Want to make your website better but are not sure how to start?
Here’s a simple approach: use data from your website’s visitors to guide your improvements. If you have a website, you might already be using Google Analytics. Lots of websites use it, and it’s been around for a while. But even with so many users, some website owners find Google Analytics confusing.
If you’re one of them, don’t worry. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could look beyond all the fancy charts and graphs and focus on what really matters? That’s why we want to share 11 easy ways to use Analytics to make your website better, based on advice from our experts at Brightviu.
1. Set Clear Goals
Before diving into the data, define your website’s goals. Are you looking to increase sales, boost newsletter sign-ups, or enhance user engagement? Setting clear objectives will help you measure success accurately.
Start by deciding what you want your website to achieve. Do you want more people to buy things, sign up for newsletters, or stay longer on your site? When you have clear goals, it’s like having a map to follow. You can see where you want to go and track your progress.
Having clear goals is like having a plan. It helps you know what’s important and what can wait. So, if you want more sales, you can keep an eye on how many people are buying from your site. If it’s newsletters you’re after, you can watch how many people are signing up.
But it’s not just about knowing what you want. It’s also about making smart choices. With clear goals, you can decide what to work on first, like making your website look better or writing exciting stuff. Setting clear goals helps you make your website better and more successful.
2. What causes people to leave your website?
Have you ever wondered why some visitors click away from your website without sticking around? This is the bounce rate, and Google Analytics can act as your detective to uncover the reasons behind it.
Understanding why people leave is similar to solving a mystery. It’s like asking, “What made them go?” Google Analytics provides valuable clues in this investigation. It can reveal whether your pages take too long to load, if finding information is challenging, or if your website isn’t user-friendly.
Knowing why people leave empowers you to make improvements. You can speed up your website, reorganize information for better accessibility, or enhance its user-friendliness. With Google Analytics as your trusty detective, you can engage visitors effectively and encourage them to stay longer.
3. Explore Your Website’s Traffic Sources
Interested in finding out how people come across your website on the internet? It’s like asking, “Where do they come from?”
Understanding where your website traffic originates is like uncovering a secret path. It’s like figuring out, “How did they get here?” Google Analytics acts as your guide in this quest. It can show you if people find your site through search engines like Google, from social media sites like Facebook or LinkedIn, or by directly typing your web address.
Knowing where your traffic comes from helps you focus your efforts. You can optimize your website for search engines, boost your social media presence, or make your web address easier to remember. With Google Analytics as your trusty sidekick, you can solve the mystery of your website’s traffic sources and make smart decisions to attract more visitors.
4. Where do you rank on Google?
Knowing where your website stands in Google’s search results is like understanding your place in a race. It’s like asking, “Are we in the lead or trailing behind?” Google Analytics offers this valuable information.
This knowledge can guide your efforts to improve your website’s visibility. For instance, if you find your site is not showing up where you’d like it to, you can work on optimizing it for search engines. This could mean tweaking your content, improving your website’s loading speed, or focusing on relevant keywords.
By keeping tabs on your Google ranking through Google Analytics, you can adapt your strategies and make sure your website is heading in the right direction, getting closer to that coveted first-page spot. Understanding your Google ranking is like having a well-drawn map that leads you toward online success. Plus, it can help you stay competitive, attract more visitors, and ultimately achieve your online goals.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a blogger, or an e-commerce site, knowing your Google ranking can make all the difference in your online journey.
5. Where do your visitors live?
Figuring out where your website’s visitors are from is like learning where your online guests live.
It helps tailor your website and advertising. For example, if you sell outdoor gear online and notice many visitors from cold places, you can highlight warm clothing or tips for staying cozy in chilly weather. Similarly, if you’re a travel blogger and see lots of visitors from sunny destinations, you can create more content about beach vacations.
By using Google Analytics to understand where your visitors live, you can make your website more appealing to them. Whether you’re a local business targeting nearby customers or a global brand reaching an international audience, knowing your visitors’ locations can enhance your online presence.
Local and Global Optimization
For businesses with physical stores, knowing where your website visitors live is crucial. If you run a coffee shop in New York City and most visitors are from there, you can promote your shop and offer local deals. On the other hand, if you’re a big online store with global customers and you see more visitors from Australia, you can plan special campaigns for them.
In short, Google Analytics provides valuable insights into your audience’s location, helping you customize your online strategy. Whether you want to connect with your local community or expand globally, knowing where your audience lives is a valuable tool in your toolbox.
6. At what time of day do most visitors land on your site?
Interested in knowing the peak hours when your website attracts the most visitors? It’s comparable to asking, “During which periods does our website receive the most attention?”
Knowing the peak hours of visitor activity can be more than just a curiosity. It’s like having a schedule for your website’s popularity. With this data, you can plan to share new content or run promotions when the most people are around.
For example, if you find that your website gets the most visitors in the evening, you might consider posting new articles or products during those hours. This way, you can maximize the chances of reaching a larger audience when they’re most active online.
By identifying your website’s busiest times, you can make your online presence more effective and ensure that you’re engaging with your audience when it matters most.
7. Finding Out Where Most People Come to Your Website From Social Media
Understanding which social media websites bring the most people to your website is a bit like knowing which streets lead to your shop. It’s like asking, “Where do our online visitors come from on social media?”
This knowledge isn’t just interesting; it’s super useful. Imagine you have a small bakery, and you figure out that Instagram sends the most visitors to your website. Then, you can focus on posting yummy pictures of your treats, chat with your Instagram followers, and even run special ads on the platform to get more visitors. It’s like spotting the busiest road to your bakery and making it even more inviting.
On the flip side, if you see that LinkedIn brings in lots of visitors, you can tweak your content to suit a more business-oriented audience. By going along with the social media sites that matter most, you can get more out of your online efforts.
Directing Your Marketing Efforts
Finding out where your website’s top social media visitors come from isn’t just about being curious; it’s about putting your marketing work where it counts. It’s like choosing the best fishing spot to catch the most fish. With this information in hand, you can make the most of your time and effort.
For instance, if Pinterest is the place where your audience hangs out, you can create catchy pins that lead to your website. If YouTube sends you visitors, you can think about starting your own channel with videos to connect with your audience. By matching your marketing plans with your favorite social media platforms, you can step up your online presence, draw more visitors, and reach your online marketing goals.
8. What services or products would interest your visitors?
Have you ever thought about what might grab your visitors’ interest? Once you know what they like or don’t like, you can offer them new stuff you believe they’ll find interesting.
For example, if people really like a specific item you sell, you can suggest other products, services, or even articles that go well with it. It’s like saying, “Hey, since you love this, you might also like these!”
As your business grows, this is one of the best ways to start selling more to your current visitors. Sometimes, it’s easier to sell more things to people who already know and trust your business than to try to find brand-new customers. By giving your visitors more of what they like, you’re not just satisfying them but also growing your business at the same time.
Understanding what your website visitors are interested in can significantly boost your sales. It’s like knowing the secret ingredient in a recipe that makes it extra tasty.
Let’s say you run a fashion website, and you notice that many visitors are clicking on a particular type of dress. You can then showcase more dresses in that style or recommend matching accessories. This increases the chances of visitors making additional purchases because you’re offering them something they’re already interested in.
You can tailor your offerings to match their preferences. This customer-centric approach not only improves their experience but also drives up your revenue, making your online business more successful.
9. How Does Your Performance Compare to Your Competitors?
One of the first things you should do is check the benchmarks tab. It tells you how well your website is doing compared to others in your field. It’s not perfect because not everyone might use Google Analytics, but it’s better than nothing. It’s like getting a general idea of how you’re doing.
You might already know if your website gets more or fewer visitors than your competition, but do you know how interested your visitors are compared to your biggest rivals?
When you look at stats like how long people stay on your site, you can see how you compare to others who have the same audience. It shows you where you can make your website better.
After I’m done with Google Analytics, I like to take my competitor analysis a step further with another website. You can get similar information and some extra data that can help you.
For example, let’s say Brightviu is one of your main competitors. Just type their web address and click “search.”
10. What Can You Learn from Analyzing Trends?
Interested in what you can discover by examining trends in Google Analytics? It’s similar to inquiring, “What’s currently catching everyone’s attention?”
Google Analytics provides various metrics, and some of them are connected. For example, when an infographic goes viral, it might make more people leave your site quickly (bounce rate), or when you rank first for a popular keyword, it could lead to fewer pages being viewed per session.
This tool also displays current trends and how they change over time. It helps you understand what topics and keywords people are interested in. It tells you if something is always in demand or if it is just a short-lived trend.
For instance, let’s say you manage a cooking blog. You’ve noticed that “plant-based recipes” have been on the rise in your trend data. To capitalize on this trend, you should start creating more content around delicious plant-based dishes, sharing tips for transitioning to a plant-based diet, and reviewing plant-based ingredients and cookware. This not only keeps your audience engaged but also positions you as an authority in the current food movement.
Similarly, if you run a technology website and notice an increasing trend in “smart home automation,” you can take this as an opportunity to delve deeper into this topic. You can create comprehensive guides on setting up smart home systems, review the latest smart devices, and provide troubleshooting tips for your tech-savvy audience.
Google Analytics tracks not only the current trends but also how they evolve over time. This means you can stay agile in your content strategy. For example, if “work-from-home productivity” was booming during the pandemic but has since plateaued, you can adjust your focus to cater to new trends emerging in the remote work landscape.
In essence, the power of trend analysis lies not only in identifying trends but also in using them strategically to engage your audience, establish authority in your niche, and adapt to evolving interests. It’s a dynamic tool that helps you stay at the forefront of your industry and make data-driven decisions to grow your online presence.
11. Why Should You Prioritize Mobile Users?
Did you know that nearly half of all Google searches now happen on mobile phones? This means paying attention to mobile users is more crucial than ever. Think of it like making sure your shop’s entrance is welcoming to everyone, whether they’re coming in through the front door or a side gate.
Now, if you see that many of your mobile visitors quickly leave your website (that’s what we call a high bounce rate), it’s a red flag. It suggests that your website needs some improvements to make it work smoothly on smartphones. For example, your pages might take too long to load on mobile devices, or the text and images might not display correctly. This is like having a door that’s hard to open or a path that’s full of obstacles. Visitors will turn away.
On the flip side, if your website is a joy to use on mobile devices, Google will take notice and reward you. It’s like getting a gold star. Google will boost your website’s ranking in search results, making it more likely for people to find your site when they search online. This increased visibility can lead to more visitors, which is like having a bustling store with lots of shoppers.
Let’s say you run a local restaurant, and many customers find you by searching on their phones for places to eat nearby. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, potential diners might struggle to see your menu or find your address. They’ll likely bounce away and choose another restaurant.
Now, imagine you have an online store selling trendy fashion. If your website loads quickly on mobile devices and offers a smooth shopping experience, you’re more likely to convert mobile visitors into customers. It’s like having an attractive and well-organized display in a physical store that encourages shoppers to make a purchase.
Focusing on mobile optimization is not just a trend but a necessity now. Google Analytics helps you see how well you’re doing with mobile traffic, and by making your website mobile-friendly, you can attract and retain more visitors, whether you’re running a restaurant, an online store, or a travel blog.
Conclusion
We’ve discussed 11 useful tips to help you make the most of this powerful tool. By applying these insights, you can elevate your website, drive more traffic, and ultimately achieve your online goals. Remember that Google Analytics is your compass in the vast online world.
It not only helps you understand your audience but also guides you in making informed decisions to continually improve your website. From setting up goals to tracking user behavior and optimizing for mobile, these tips cover critical aspects of website management. At Brightviu, we’re dedicated to helping you make the most of Google Analytics and improve your online presence. Let our expert team guide you in utilizing your website’s data effectively. Contact us today to see how Google Analytics can boost your business!
FAQS
Q: What does Brightviu do to help businesses online?
A: Brightviu helps businesses on the internet by making their websites better, getting more people to see them, and using social media to reach more customers.
Q: What is Google Analytics 4 (GA4), and why is it good for my business?
A: GA4 is a tool that helps businesses understand their website visitors better. It’s good because it gives you more information about how people use your website, which helps you make smarter decisions.
Q: How is GA4 different from the old way of tracking websites, and why should I change it?
A: GA4 is better at keeping track of what people do on your website. You should think about changing because it helps you understand your customers better and keep up with how the internet is changing.
Q: What can Brightviu do to help me with GA4?
A: Brightviu can set up GA4 for you and show you how to use it. They’ll also give you ideas on how to make your website work even better.
Q: How do I start using Brightviu’s services and learn about GA4?
A: To begin using Brightviu’s services and learn about GA4, just contact us at contact@brightviu.comcontact@brightviu.com. We help you figure out what you need and make a plan to make your business better online.
Contact Us
If you have any doubts or inquiries, feel free to contact us at contact@brightviu.com. We’re here to help you with all your digital solutions needs!
