US Gov’t Approves Google Analytics for Fed Websites
The move encourages federal websites to utilize cloud-based apps.
Click to read the rest of this post…
The move encourages federal websites to utilize cloud-based apps.
Click to read the rest of this post…
Google Analytics is now available in six additional languages. They are: Bulgarian, Catalan, Greek, Lithuanian, Slovak and Vietnamese. The total number of languages available in Google Analytics is now 31.
If you wish to switch languages in Google Analytics, simply look for the language menu in the top right corner of the login page.


The search community is doing well on the Google Analytics IQ test. A little too well. It’s apparently so easy, that Google is raising the score required to be classified as Google Analytics qualified.
Previously set at a generous 75%, the new passing score is now set at 80%. This does *not* apply retroactively. If you previously passed at a score between 75-80, your qualification remains intact. But you will be required to score 80%+ on your renewal.
So cram just a little bit more next time you take the Google Analytics IQ test!
The Google Analytics API was launched last April and then updated with a few more features in September. Now, developers are getting access to additional advanced features.
Here’s what’s included in the API update:
Support for Advanced Segments – Originally unveiled over a year ago, developers are getting two ways to use advanced segements via the API:
Goal 5-20 and Configuration Data – Analytics recently increased the number of goals allowed from 5 to 20. Developers can now access 48 metrics regarding goal performance.
Custom Variables – 10 new dimensions are now available to access custom variable data.
Yesterday at SES Chicago, Google announced the following updates to Analytics:
Annotations
If you share Google Analytics information with multiple people, then this will be particularly useful. Just make a note about a spike or dip – and others can respond when they check the analytics on their end.
Custom Variables in Advanced Segments
Multiple custom variables were made available in October, but only as a report in the Visitors section. Beginning this week, you can create advanced segmentation based on custom variables.
Custom Variables in Custom Reports
The custom variables expansion continues with the ability to create custom reports with them. Compare custom variables against any Google Analytics metric with a custom report.
New Analytics Tracking Code Setup Wizard
You can’t get the data unless the tracking code is installed properly. This hasn’t been the easiest of tasks for the coding-challenged. Google’s making it easier for you to get the code working on your site.
New Version of The Analytics API
For this new feature, Google is being a tease. A bigger announcement would come later this week, but they offered up a hint: support for advanced segmentation.
Last year at eMetrics, Google Analytics announced a ton of features and this year they’re at it again. Today at the annual conference held in the nation’s capital, a slew of updates to the robust analytics tool were announced. Here they are:
Advanced Intelligence and Custom Alerts
Google is developing a new intelligence engine. As part of the initial release, Google will serve up the most significant changes in a site’s metrics when you view its profile in Analytics.
Here’s a sample screenshot supplied to us by Google:

When something unusual happens in your analytics, Google will send you an email alerting you to the change. One example of an alert is when traffic spikes by a large percentage. You can set your own parameters for when you get an alert and there are also automatic alerts.
Here’s a video explaining Analytics Intelligence and Custom Alerts:
Two New Goals
You can now set goals for engagement and branding. You can set thresholds for Time on Site and Pages Per Visit. Alos, you can now set up to 4 goals for 5 sets each – up to 20 per profile. For more info, check this video:
Expanded Mobile Reports
Google Analytics now tracks mobile applications developed for iPhone and Android. Developers for both platforms will be able to see which actions are taken and which features are used within an app. Android developers get a richer feature set, which includes advertising engagement.
Mobile websites are also getting better tracking. Previously, Google Analytics only tracked traffic from devices that ran Javascript. In the next few weeks, Google will provide code snippets for sites built on PHP, Perl, JSP or ASPX.
Multiple Custom Variables
The Google Analytics tracking API will offer developers the ability to define and track visitors according to visitor attributes, session attributes, and by page-level attributes.
Advanced Filters and Table Analysis Features
These new features help you manage vast amount of data, great for larger sites. If you’re looking at large lists of keywords, for example, you can break it down by multiple filters and factors. Take a look at these two videos to learn more:
As with last year’s batch of updates, this year’s updates will all roll out at various times. Of course, experienced search marketers check their analytics regularly, so you’ll know when you get one of the new feature sets. In the meantime, give us your first impressions of these new features by leaving a comment below.
The Google Analytics team has released new features for their API. They include event tracking, navigation data, and increased filter length.
For event tracking you can do fancy things like:
For navigational data, you can now create your own custom reports such as site overlays to view how traffic navigates your site.
Last but not least the filter length has been increased to 128 characters, which allows developers to make more complex requests with fewer queries.