud is location and device independent which allows users to access systems via any web browser or device.

6. Maintenance – Because cloud services and applications run “in the cloud” and are not installed on individual computers, office computers are easier to manage. Updates to cloud services and applications can be done in one location and accessed instantly.

7. ROI – Most cloud computing vendors provide cloud access on a metered basis which enables clients to quickly measure their return on investment (ROI) in comparison to traditional systems and manage their usage more effectively.

For more information on cloud computing, the following resources are available:

1. The Open Cloud Computing Interface (OCCI)

2. The Open Cloud Consortium

3. Cloud Computing Plain and Simple [video]  

4. Cloud Computing Video

Dell Latitude E-Family Refresh
Dell this week launched new enhancements to its Latitude line of business notebooks. The PCs include the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, fast DDR3 memory, HD displays and new colors. Dell also has bolstered data protection, asset monitoring and remote management to complement the new PCs. Pictured at left is the Latitude e6410 in black.

Mobility, Usability, Technology
The E6410 (left), is a 14-inch model. Dell also introduced the E6510 15-inch version and a semi-rugged version of the E6410, built on Dell’s All-Terrain Grade (ATG) platform, said Patrick Burns, senior manager of Latitude product marketing at Dell.

“Three things were key as we bring these to market. One is mobile collaboration. Customers continue to require full remote capabilities. They need to work on the go. Second, as technology enhances, they want to improve usability for users of all levels. The third is the interior of the machines, the technology architecture, with a few components being refreshed,”

By Edward F. Moltzen, ChannelWeb     Well, it’s here. The big question, though, is whether April 3, 2010 will be a headline or a footnote in the technology industry’s history book. After giving a look over for several hours, the bet here is on headline. A big, 64-point headline.Apple (NSDQ:AAPL)’s iPad will change use patterns, alter expectations and force PC makers that compete with Apple to change their strategies. It’s not a business device but it will start seeping into the corporate world in spite of efforts by CIOs and IT administrators to keep it out.

In fact, it’s not even ludicrous to believe iPhone as an operating system — the OS that powers the iPad and iPhone — will give Windows 7 a run for its money this year in number of devices actually used for business. Here are a few reasons why:

Form factor: Like it or hate it, iPad’s form factor is just easy to carry around and use during the course of a work day. A pound and a half feels like nothing compared to even an ultra-light notebook. It’s smaller than even a legal pad for note-taking and, via its Safari browser, data access over the Web is fast and easy.

Battery life: Apple says iPad provides 10 hours of battery life and, as others have noted, it will likely actually give you more than that. After four hours, our iPad still registered 70 percent battery life with audio running in the background the entire time. It was also used for word processing, its GPS/mapping was tried out, and other testing was performed. Unlike the iPhone, though, iPad tells you what percent of battery life you actually have remaining so you can manage power use easier. Battery life here is a competitive strength not a weakness.

The keyboard: After two minutes, you might hate it. After five minutes, though, you could start loving it. This review is being typed on iPad using Apple’s $9.99 Pages app, which has been optimized for iPad. Once you get the feel of it, even power typers like the one writing this review will find it easy and comfortable to use. (Full disclosure: this is being written in landscape mode, where the keyboard is larger and wider.)

Performance: Apple is using a 1.00 GHz A4 processor for iPad — its own, proprietary CPU. That was a roll of the dice on Apple’s part, but it seems to have paid off. The device boots fast, runs fast, is exceptionally cool to the touch after a couple of hours of use and, as mentioned, gets great battery life. That can’t be an accident. While Intel has done ground-breaking work on developing and engineering the Atom platform, from this vantage point it appears that Apple has either caught Intel or surpassed it on mobile CPU technology. (Extensive, head-to-head benchmarking between A4 and Atom will need to confirm this, though.) For now, just know that Apple is sitting on powerful processing technology that will deeply impact the industry, it seems, for much time to come.