Share your Web Analytics Story

How do you use web analytics? Do you share data as part of a regular planning meeting? Do you log in once in awhile just to see how things are going?

We want to know! We're gathering information to help prioritize new features and improve Google Analytics and we need your help. If you've used web analytics data to make decisions inside your business or organization, get in touch and tell us how. Email us at gacasestudies@google.com.

We'll republish the most interesting stories here on the blog and we'll even send you a free Google Analytics tee-shirt if your story gets published. We're ready and waiting, so drop us a line!

Posted by Sebastian Tonkin, Google Team

Web Design: Marking Period Exam

Here is the procedure for finishing the marking period exam:

• Proofread what you have done. If you are doing a website be especially careful of your code for images (make sure they aren't directed to the W: drive). Make sure all links work.
• Save folder to Udrive--WebSchneider--MP4Exam--Final Drafts
• Complete blog post. 1. What did you learn? 2. What went well? 3. What would you change? 4. Who has the best project in the UDrive?
• You must complete the project by Wednesday and the blog post by Thursday.

There will be no additional work assigned Thursday and Friday. I will post optional work. I will be in a grading frenzy. I have to complete senior grades by Friday. I also hope to post the exam review.

If you have missing work or issues with grades you will have the opportunity to gain some credit back on Thursday and Friday. I will post grades by Friday afternoon for all (I hope) on Edline. Any exemptions can be figured out from that post. I urge Juniors to take the exam. It can only help your GPA.

Looking ahead to exams. You can take the exam during any period (3-7). I will not be available on Tuesday for exams as I will be at the decathlon. You can take the exam Wednesday or Thursday from 12:00-2:00 or Friday at 10:00 if that fits your schedule.

Back to Basics: Filtering out your own IP address

If you have a team of people on your marketing team constantly checking the website you're tracking with Google Analytics, filtering out specific IP addresses is one of the ways you can make sure you're not tracking irrelevant visits to your site. Excluding these IPs may help you get more accurate numbers for metrics like average time on site (since your marketing team probably spends the most time on your site every day), your visitors' geographic locations, etc.

To start filtering out IPs, follow the steps below:

1. Collect IPs from anyone in your office (including yourself) that you don't want to track. If they don't know what their IP addresses are, an easy way to figure it out is to go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/.
2. Then, sign in to your Analytics account at http://www.google.com/analytics.
3. If you have more than one account, select the account that has the profile you want to apply the IP exclusion filter to.
4. Once you're on the Profile Overview page, click 'Edit' from underneath the Actions column.
5. From under the 'Filters Applied to Profile' section, select 'Add Filter.'
6. Select 'Add new Filter for Profile.'
   
   
   
7. Enter an easily identifiable Filter name (i.e. 'My IP address,' or 'CMO's IP address).
8. Select the filter type labeled 'Exclude all traffic from an IP address.' The IP address field will auto-populate with an example IP address. Enter the correct value. Remember to use regular expressions when entering any IP address. For example, if the IP address to filter is:
   
   176.168.1.1
   then the IP address value will be:
   176\.168\.1\.1
   
   
   
9. You may also enter a range of IP addresses. For example:
   Range: 176.168.1.1-25 and 10.0.0.1-14
   IP address value : ^176\.168\.1\.([1-9]|1[0-9]|2[0-5])$|^10\.0\.0\.([1-9]|1[0-4])$
10. Click ‘Save changes’ to finish.

Posted by Christina Park, Google Analytics Team

Bing to be Integrated into Search Engine Reports

Recently Microsoft released a new search engine called Bing, which has begun sending traffic to websites with Google Analytics installed. Bing currently shows up as a referring site in the Traffic Sources reports. We are actively working on an update that will include Bing under the default list of search engines in Google Analytics.

If you absolutely can't wait for the upgrade, you can add the following line to your Google Analytics tracking code as a temporary solution. Note, this workaround is recommended for advanced users only. For more information on adding custom configurations to the Google Analytics tracking code, read this article.

pageTracker._addOrganic("bing", "q");

Stay tuned for updates.

Sebastian Tonkin, Google Analytics Team

Monday

State Open today so I will be leaving school early.

Projects due Wednesday. I see some great work coming. Please leave time for proofreading and checking!! Check your blog for comments.

Some interesting links:

• How a curveball works.
• How Staples High School is teaching math.
• Is the iPhone where all web design is taking place? I think so.
• What to drink when you exercise.
• The amazing PS22 chorus. The videos are YouTube. Watch them at home. Its worth it.
• Just a reminder. Imagine if you went to bed knowing you had to do that in the morning.

Analytics Blog Now in Spanish

We're very happy to announce the recent launch of Central de Conversiones, a new Spanish-language blog covering Google's measurement tools including Google Analytics, Website Optimizer, Insights for Search, AdPlanner and others.

Both Googlers and GAACs from Spanish speaking countries such as Argentina, Mexico and Spain will be sharing basic tips and advanced web analytics techniques trying to help decision makers integrate data from these tools into their business strategies.

Central de Conversiones will translate important posts from this blog but will also create content and share case studies specific to the Spanish Speaking markets. We're sure that you will find it a very useful tool.

¡Esperamos lo disfruten!

Posted by Enrique Quevedo, Google Analytics Team

Update

Swine flu update in Hamden.

Check your blogs for comments and respond if needed.  

Be sure to leave time for proofreading your project.