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Big Update at Google Analytics
December 14, 2007
Late yesterday, the Google Analytics team announced a major update to its free analytics package.
Taking full advantage of the upgrade requires something that I'm sure that the GA team wishes didn't have to happen -- the modification of the tracking codes on every page of your site. Basically, you'll need to change the small snippet of code that used to refer to urchin.js so that it now will reference ga.js -- Google's new JavaScript tracking file.
But not to worry. The team has assembled a 22-page Tracking Code Migration Guide (PDF) designed to, um, walk you through the process.
Beyond a simply explaining how to update your code (which shouldn't be a problem if you input the original code in the first place), the guide explains the benefits of the new system by showing additional features, such as:
- Tracking virtual page views
- Tracking downloaded files
- Tracking a page in multiple accounts
- Tracking subdomains
- Track a visitor across domains using a link
- Track a visitor across domains using a form
- E-commerce transactions
- Adding organic sources
- Segmenting visitor types
- Restrict cookie data to a subdirectory
- Control data collection settings
- Control session timeout
- Control campaign conversion timeout
- Custom campaign fields
- Using the anchor (#) with campaign data
- Setting keyword ignore preferences
- Control the data sampling rate
Some of these features already exist in one form or the other. For example, you can track file downloads by defining one of your conversions as such. But the new iteration promises more simplicity, which is never a bad thing.
Remember, as always, this is a beta release. (But you knew that, didn't you?) I haven't updated the code on our sites yet, so I can't vouch for any particular improvements. But I am eager to get into it and will certainly post any interesting tidbits right here.
see all posts by Erik Dafforn
posted by Erik Dafforn at December 14, 2007 08:40 AM
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Comments
i have to admit that, although i am happy that google is updating their tools, i really don't appreciate having to change the code on the relevant pages of my web sites
serge
Posted by: Serge at December 17, 2007 04:47 AM
Well if it will make analytics tracking work,then that's a good thing.I got in a program at Mark Warren back in October,and as of yet, after many attempts,tracking is still not working on my website.I've done the non-existent support thing,the "I don't understand the question"thing at online chat,and the unanswered question at the blogs.I hope they made this more user friendly as they should have before they put it out there,since my webhost can't figure it out and I'm going into my third week waiting for a response from them while they are waiting on a response from Google.Really good product!! Bob
Posted by: bob hunter at December 17, 2007 10:42 AM
Can anyone explain why Google doesn't use multiple dashboards for one username and password? This would be a great improvement.
Posted by: Jaan Kanellis at December 17, 2007 02:57 PM
Thanks for giving such nice topic.
Posted by: Brijesh at December 18, 2007 12:14 AM
Thanks for the great information Sir! I didn't know much about this update until I read your article. :)
Posted by: Jake at January 16, 2008 04:57 AM