SmallBusinessNewz

Google has a good post up on the Analytics Blog this week that should be useful for novices in the web analytics department. Web analytics are more important to your online success than ever.

The post first points out the difference between an account and a profile in Google Analytics. This is helpful to know. In so many words, it basically tells you that an account contains a collection of profiles. As Google says, profiles exist to separate your information about specific web properties, and to apply different rules and criteria for advanced analytics. All of your profiles will be available under your account.

The meat of the post is really about the tips though - the profile Do's and Don'ts:

Do:

- Give you profiles different names that are easily identifiable

- Add start dates to the names of profiles

- Give reports-only access to specific users for profiles

- Create different filters for each profile so you can create different sets of data

- Use the search box in the "top content" report to test filters

- Filter out query parameters from reports with profiles

- Talk to an authorized consultant about profiles for complicated sites

Don't

- Neglect a master profile

- Give users admin access for specific profiles

- Change settings on your profiles without keeping a log

This is all sound advice for the webmaster just starting out in analytics. If your business has an online presence as it should (especially eCommerce sites), organizing analytics and keeping tabs on different metrics can go a long way in contributing to success. Of course you have to take action to improve areas that need work too.