evolution or extinction:survive and thrive with new google analytics features
DESCRIPTION
Find out more about the latest features in Google Analytics with Matt Stannard, Head of Analytics and Technology at 4Ps Marketing. Matt recently was invited to speak at the ‘Evolve with Google’ conference in the USA, where his session was the highest rated speaker slot of the entire conference.TRANSCRIPT
4Ps Marketing
Evolution or Extinction:
Survive and Thrive with New
Google Analytics Features
Hello!
I am Matt Stannard, Head of Analytics and
Tech for 4Ps Marketing.
GAIQ qualified and member of the DAA.
Strong development background from the
days when we didn’t have jQuery.
Passionate about Google Analytics (I could
talk about this all day……)
Follow me:
Twitter: @mattstannard
G+ : https://plus.google.com/+MattStannard
Experience
This Sessions Objectives
I want you to leave this session today:
• Understanding Why Universal
• Knowing Custom Dimensions and Metrics are Awesome
• Understanding a customers “touch points” are key with
Cross Device measurement
• Seeing that tracking isn’t just about a website
• Understanding that demographics can help us
contextualise
• Be excited about the future, we’ve come a long way!
Evolution and Extinction:
Why Universal?
1996 Hit Counters began to appear on web pages
A History of Analytics
1990 World Wide Web Invented
1993 Web trends packages emerge
A History of Analytics
1997 Javascript Tagging Begins
2005 – Google Analytics is born (from Urchin)
A History of Analytics
2007 – 2014 - Google Analytics
A History of Analytics
2014 – Universal Analytics out of Beta
Google recognised that Analytics is no longer only about
Sessions is about Users – Real People.
Universal Analytics provides a tool which tracks users.
It can track both on and offline and allows us to record
information that relate to our business – it’s not just about
pageviews.
Why Universal?
Universal Analytics extends the feature set allowing us to:
• Define Custom Dimensions and Metrics
• Track Users across devices (using User-Id)
• Integrate Offline Sources (through the Measurement
Protocol)
• Give us Demographics
• Access to other features (such as Enhanced Ecommerce)
Evolution and Extinction:
Custom Dimensions / Metrics
Definition
Dimensions : Describe Data“A dimension is a descriptive attribute or
characteristic of an object that can be
given different values.”
Metrics : Measure Data“Metrics are individual elements of a
dimension that can be measured as a
sum or a ratio.” – all metrics are
numbers, all numbers are not metrics.
What If…
The standard set of
Dimensions with
Google Analytics is
finite.
Custom Dimensions
allow us to extend the
information Google
Analytics collects.
You wanted to
capture Departure
Airport as a Dimension?
Built in Search?
GA already includes a built in Search but using Custom Dimensions and
Metrics allows us to refine how users use elements of our site to give us greater insights.
Dimensions:
Country, Resort, Airport, Date
Metrics:Nights, People
What does this give us?
Google Analytics Dashboard
Immediate feedback through a Dashboard in a language our Stakeholders understand!
Collecting Data
1. Setup
Custom Dimensions and Metrics are defined at a Property Level
within Google Analytics.
2. Track
• As part of a send / set command
• Through GTM (Google Tag Manager)
We have Hit Scope
Hit
Relates to the specific hit sent to Google Analytics.
Product InformationSent with Event Hit
We have Session Scope
SessionRelates to all hits within a Session (even those before the CD was set).
Weather set at Session Level on
Entry – applied to all pages views
We have User Scope
User
Relates to the all hits sent within that Session and future
Sessions by the same User. There are limitations with cookies
and devices
Dimensions set at
User level on Purchase
Who has a blog?
Author
Article Length
CategoryDate Published
Liz and Sally
Summary
• We can define our own Custom Dimensions and Metrics
(20 Free, 200 Premium) to compliment those built in.
• These are configured through GA and tracked either
using the code or GTM.
• Custom Dimensions allow us to record data in a language
relevant to key stakeholders in our business.
Evolution and Extinction:
Demographics
Demographics
Who is a better donor – men or women?
Performance
Men responsible for more donations
Women’s donations
tend to be for larger amounts
Configuring GA
1. Setup
Demographic Reporting is set at a Property Level within Google
Analytics.
2. Track
• Add the ga (‘require’,’displayfeatures’) to our tracking code
• Through GTM (Google Tag Manager)
Summary
• Enable in both Google Analytics User Interface and add
necessary tracking code.
• Understand limitations (not all of your users may have a
Doubleclick Cookie).
• Create and combine with existing reports, segments and
dashboards to benchmark demographics.
Evolution and Extinction:
Cross Device Tracking
Introducing Cross Device Tracking
In 2013, Cisco and Sophos estimated the average user
connected to the internet on 2.9 devices.
With “The Internet of Things” more of our everyday household
items are becoming internet enabled and this with Classic
Analytics caused a problem:
3 Sessions
3 Users
Cross Device Tracking
Universal Analytics supports Cross Device Tracking so the same
journey would look like:
3 Sessions
1 User
This is done by using a feature called User-Id a unique
anonymous identifier.
Newsletter Signups
What if you have a newsletter signup? Can you track a user if
they open the newsletter on their mobile?
Realtime
Access To New Reports
Access User-Id
1. Setup
User-Id is a property level tracking attribute – select User-ID and
agree to the policy.
Create a User-Id
2. Copy Code Snippet
GA will generate a code snippet, your website needs to populate
the {{USER_ID}} parameter.
Session Unification allows us to associate hits a user may have when they are not signed in with the User-Id if they sign in during
that Session.
Create a User-Id view
3. Create a User-Id View
Cross device measurement requires a new view. This view ONLY
INCLUDES DATA WHERE A USER-ID IS PRESENT.
Create a User-Id view
Our Example
1. Database (Simple CRM)
We created a simple database to store e-mail
address and a unique ID.
2. Form SubmittedWhen the form is submitted we lookup the e-
mail address and add or return its ID and
execute (where 1 is the User-Id)
ga(‘set’, ‘&uid’, ‘1’);
3. Link contains User-Id in URLOur e-mail link contains the User-Id as the tidparameter, this is then read and set:
ga(‘set’, ‘&uid’, ‘1’);
Summary : Cross Device
• Uses its own special view
- Remember it only includes hits with a User-Id so may be a
smaller subset
• Requires User-Id (privacy implications).
- Cannot store personally identifiable data in GA.
• Consider how a user will identify themselves and how you
will issue a Unique Id (CRM, ID Broker / Other)
• Plan – be clear to involve all necessary stakeholders,
especially developers.
Evolution and Extinction:
Offline Tracking
Offline Tracking
As well as sending data to Google Analytics through
analytics.js you are also able to use the Measurement
Protocol.
The Measurement Protocol defines a set of rules for sending
data to analytics from pretty much any internet connected
device using http / https requests.
This could be using:
• Excel / Google Docs (See who opens your documents!)
• Other platforms (such as Twitter) through their API
• From RFID / NFC or iBeacons• A CRM tool to log key offline interactions
Tracking Twitter
This example shows we can use Analytics to track anyone using
the #Evolve_GA hash tag.
I am really excited
to be speaking at
#Evolve_GA
Twitter Streaming API fires Measurement Protocol Requests
http://www.google-analytics.com/collect?payload_data&z=123456
Loyalty Cards
Consider…
Eric is a customer of Starcups Coffee inc, and he has a
loyalty band.
We email Eric to inform him that we have released a new
coffee. This takes him to a web page:
Link contains User-Id in URLOur link contains Ericsunique Client ID:
http://apps.4psmarketing.
com/evolvega/coffee.ph
p?cid=0010184609&utm_medium=email&utm_source
=crm
How?
Eric comes in store and purchases using his RFID band this
contains the same Client Id which we use to track the purchase.
User-Id http://www.google-analytics.com/collect?payload_data&z=123456
ID&C
Summary : Offline Tracking
• Planning is key
- Are your “offline” devices internet enabled?
• Do I have a way of identifying the user?
- RFID has a unique ID built in
- CRM allows me to lookup data and return an ID
• Plan – be clear to involve all necessary stakeholders, especially
developers.
Evolution and Extinction:
The Past and the Future
The Past
The Past
Personally – I think we may have seen the extinction of purely
looking at Sessions.
The Future
Not Big Data but Smart Data – Google Analytics has empowered us to begin integrating all sources of user data
into one package.
Measurement Planning is key and looking beyond the Web is
exciting.
The Happiness Index
We are measuring Happiness of our Staff and Clients
Evolution and Extinction:
Measurement Planning
Silos
Measurement Planning
Evolution and Extinction:
Key Takeouts
Why Universal?
My Key Takeouts For You Are:
• Define your Custom Dimensions and Metrics
- Blogs think Author, Publish Date, Article Type
- Ecommerce – Page Type, Product, Brand (or use EE).
• Do you need to Track Users across devices?
- If Yes - how can you integrate a User-Id- Create the User-Id view
• Integrate Offline Sources
- Discuss the Measurement Protocol with your developers.
• Embrace Demographics but contextualise with real data.
• Enjoy and be creative!
References
4Ps Marketing
http://www.4psmarketing.com/
The Happiness Index
http://the-happiness-index.com/
Measuring Twitter with Universal Analytics
http://analytics.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/measuring-twitter-with-universal.html
IDC Bands
http://www.idcband.co.uk/
Measurement Protocol
https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collecti
on/protocol/v1/
Please speak to your account manager or email
Want To Know More?
Evolution and Extinction:
THANK YOU!