13 Google Analytics tips for startups | How to use Google Analytics effectively

Google Analytics can provide a wealth of information about consumer behaviour, but sometimes it's hard to convert into meaningful and actionable data. To help, we've compiled a list of helpful Google Analytics tips to make the most out of your consumer data.

Here's 13 top Google Analytics tips and tricks for your startup...

1. Google Analytics tips: Track the consumer

Here's how to monitor the path your consumers have taken from the entrance to the exit of your website:

Go to 'behaviour', then 'site content' and finally 'content drilldown'.

Like the name suggests, the entrance rate refers to the amount of people that have visited your site. The bounce and exit rate while similar do have some notable differences. The bounce rate refers to users that have visited only one page on your site - not visiting any other pages from that point. Whilst the exit rate factors in additional pages that visitors have, or may have visited before leaving said page.

2. Google Analytics tips: Create custom alerts

Get email alerts to increased bounce rates, changes in page views and other key metrics. Here's how to do it.

Go to 'reporting', then 'intelligence events'.

Next select one of the timeframes listed and choose 'create a custom alert'.

From there you can create alert conditions.

3. Google Analytics tips: Analyse new and returning visitors

Having a large and loyal audience is vital to a brand's success, so the balance between new and returning visitors should be monitored each week. Here's what to do.

Select 'audience' then, 'behaviours'.

Next choose, 'new vs returning'.

4. Google Analytics tips: Which browser your consumers are using?

Track which browsers are bringing in the most traffic with this easy tip:

Go to 'audience', then 'technology' and finally 'browser and OS'.

5. Google Analytics tips: Locate your audience

To find out where your consumers are visiting from couldn't be easier! 

Go to 'audience', 'geo' and finally, 'location'.

6. Google Analytics tips: Find out more about your engaged users

Find out how long people are staying on your website and of course why by following this route:

Go to 'audience' then 'behaviour' and finally 'engagement'.

7. Google Analytics tips: Search terms

Here's how to find out what key terms your consumer typed into search engines that delivered them to your site:

Go to 'behaviour', 'site search' and then 'search terms'.

8. Google Analytics tips: Find out who's referred you

If another website provides a link to your site you can find out in a few clicks.

Go to 'acquisition' then 'all traffic' and finally 'referrals'.

9. Google Analytics tips: Analyse individual webpages

This Google Analytics tip will bring up an image of your webpage and by hovering over links/tabs on the page will highlight how many clicks each have received. Here's what to do:

Go to 'behaviour' and then 'in-page analytics'.

10. Google Analytics tips: Gain social insights

Here's how to find out which social channels are bringing in the most traffic:

Go to 'acquisition' then 'social' and finally 'network referrals'.

11. Google Analytics tips: How fast is your site?

Here's how to check your site speed:

Go to 'behaviour' then 'site speed'.

12. Google Analytics tips: Find out what people are internally searching

Your internal search bar might be getting more attention than you think. Here's how to check:

Go to 'content' then 'site search' and finally 'overview'.

13. Google Analytics tips: Find out who's visiting your site regularly

Any visitor is great, but building an interactive community with frequent visitors is important and valuable.

Go to 'audience' then 'behaviour' and finally 'frequency and recency'.

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