Google Analytics tool for web sites

**cavscout** · 9th January 07, 08:02 AM

I heard about a new Google tool called Analytics which provides some very neat reports to track how effective your web site is. One of them is a "Hit Map" that shows where site visitors are in the world. Very cool to see. I've posted a copy of an early version from my site for you to see. It's only been up a few days so any of you lads who have visited prior to that are not represented. If you're interested have a look. I would appreciate it if you would click the link and let the tool add you to the map for me though.

This does not capture any information about you except where in the world the hit comes from so don't worry about being hit with any negative effects. I'm only trying to gather a visual reference to where visitors are.

Click here and scroll down to links in the left hand border and go to Hit Map.

Thanks guys.

**Mike1** · 9th January 07, 08:05 AM

Their analytics reporting can really open your eyes to the strengths and weaknesses of a site, that's for sure.

**cavscout** · 9th January 07, 08:11 AM

All that and it's FREE! I can only imagine the reporting tools provided with a package like VBulletin and other professional software packages.

**Mike1** · 9th January 07, 08:16 AM

LOL, it takes little imagination, insofar as vBulletin is concerned. I use Google Analytics on my sites, as vBulletin has no reporting functions.

I have a script to send sitemaps to Google every morning and use the analytics reporting to see how we're faring.

**katmills2005** · 9th January 07, 08:19 AM

Oh this is awesome! Thank you!

**cavscout** · 9th January 07, 08:29 AM

Send site maps to Google? Does this help your site climb in the ratings or does it just "force" register your sites with Google?

Can you recommend any web sites for learning how to promote a site?

**Mike1** · 9th January 07, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by cavscout

Send site maps to Google? Does this help your site climb in the ratings or does it just "force" register your sites with Google?

I'm generating the sitemaps on dynamic forum sites, to encourage crawls. vBulletin is fairly search engine friendly, but it appears Google prefers static pages, as opposed to dynamic pages. So, I tease 'em with the sitemaps.

I'm not so much interested in the income-producing angle, as I am in trying to bring traffic to my sites. Then again, increasing page rank looks good to potential advertisers, doesn't it?

Can you recommend any web sites for learning how to promote a site?

Google Matt Cutts and get ready to read.

Aaron Walls' SEO book is highly recommended, although I've yet to read it. Google his name and you'll find his site.

**katmills2005** · 9th January 07, 08:42 AM

I use Site Build It! for my work website. They give you tools and help you to promote your site. I can offer some other tips for getting your site promoted. Keywords is a big part of that, also using google adsense will help to boost you on their search since google wants to make money by having people click your site.

**Kilted KT** · 9th January 07, 10:30 AM

a word to the wise about google adwords. be VERY careful how you set it up, and be very targeted in your marketing efforts. If you are too broad in your search terms that you want to display your ad for, you can VERY easily spend thousands of dollars on adwords advertising without any revenue generation.

just an FYI...