Google Analytics and Keeping Track?

I’ve decided to add another small post pre 2012.

Well !, i didn’t see the point of telling you my goals (in the about me page) unless I can prove by the end of all this that these where actually achieved or not. I set out today to set up Google analytics for this site. It was far less painful than I thought, mind you i’m not sure if its been set up correctly and I won’t know until at least tomorrow. I achieved  this by registering on Google analytics, Registering in self explanatory and easy enough, however if your struggling here’s a little tutorial.

After registering with Google Analytics, I went on to add a free Google analytics plugin to my website. Once the plugin was installed, I entered my Google analytics tracking code into the plugin to allow tracking to take place on the site. Simples!

Having completed this process; I have taken a snap shot of my sites activity as it stands today!

Keeping Tracks

So what does Google Analytics Track?

Google Analytics is a tracking tool for your site which can provide you with information on your visitors. It has tons of options for you to muck about with, however the most simple options and the ones i’m more interested in, include;

• How many visitors did i get? (today, this week, this month, this year!)
• How many are unique?
• How many are returning?
• Where are they from?
• Who sent them? (referral or search engine?)

Google Analytics update!

Yip , The site tracks!

After setting up just a couple of hours ago Google is already tracking. I checked back into Google analytics to read up on some features and was surprised to find that it was already tracking and that I had 10 visits already today!

Tracking starts

Looking into this in more detail I noticed that Google analytics was also tracking my own visits.

This was easily rectified by going into advanced segments and creating a custom segment to exclude anyone from to my home town. I know that their is away of excluding my computers IP address but this seems far to difficult and remember i’m new to this!  I don’t even know what IP stands for and where I could find my IP info never mind add it to analytics. I was happy to except the fact that the majority of viewers wouldn’t be my neighbours and so happy to discard a handful of local people for more realistic stats which didn’t include me logging in to my site.

Anyway, another task done for the site.

By the way! the site has had 4 unique visitors since setting up Google analytic earlier today. Pretty cool!

Regards Ricky

Thanks for reading about my Google Analytics experience and hope the videos some of  help you set up your own analytics.

First Post and Affiliate links

So here it is, my first post and attempt at becoming an affiliate.

OK I know i’m slightly premature and that I said i would be starting in January of 2012 but i managed to get a bit of free time tonight.

I’ve set up my first wordpress website and your currently reading it. I know its not pretty but its a start and it took around 6hrs to set up,  i know its likely to get slaughtered and ripped to shreds by some web pro but i’m pretty chuffed! Its got a few obvious flaws though, for instance; I have a menu called “home” and a menu called “affiliate marketing for dummies” both of which lead to the same page. So how do i get rid one of the menus? (This is where the pros should come in and leave a comment here!, teaching the newbies a thing or two).

The site currently has a few pages which i will work on over time and a few affiliate links. so here’s what i’ve grasped so far and hope to teach provided i’m heading in the right direction?

1. Ive learnt how to find and register an available domain name. (this is the name you call your website, ie www.amazon.com)
2. I’ve learnt how to set up hosting. (this is the place that keeps your website information and publishes it on the internet)
3. I’ve learnt how to set up a wordpress website (the site your currently reading)
4. I’ve joined a few affiliate networks. (Networks are where you can find products to advertise and the network track any sales generated by your lead)
5. I’ve added some content and some affiliate links. (Affiliate links are advertisements to products your promoting)

Affiliate marketing using content rich sites and SEO

I’ve decided to start affiliate marketing by creating a few content rich/SEO sites to see how things go!

1. The site your reading:  www.affilatemarketingfordummies.biz
2. Another content site (yet to be decided)
3. A directory site using wordpress (yet to be decided)

Affiliate marketing for dummies .biz goes social.

I’ve added a social slider plugin to the blog for easier access to the affiliate marketing for dummies .biz social pages. check it out, it the slider that sits to the left hand side of the page containing the facebook, twitter and google+1 symbols.

Plugins are features which you can add onto your site to provide added value. Features which enhance the sites performance and viewing pleasure. So keep them in mind for when you set up your first website.

Anyways people, enough from me for tonight.

Goodluck.

Ricky Alcorn

Affiliate Marketing for Dummies