131 Comments

  1. Good tips. Unfortunately, my brain isn’t processing right now, because this post didn’t make any sense to me. Must look at it again after I’ve rested.

  2. Kaye

    Fab tips. I love GA but never thought to use it to check some stats about our linky and see what’s working/what isn’t. Thanks for the tips! #bloggerclubuk

  3. Mess and Merlot

    Thanks Debbie, really useful ‘Dummies Guidy To…’ Which is exactly the stage I’m at!!! πŸ˜„ #BloggerClubUK

  4. blabbermama

    I haven’t even thought of analytics yet but I know I really should. I also have trouble with some social media I just haven’t figured out how to make it work for me. Thanks for the tips #bloggerclubuk

    • I think it’s best to get GA installed sooner rather than later, even if you don’t plan on using it yet. Simply because when you do start using it, you will have enough data built up to get a clear picture of what’s going on. I have lots of social media tips posts if you need any help in that area πŸ™‚ x

  5. Catie: An Imperfect Mum

    I sometimes look at google analytics but then have no idea what any of it means and just switch it back off so thanks for this maybe I will have a bit more idea next time. I must admit to being not too focused on my data, I just enjoy the writing. Of course there’s no point writing if no-one is reading though so it’s a difficult one!
    Thanks for hosting x

    • GA is brilliant for working out if you’re getting traffic direct from a linky. I do find on some of the ones I join in with though, I don’t get a lot of traffic from the linky itself, but my stats on that post on that day go up. I think it’s the host retweets, so consider this too when making your decision x

  6. wendy

    Great tips. I used GA in an old job and it is quite confusing. I need to get it for my blog as would love to know where my traffic comes from and how to improve. You sound like a pro xx #BloggerClubUK

  7. I haven’t been on google analytics, but I’m off to try it right now! Thanks for the suggestion. I look at my stats on wordpress though, is that similar? I’m not so good on the technical side of blogging. But my wordpress stats tell me that most of my traffic comes through facebook, and everything else is slowly building. But I must admit I also tend to think more in terms of individuals who comment and share, and who I make a really connection with, and not focus too much on the number side of things. I’m a parenting blogger and when i get messages from people telling me their relationship with their child has changed because of what I’ve written I know I’m on the right track regardless of what the numbers say. #BloggerClubUK

    • The WordPress stats are similar, but the general thought is that GA is a bit more accurate because it doesn’t count visits from spambots. GA is useful for is you’re planning to work with brands, as most of them want GA stats, but otherwise I think you’re way of measuring your success is perfect. If you can change one relationship for the better, that’s better than thousands of views in my opinion. Don’t let the stats throw you off track, keep writing what you love, they are just a nice little tool to check now and again!

  8. I love Google Analytics, although I always go in to do one thing and end up looking at something else. Great post about traffic sources.

    Sally @ Life Loving
    #BloggerClubUK

  9. The hippy christian mum

    This is fab thank you, I was wondering about whether to use google analytics, will get on it thanks! #BloggerClubUK

  10. I’ve not dipped my toe into Google Analytics… but I should do really. The question is, will it make me a better blogger or will I just spend more time checking stats???? #BloggerClubUK

    • I don’t think it makes anyone a better blogger. It can help target your promotion and see what works best in terms of posting times, type of content etc but it does get you hooked into checking stats! It is useful for working with brands though as most of them want your stats from GA

  11. Thanks for the summary great for a newbie bloggee, social media is currently blowing my mind but need to start to get to grips with this! I think I will be giving it a couple of reads! #BloggerClubUK x

  12. Lisa

    Great post. A lot of help. I hate looking at the Google Adsense thingy. I never really understand it!
    L X

  13. This is a timely post as I am trying to get to grips with google analytics. My demographic info has disappeared though…Abut age and gender…Something about threshholds. I need to look at that detailed link you gave. Thanks for sharing #bloggerclubuk

  14. I have google analytics, but it completely bamboozles me when ever I try to make head or tail of it. I know it’s something that I really need to learn… maybe a very simple complete beginners step-by-step with screen shots on how to set it up and see the basic stats would help. πŸ™‚ #BloggerClubUK

  15. Thanks so much for this. I keep meaning to learn about StumbleUpon properly but never seem to have the time. GA does seem a little scary but I know I need to get to grips with it at some stage. This definitely helps me think I could do it! #BloggerClubUK

  16. Really clear post, and very helpful. I opened Google analytics while reading it, and it made for a very interesting comparison. My highest referrer by loads is pinterest (due to my tutorials) and my SEO is clearly wanting lol Thanks for making me look at it Debbie x

  17. I really like GA and the app works well on my phone for on the move checking if I need something specific whilst I’m out and about, love the Instagram tip. Didn’t know that, very handy. #BloggerClubUK

  18. I look at my GA, I read this and I still don’t understand …! This is obviously a blind spot. Ah well, saved in case I ever do! Thank you πŸ™‚

  19. Very clearly written – even an analytical idiot like me understood it πŸ™‚ I like looking at stats on WP, just out of interest. I’m not sure at what point I will use GA, but as some others have said, I’m just about getting to grips with social media at the mo! Insightful, thank you. Alison #BloggerClubUk

  20. So so useful to me as a Newb, I’m quickly learning that writing is just one portion of blogging life and it’s helpful to regularly assess what I actually want to achieve from it. Going to bookmark this post and have myself a little homework exercise I think. #bloggerclubuk

    • Thank you, I’m glad it’s helped you. Writing is the most important part in my opinion, but as you say there is so much more to blogging than writing. It doesn’t matter how good your content is if no one knows it’s there πŸ™‚

  21. Sara Skillington

    Thanks for the tips. I need to try and make a bit more sense of G A so this post will be helpful πŸ™‚ #BloggerClubUK

  22. I know I need to do something like this to understand my traffic a bit more and therefore grow my blog, but I’ve never known where to start. This has given me a bit of an insight into what I need to do! #bloggerclubuk

  23. Debbie this is great advice. I am at such an early stage that right now I am just trying to do one thing at a time and every day I seem to discover something new that needs my attention, like this and I then make a note to come back to it. The list is just getting longer. I wish there was just a one stop guide to everything. #bloggerclubuk

    • I’ve been blogging over a year and I still feel like that at times! The best thing is to exactly what you’re doing – one thing at a time then move onto the next thing when you’re ready. A one stop guide would be amazing, I’m seriously thinking of attempting to write one!

  24. Lynne (Raising my Autistic son)

    Thanks for this post. I’ve only been blogging since March so this is all very useful information. Much appreciated! #bloggerclubUK

  25. Sarah Howe (@RunJumpScrap)

    I know boot all about analytics so this is really helps. My WordPress stats are so not accurate! I’m going to look at this now! Thanks for hosting xx

  26. Naomi

    It’s taken me ages to install Google Analytics, and I do get a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information there. This is a really helpful guide, thank you. #BloggerClubUK

  27. Great post with really good hints and tips. Using Analytics is something I know I should be doing but never do. Think I need to pull my finger out and jsut do it x

  28. Janet

    Haha, thank-you for publishing this at my request, Debbie! As you are away I have been pushing my SEO over the last few weeks and I feel I’m doing really well! Have a lot to learn and will get there. This post is so helpful to me and I will be back over the weekend using it as my guidelines to get to the bottom of Google Analytics (which I don’t even currently use). I love a challenge! The instagram thing sounds a bit complex – maybe once I get the hang of Google Analytics – I’ll be brave and give it a go! Lol. I’m a fast learner!

    Thanks again for posting this!
    Janet #BloggerClubUK πŸ™‚

    • You’re welcome, thanks for a fab suggestion! I’m glad you’ve found it helpful! GA can be a little daunting at first, but once you get used to it, it can be so useful. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble with the Instagram page!

  29. My Petit Canard

    Great post, really insightful. Gives me great reassurance that I am using analytics in the right way which is always nice to know. The info about Instagram is also really useful as I wasnt aware of that! Thanks. Emily #BloggerClubUK

  30. This is so useful – I’ve been blindly ignoring SEO for the past 2 months and have recently given myself a kick up the bum as I know it is important. Great tips to get me started, as I haven’t even begun to look at GA yet. Thanks for hosting #bloggerclubuk xxx

  31. Thanks for this Debbie, r ally useful list to make sense of GA. I’m pretty sure I signed up when I started blogging in February but must admit I haven’t been back for a while. Gonna go & check it out! #BloggerClubUK

  32. I’ve only been blogging a few months and, so far, my husband has been keeping an eye on the Analytics for my site (he’s a web developer). But now I’m thinking it might be good to get him to give me a lesson so that I can be more proactive about targeting the areas that need improving, etc, as you suggest. This will make for a fun date night! haha. #bloggerclubuk

  33. Oh this really makes me realise how much I’ve to learn – but that’s good thing Debbie – thirsty for knowledge I am! Thank you for this tip – I know nothing about analytics at the moment but will refer back to this post for guidance – thank you for the linked articles too! #BloggerClubUK

  34. Hi Debbie, a really useful guide. I take part in quite a few linkies and had wondered how many pop over from them. Now I know how, thank you.

    xx

  35. Claire at Life Love and Dirty Dishes

    I’ve always wondered what traffic came from Instagram. Never thought to do a landing page. It’s on my to-do list! Thanks. #BloggerClubUK

  36. Mum-Work-Repeat

    Ok, this is now something else added to my “to do” list. Thanks so much, will give Google Analytics a go #BloggerClubUK

  37. Lizzie

    Really great tips and information Debbie. I’ve just finished a course about this and I’m trying to keep tabs on my analytics, but if I’m being honest, I just can’t find the time! It definitely works well when you do it though. I hadn’t though about checking to see which linkies are working for me, there are actually a couple that I get no traffic from but I like the hosts too much to not join (not blogger club) x thanks for hosting!

  38. Petite Words

    Such a useful post, I’m always wanting to understand more about traffic, think I’m just getting the hang of it, thank you! #BloggersClubuk

  39. Google Analytics still baffles me. I just learned how to select the date range I want to look at. I just spent a few minutes trying to find this top referrer section & I can’t. I might send you a PM now so you can direct me to it please πŸ™‚ I think a lot of bloggers struggle with Google Analytics so keep the posts coming please! #BloggerClubUK

  40. Great tips for a newbie. I love GA and can spend hours and hours drilling down into my stats (I worked in analytics before becoming a SAHM). You’ve just reminded me I have a half finished GA dashboard tutorial in my drafts somewhere…. I’ll add a link to this post from it when I do publish it as this is a great starting point for those that don’t know where to start, and I love your instagram tip, I’ll have to set that up as it really intrigues me how worth it all the instagram posting is for referrals. Thanks for hosting x #bloggerclubuk

  41. When I was on Blogger at the beginning of my blogging I set up Google Analytics and was amazed at the clarity of the stats compared to Blogger. It is worth signing up to if you are interested in the figures.
    Thanks for sharing on #bloggerclubuk.

  42. Silly Mummy

    Great advice. I need ti find time to put the effort into studying & using my analytics more. #bloggerclubuk

  43. Great post. Very helpful. I understand it but never spend too much time looking at it. Think i will now as this sets it all out brilliantly
    Thanks for linking up with us on #Blogstorm it is back live again tomorrow if you have any posts!

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