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You guys? I have a fever. And then only thing that can cure it is more Google Analytics.
Sadly, that’s not the geekiest thing I’ve typed this week.
I’m head-over-heels in love with the new Google Analytics real-time. It’s my newest blog obsession. Any blogger who tells you she or he hasn’t been unnatrually obsessed with their analytics at some point in the blogging game is lying to you. Straight up lying. We all do it. If we didn’t, there wouldn’t be so many posts on weird Google keywords, hmmm?
Google Analytics real-time allows you to watch your blog traffic as it happens, and includes information about top referrers, keywords, locations and pages. A moving graph tracks your traffic visually, showing you how many visitors stopped by your blog within a certain interval of time, and how long they stayed. There is even a chart that shows you new visitors vs returning visitors.
Basically, it’s boss.
Google Analytics real-time is still in beta, so you have to ask Google nicely for it by filling out this form. I got an email invitation within 10 minutes, and I’m nobody special, so I think anybody is “in”.
After you get that email, you have to get the “new version” of Google Analytics by clicking on a link in the top Nav bar of the page:
Next step: Click on the “Home” button, then click “Real-Time (Beta)” in the left navigation.
Click “Overview” and you’ll see this beautimous screen below.
Now you can see who is popping onto your site, what they are reading, and where they live. So that person from Tulsa who read through all my Baby Blogworthy posts last week for at least 30 minutes – hi, welcome, hope you’re not a creeper.
See, this is stalker-level information right here, especially if you have a blog that doesn’t get a ton of traffic. If I know you live in, say, West Virginia, and I see someone from West Virginia click onto my blog — I’ll know you’re looking at my blog at that moment. I’ve had to stop myself many times from saying “Hi, friend, are you enjoying my post?”
But there are some non-stalker ways you can use this tool to improve your post amplification.
- Check out Google Analytics real-time immediately after you share your content on a social media platform so you can see if that platform is bringing in traffic at that time. If you’ve shared on Twitter and no one clicks, share again later in the day and see if that time yields better results.
- Review your traffic referral sources and see who is referring the most traffic. This is especially helpful when you’ve participated in link-ups, which can drive a ton of traffic to your blog. If one weekly link-up sends traffic, consider participating in this link-up regularly.
- Are visitors stopping by your site and then leaving, or are they clicking deeper into your blog? If your bounce rate is high, link more of your posts or use the LinkWithin widget to keep visitors sticky.
- If you’re at the right place at the right time, you can witness the power of social sharing. A couple weeks ago I Stumbled a post and a few minutes later saw almost 100 people on my blog at one time. I’ve never seen how a shared link can snowball into that much traffic, and I guess seeing is believing because now I’m 100% sold on StumbleUpon. (If you don’t know how to use it, check out this article from SITS and this one from Eli|Rose.) Same applies to RTs or Facebook shares.
- Top Keywords can help you determine what brings visitors organically to your site and can help you streamline your content, write more about top keywords and improve your writing. In my case, I write about television and celebrities; if I get traffic with keywords about a certain show I love, I know I could focus on that show and get more organic search engine traffic. For me, it makes SEO more tangible.
Have you tried Google Analytics real-time? Have you learned anything about your blog as a result?
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Twitter: suitcasetricks
I actually haven’t logged in to my Analytics in months. I think Statcounter is easier and gives you more info. I’ll have to check this out. And you know where I live.
Ali recently posted..DIY Angry Bird Costume – So Easy Even I Could Do It
We use Google Analytics at work, so I’m used to reading it but it can be pretty difficult to read. They almost give you too much information on Google analytics, but what I like about the “new” version is that you can create your own dashboard with only the things you want to know about…which is of course keywords because that fascinates me.
This is great information! And I signed up for the real time analytics! Let’s see who’s stalking!
Jackie recently posted..Monday Menu ~ Layers of Love Brownies
Great! I think you’ll like it. If you see someone from Gainesville, it’s me
Twitter: MamaWantsThis
I haven’t tried it and I’m not sure I want to – I don’t want to get caught up in the numbers game!
I might change my mind…..
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..I’m Buzzing Over At Bees With Honey
You’re probably lucky you havent’ gotten into it! It’s pretty all consuming when you get into it, but at the same time, I’ve really enjoyed working on different segments of my traffic.
I need this. NOW!
Tara recently posted..what’s in my makeup bag? (eyes)
GETCHA SOME GIRL!
Twitter: myhonestanswer
Yep, I’ve tried it and I’m afraid I’m obsessed too. Word of warning – if you’ve not got it yet, stay away! Unless you have a few hours you want to waste.
Haha, isn’t that the truth??
I have to admit I haven’t checked my analytics in a long time. I used to all the time though. I didn’t realize there was a real time version. Oooh, now I may get hooked again!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..Monday Listicles: New Mom Tips
This is definitely something I want to check out sometime… but am afraid of getting too concerned with everything and then losing the focus of what I am blogging for – why I want to do this.
Thanks for the info!
Julie @DutchBeingMe recently posted..#Mamavation: Feeling like a roller coaster…
I can totally see how that might happen. I think it really depends on what you want from your blog. Like for instance, I would love to see my Celebrity Round-up gain some traction. I use the real time to see what brings people in and what time of day, so that way I can connect with the people who are reading it better. To me, it makes less work….If tweeting once at 2 gets 5 people to my recap and tweeting 12, 4 and 8 only brings 5 total, I’m going to go with 2. I think it’s a psychological thing..you just have to say “this is a neat thing, but I’m not going to let it influence me.”
Twitter: kidthingsnet
I’ll have to give this a try. I have Statcounter which gives real time traffic analysis, too. And I love knowing who is on my site as it’s happening. Especially when I know those people are regular commenters.
C @ Kid Things recently posted..When Time is a Factor
Twitter: kristinzas
This is an excellent resource!
KLZ recently posted..Quiz Time: Toddler Speech Edition
Oh yeah! I love to stalk people! I can’t wait to get my invitation.
Jayme (RandomBlogette) recently posted..Free To Be Friends!
I’ll know exactly when you’re at my blog and vice versa…bwahahahah!
No lie:
I’ve never checked my stats or analytics or any of that.
For reals.
I don’t know how and I am NOT NOT NOT going to look at this lovely tutorial you created here because I know I would be sucked into the black hole of caring and then I’d end up in a fetal position sucking my thumb.
Or sucking on a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Or both.
So yeah. I don’t want to know. Really.
(I mean I DO but I don’t.)
Does that make any sense?
julie gardner recently posted..Today call me feathered
NO, I totally get it. It’s like Pandora’s box…just don’t open it! I’ll do it for you….your blog gets 100,000,000,000 page views per hour. It’s the most popular blog on the internet. No Jack Daniels necessary (unless you just want to party.)
Just stumbled this.
Do you know that I’m still not live streaming with GA? shame on me!
liz recently posted..Repairing Bathroom Sinks in 8 Steps (Or, Why Women are Awesome)
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
I haven’t tried this yet but have heard people talking about it. I may have to go over and see it for myself now. If I get addicted, it’s your fault!
Kimberly recently posted..Things That Make Me Smile
Twitter: kallaydoscope
Aaaand now i want Google Analytics. (and 20 minutes to write my OWN blog so I can actually *have* visitors.)
Kallay recently posted..Fill in the Blank Friday! {Autumn!}
Twitter: jmomiller
That’s awesome! I can’t wait to use this! I love seeing where people are coming from to my blog!
Twitter: AndiRRT
So you know, then, that I suck big-time, have not even had time to breathe appropriately, and have tons of catching up to do!
Andrea recently posted..It’s What I Do
Twitter: corp2domestic
LOL you crack me up! I do not have the real time…guess I need to take my stalking to a whole another level!
Natalie recently posted..Birthday Party Sneak Peek-Anchors Aweigh!
Twitter: SaidKristin
I’m the visitor from West Virginia you saw, right? It’s OK – feel free to say, “Hi, friend!” if you’re stalking me stalking your blog. I won’t be creeped out, I promise.
I’m definitely going to try GA real-time now. And I just stumbled this post.
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..10 Reasons Why Fall Makes Me Smile
Actually, I was thinking more about some of my friends from “back home” who claim they don’t read my blog but I KNOW they do….but also HI FRIEND to you, too! Thanks for stumbling!
[...] specialists here at Eli | Rose Social Media, recently wrote a post for her personal blog about enabling the new real-time feature in the Google Analytics and the benefits of doing [...]
Twitter: chosenchaos
I sent the email and then noticed I had the New Version button already. But not the real time option yet. Waiting. I’m also checking into Stat Counter. I’m new so still feeling my way around for what works for me! But I do love me some stats!
Jamie recently posted..weekend wisdom, 15
Twitter: FarewellStrangr
This is very cool. I didn’t know about this but filled out the form. Could be very useful and help me with some things I want to know (like whether posting to Twitter is working). Thanks!
Robin | Farewell, Stranger recently posted..The Truth