Google Analytics (GA), simply stated, is a website tracking tool that helps introducing a tracking code into the websites.
“Google Analytics (abbreviated GA) is a free service offered by Google that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website. Its main highlight is that the product is aimed at marketers as opposed to webmasters and technologists from which the industry of web analytics originally grew” - (Source: Wikipedia).
How to set up Google Analytics
The main purpose of Google Analytics is to generate productive keywords which are search engine friendly. Therefore, it must be set well before implementation. Setting up Google Analytics does not call for any technical expertise. The entire process consists of a few easy steps:
- Go to google.com/accounts/ManageAccount and click Analytics
- Click add website profiles
- Enter website address into the field
- http:// or the hyper text protocol is already there.
- The code automatically seen in the picture provided.
- Click on the code and hold down control and hit A to select all of the text.
- Hold down control and hit C to copy the text to the clipboard
- Visit website or blog and paste the code.
- Go back to your Google Analytics account and click finish.
Many marketing experts argue that Google Analytics is the tool designed for internet marketers who work on specific tags and search engine friendly keywords to bring out the best productive results. On the contrary, webmasters deny this claim and argue that Google Analytics does not support SEO. According to them, Google Analytics only supports effective website traffic analysis which a webmaster needs the most while producing a website.
But Google has its own opinion. According to Google Google Analytics provides a collaborative platform to internet marketers and webmasters who work on minute details of effective search engine optimization.
Google Analytics for Search Engine Marketing Professionals
Google Analytics offers a plethora of remarkable features not only for site owners but also for all types of users including advertising and search engine marketing professionals and content developers.
Once the Google Analytics tracking code is pasted onto each of the website pages, tracking commences instantly. It is indeed possible to track all ads, email newsletters, paid links, and keywords on Google and other search engines. It facilitates grouping all relevant information on a custom Dashboard for email purposes.
Another unique feature is buying keywords on Google AdWords and use Google Analytics to know the most productive keywords. Google Analytics throws out valuable information regarding how visitors search the site, what visitors look for, and where visitors finally end up. There is e-commerce tracking that traces transactions to campaigns and keywords and identifies revenue sources. Thus it provides a real boost to search engine marketing.
Limitations of Google Analytics for SEO
Web specialists contend Google Analytics does not help Search Engine optimization. There are three fundamental limitations and the first one pertains to page tagging technology, as the program is capable of recording information only on browsers that execute JavaScript.
Secondly, users bemoan that there is no support to log files. Log file analysis opposes page tagging and the best part about log analysis is in the filters one can build. It is unfortunate that Google Analytics does not permit uploading log files as other applications do. If this feature is built in, then it would make a world of difference to Google Analytics.
The third limitation is when reports are accessed online via the Google Analytics interface the data cannot be easily be taken or efficiently archived. Regrettably, Google exercises permanent control over the data. The apprehension is if Google changes the interface or the manner of reporting, the user will be at Google’s mercy.
It is of course known to many that Google acquired Urchin and re-branded it as Google Analytics. Google Analytics can not be out rightly dismissed as an ineffective tool except for the fact it is a tool that does fully address the needs of serious search marketers.
Reference for Writing Google Analytics for SEO – Google Analytics fails for SEO Purposes
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