By Meredith Barnhill

Users who visit a Web site are also called "visitors." For analytical purposes, they are divided up into two groups: unique users and returning users. How many and what types of users affect a Web site's rating within Internet measurement companies like Nielsen and can directly affect your page rank within a search engine like Google. (more…)

By Simon Wright

Managing directors often judge their company’s Web site purely on sales that are directly logged. However, the Internet’s value to consumers is greater than just the ability to make purchases. Consumers frequently use it to research services that they then purchase either in a face-to-face setting or via telephone. Therefore, to properly understand your Web site return, you need to track offline conversions from online sales leads. (more…)

By Monique Martin

You signed up for Google Analytics and even took the time to create goals. But now that you’ve got your reports, you’re not sure what to make of them. What is the $index, how is it calculated and what does it mean to you and your business?

No matter what type of small business you have, Google Analytics offers an invaluable insight into your Web site’s performance. One of the most overlooked and yet most important data sets is the $index. (more…)

By Melissa J Luther

Your Web site is a form of advertising for your business. Many of your advertising campaigns, as well as the search engines, will direct interested visitors to a landing page on your Web site. As with any advertising campaign, you want to know how well it is working, and calculating your Web site conversion rate is an effective method of measuring this. (more…)