Google Analytics Marketing Tool Review 2023

Performance at Glance

Specifications	Google Analytics ratings	Our verdict
Ease of Use		Once you get the hang of it, Google Analytics is your website's best friend
Support		Google Analytics has got your back with extensive support resources.
Features		From real-time reporting to cross-device tracking, Google Analytics has it all.
Overall Quality		When it comes to website analytics, Google Analytics is top-notch.
Value For Money		Who says you can't get something for nothing? Google Analytics offers robust features for free.
G2 Rating		Users rave about Google Analytics' reliability and range of features on G2.

Ease of use

Google Analytics is generally considered easy to use once users become familiar with the tools of marketing. The interface can be overwhelming for beginners, but the platform offers a range of tutorials and support resources to help users get started. Once users become familiar with the platform, Google Analytics is intuitive and provides a lot of value.

Support

Google offers support for Google Analytics through its online help center, community forums, and email support. While the support resources are extensive, some users may find it difficult to get personalized support for specific issues.

Features

It has a range of features for tracking website traffic, user behavior, and online marketing campaigns. The platform offers real-time reporting, cross-device tracking, and integrations with other Google tools, such as Google Ads and Google Search Console.

Overall quality

Google Analytics is generally regarded as a high-quality web analytics tool. The platform provides valuable insights into website performance and user behavior, and the data can be used to make informed decisions to improve the user experience and achieve business goals.

Value for money

Google Analytics offers a free version with robust features, making it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes. While the platform does offer paid features for enterprise users, the free version provides a lot of value for businesses on a budget.

G2 Rating

Google Analytics is highly rated on G2, a platform for software reviews and ratings. The platform has an overall rating of 4.6 stars out of 5, and users praise the platform’s range of features, ease of use, and reliability.

Features of Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps businesses and website owners track and analyze their website traffic and user behavior. With a wide range of features and capabilities, it provides valuable insights into how users interact with your website, which can help you make data-driven decisions to improve the user experience, increase engagement, and drive conversions.

Predictive capabilities

This allows you to make predictions about future user behavior based on historical data. By analyzing patterns in user behavior, Google Analytics can provide insights into what users are likely to do next, which can help you make informed decisions about optimizing your website and marketing efforts.

Proactive insights

The platform provides proactive insights that highlight important trends and changes in your website’s performance. These insights can help you stay ahead of the curve and identify opportunities for improvement before they become problems.

Privacy-safe modeling

The platform uses privacy-safe modeling techniques to protect user privacy while still providing valuable insights. This means that user data is anonymized and aggregated to protect individual identities while still allowing for analysis of user behavior at a macro level.

Real-time reporting

With real-time reporting, you can see what’s happening on your website right now. This feature allows you to monitor user behavior as it happens, which can be invaluable for understanding how users interact with your website and identifying opportunities for improvement in real time.

Acquisition reports

Google Analytics provides insights into how users find your website, including which search engines and keywords they use to find you, which social media platforms drive traffic, and more. This information can help you optimize your online marketing efforts and improve your website’s visibility.

Engagement reports

The engagement reports offer insights into how users are interacting with your website, including which pages they are visiting, how long they are staying on each page, and which features they are using. This information can help you identify opportunities to improve the user experience and optimize your website for better engagement.

Monetization reports

Here, you get insights into how your website is generating revenue, including which products or services are driving the most sales, which marketing channels are most effective and more. This information can help you make data-driven decisions to improve your website’s monetization strategy.

Funnel exploration

The platform allows you to track how users move through your website’s conversion funnel, including where users drop off and which steps are causing the most friction. This information can help you optimize your conversion funnel and improve your website’s overall conversion rate.

Path exploration

This feature allows you to see the paths users take on your website, including which pages they visit and in what order. This information can help you identify opportunities to optimize your website’s navigation and improve the user experience.

User exploration

User exploration allows you to drill down into individual user behavior, including what actions they take on your website, which devices they use, and more. This information can help you understand your audience on a deeper level and make data-driven decisions to improve the user experience.

Can I use Google Analytics for free? 

Yes, Google Analytics Free is, as the name suggests, a free version of Google Analytics that provides basic website analytics and reporting features. This plan is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses or individuals who want to track their website traffic and user behavior without incurring any additional costs. Google Analytics Free provides a wide range of features, including real-time reporting, audience insights, and acquisition reports.

On the other hand, Google Analytics 360 is a premium version of Google Analytics that provides advanced features and capabilities for large enterprises and organizations. This plan is designed for businesses that require more extensive data analysis and customization options. It provides features such as custom data models, advanced audience segmentation, and integration with other Google marketing platforms. The pricing for this plan is customized based on your specific business needs and usage.

Creating a Google Analytics Account

To set up a Google Analytics account, follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Analytics website (https://analytics.google.com/) and click on the “Start for free” button.
• Sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, create one by clicking on the “Create account” link.
• Once you have signed in, click the “Sign up” button to create a new account.
• Enter your account name, website name, and website URL, and select the industry category and time zone.
• Go to the data-sharing settings and click on the “Create” button.
• Read and accept the terms of service and click on the “I Accept” button.
• After creating the account, you will be provided with a tracking code that needs to be added to your website. You can copy the tracking code and add it to your website’s header section or use a plugin or code injection tool to add the tracking code.
• Once the tracking code has been added to your website, it may take up to 24 hours for data to appear in your Google Analytics account.

That’s it! You have successfully created a Google Analytics account and set up tracking for your website.

Google Analytics Traffic Sources

Understanding your website’s traffic sources can provide valuable insights regarding where your website visitors are coming from and how to improve your online presence to attract more visitors. By analyzing the traffic sources, you can determine which channels drive the most traffic and engagement and focus your efforts on optimizing those channels to increase your website’s visibility and reach. Traffic sources in Google Analytics refer to the channels or mediums used to find and access your website. There are three main types of traffic sources in Google Analytics:

Direct traffic

This refers to users who directly type your website URL into their browser or click on a bookmark to access your website. Direct traffic can also include users who access your website through non-clickable links, such as from a PDF document.

Referral traffic

Referral traffic refers to users who access your website through a link on another website. This could be through a link from a social media platform, another website or blog, or a directory listing.

Organic traffic

Organic traffic refers to users who find your website through a search engine like Google, Yahoo!, or Bing. This type of traffic is driven by users searching for specific keywords related to your website or business.

Additionally, Google Analytics tracks other sources of traffic, such as paid search, email marketing, and display advertising. These sources can be viewed under the “Advertising” section in Google Analytics.

Top Google Analytics Alternatives

There are several Google Analytics alternatives available in the market, each with unique features and functionalities.

Here is a look at the popular alternatives:

• Piwik, now known as Matomo, is an open-source analytics platform that offers a range of features similar to Google Analytics. It provides detailed reports on website traffic, user behavior, and engagement and allows for customization and integration with other tools. One of the notable differences is that Piwik/Matomo can be self-hosted, meaning that the data is stored on your own servers, giving you more control over your data privacy.
• Adobe Analytics is a powerful enterprise-level analytics solution that provides detailed insights into customer behavior across all digital channels. It offers real-time tracking, advanced segmentation, and data visualization tools, making it a comprehensive analytics tool for businesses of all sizes.
• Clicky is a real-time web analytics tool that provides detailed information on website traffic and user behavior. It offers a user-friendly interface, custom reporting, and real-time heatmaps, allowing you to see how users interact with your website in real time. One of its unique features is the ability to track individual visitors, allowing you to see their activity on your website.

Each of these Google Analytics alternatives offers unique features and functionalities to help you gain valuable insights into your website and marketing efforts. By exploring the different options available, you can find the one that best suits your needs and provides the most value for your business.

Conclusion

Google Analytics is a powerful tool for businesses and website owners to gain valuable insights into their website traffic and user behavior. With its robust features and functionalities, including real-time reporting, predictive capabilities, and conversion tracking, Google Analytics provides a comprehensive analytics solution for businesses of all sizes. However, while it is a popular choice for many businesses, it may not be the best fit for everyone. Alternative analytics tools, such as Piwik/Matomo, Adobe Analytics, and Clicky, offer unique features and functionalities that may better suit the needs of some businesses. Ultimately, it’s important to explore different options and choose the analytics tool that provides the most value for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Google Analytics used for?

It provides valuable insights into website performance, user engagement, and conversion rates, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions.

What can you track with Google Analytics?

You can track various metrics with Google Analytics, including website traffic, user behavior, demographics, conversion rates, and more. Some examples of tracked metrics include page views, bounce rates, session duration, goal completions, and e-commerce transactions.

What are the three main things about Google Analytics?

The three main things about Google Analytics are tracking website traffic and user behavior, analyzing data to gain insights, and using the insights to make data-driven decisions to optimize website performance.

How do I access Google Analytics?

To access Google Analytics, you need to have a Google account and sign in to the Google Analytics website. Once logged in, you can create a new account and add the tracking code to your website to start tracking data.

What is the most useful type of data in Google Analytics?

The most useful data in Google Analytics depends on your specific business goals and objectives. However, some commonly tracked metrics that provide valuable insights include website traffic sources, user behavior on the website, and conversion rates.

Is Google Analytics worth it for beginners?

Yes, Google Analytics is a valuable tool for beginners as it provides a wealth of information about website performance and user behavior. However, it may take some time to learn and understand how to use the tool effectively. Google also offers various resources, including courses and certifications, to help beginners get started with Google Analytics.