In Focus

Web analytics for marketers who hate numbers

A sea of data

The field of web analytics is designed to extract incredibly valuable user insights that can, in turn, guide marketers in making educated decisions. There are sophisticated integration solutions that combine data sources, online behavior, and offline actions, thereby enabling marketers to measure how accurately campaigns support their business objectives. All of this data is great -- but it only means something if marketers understand and appropriately use the information that is extracted.

It's easy to get lost in a sea of metrics. In fact, as discussed in a previous iMedia article, marketers need to be on the lookout for telltale signs that their organizations are behind the curve when it comes to understanding the marketing implications of the data they're gathering.

Despite the immense importance of metrics to digital marketers, not everyone in your organization is going to be a numbers guru -- and they don't have to be. In this article, I'll provide a few tips for marketers who have an aversion to numbers, as well as a look at strategies they can employ to maximize the usefulness of their analytics reports.

 

Comments

Nicole Rawski
Nicole Rawski July 31, 2009 at 2:51 PM

I'm glad that you all liked the article and that it brought value to you. It's very important to bring out who those visitors are while analyzing the data. Humanize it!

Lee Mills
Lee Mills July 30, 2009 at 3:53 PM

Great article!

Jacqueline Spates
Jacqueline Spates July 30, 2009 at 1:25 PM

Great information about the way people view numbers in their organizations. Keep'em coming!

Robert Rose
Robert Rose July 29, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Nicole,
Yet another extraordinarily insightful article on analytics. And I particularly loved:

"...is the importance of humanizing dashboards. Conversion rates are more than data points. They are visitors to a site who are making a purchase.."

When we use analytics to "improve" rather than "prove" - then we have a useful tool to help us be more successful.

Penelope Flannery
Penelope Flannery July 29, 2009 at 1:11 PM

Very insightful and helpful. Puts a new spin on my out look. Thank you