Bruce Zimmer: Web Analytics

Elvis Has Left The Building

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 05:44:05 GMT

Let the word go forth to all my Radio weblog category sites. And let the word likewise be cast upon the RSS waters that those both near and far may hear the news.

This incarnation of Redwood Asylum has been retired. But let not the news weigh heavily upon thee. Know ye that nonsense and drivel spring forth anew in these TypePad locations:

Redwood Asylum: same old stuff with a new RSS feed
Random Analytics: web analytics and a new RSS feed

Oh, and the Elvis expression?

Upgraded TypePad Trial

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 07:24:54 GMT

Upgraded my TypePad trial account from Basic to Plus.

Spent a lot of time troubleshooting problems with Radio UserLand post exporting. Finally decided the issue was probably not in Bill Kearney's exporter tool, but in the Radio UserLand database.

Deleted several old posts from an unpublished category and deleted the category. Deleted several other old categories which were no longer needed. Ran the TweezerMan script to rebuild internal category story lists. Used the Radio application option to save a new copy of weblogData.root. Shut down Radio, swapped in the new copy of weblogData.root and restarted. Bill Kearney's exporter ran fine, dumping over 1700 posts into a Movable Type format file.

Re-worked the TypePad test site several times, dumping the earlier partial import and loading the full 1700 post file. TypePad isn't nearly as flexible as Movable Type, but I don't think I need extensive customization. However, I do have an account at Total Choice Hosting where I could test Movable Type.

Many have moved to (perceived) greener pastures after Radio UserLand. Will I follow The Shifted Librarian, TweezerMan and Phil Windley to Movable Type? I watched Ernie the Attorney move from Radio to TypePad. If my TypePad testing proceeds without major incident, maybe I'll buy the first year. If I don't like the Project Comet evolution, I can always jump to Movable Type later.

Time will tell.

TypePad Trial

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 07:06:12 GMT

After three and a half years with Radio UserLand, I'm testing something new. I opened a 30-day free trial TypePad account this evening, starting with the Basic version. Using Google, I located Bill Kearney's exporter tool for Radio UserLand. Although I'm having problems, I was able to export enough Radio posts to test the TypePad import feature. Time will tell.

Basecamp adds authenticated RSS feeds

Sat, 24 Sep 2005 02:43:19 GMT

From Donovan Watts

I've been a Basecamp user and believer from the start. One of the things I like best is that I am notified via my news reader and RSS every time there is activity on my project site. The only problem is that the feeds were not authenticated. Ugh. Now they are. 37 Signals is improving Basecamp all the time and I'm a very happy customer.

We could use authenticated RSS feeds at work to publish secure content from our extranet with the side benefit of improved web metrics for the RSS feeds.

Perking Up Interest in Web Analytics

Fri, 23 Sep 2005 08:32:41 GMT

From Shane Atchison at ClickZ

Last time, I discussed the gap between overall corporate strategic goals and the goals typically assigned to the Web channel. Most basic Web metrics aren't as important as establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) tailored to your business. Management must receive and evaluate those reports on a regular basis.

Content Syndication Conference - RSS HackFest

Fri, 23 Sep 2005 06:26:16 GMT

Don't miss the Syndicate conference, produced by IDG World Expo, scheduled for December 12-14 in San Francisco. If content syndication via RSS is on your roadmap, plan to attend.

The Surprising Truth About PDFs & Audio Downloads

Sun, 18 Sep 2005 08:41:26 GMT

PDF marketing tips from MarketingSherpa

PDFs may not be that new, but they are new enough that some executives in corporate America are still confused by them. So, now we've begun automatically shipping a printed copy with most Sherpa Guide PDF orders, even though it costs us more, to make sure customers are happy.

Read the details. Go on. Shoo.

RSS Vendor Space

Sun, 18 Sep 2005 03:20:32 GMT

From Rok Hrastnik at MarketingServices.net

Richard MacMannus takes a good look at the RSS vendors space, giving special attention to the search category.

I was especially interested in reading his break-down of the RSS publisher services vendors:

Publisher Services
Sub-categories: Content; Analytics; Feed Mgmt; Advertising Examples: Feedburner; Nooked; Pheedo; SimpleFeed; Syndicate IQ

Web Analytics Newsletter - September 2005

Sat, 17 Sep 2005 05:34:32 GMT

The September edition of Hurol Inan's Attuned web analytics newsletter is available. Hurol's site has a new section dedicated to understanding RSS metrics and analysis.

The Value of Competitive Data

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 06:26:49 GMT

From Jason Burby at ClickZ

My last column focused on accessing and using competitive data to gain insight into specific problems to improve site performance. One of the big questions that often comes up is, "How does our conversion rate compare to others? Are we doing better than average or worse?"

Fathom Breaks Into Analytics

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:24:47 GMT

From Enid Burns at ClickZ

Competition between search engine marketing and Web analytics firms is heating up, in a civil fashion. Fathom Online is expected today to announce its entry into the analytics arena, introducing a Web-based system that allows advertisers to integrate their sales, Web site and affiliate data.

Royal Flush: Making Landing Pages Pay Off

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:18:54 GMT

From Gary Stein at ClickZ

... getting a click only costs you money. It doesn't make you money. JupiterResearch continues to see click-throughs as the primary measure of a search campaign's success, and that's troubling. If a campaign manager only looks at click-throughs, she's bound to have trouble really understanding the spending's benefit. ... This is why landing pages are so critical. The money you pay for the click is the ante, the money you spend to get in the game. The landing page is what you do with the cards you've been dealt. As a great philosopher once said, "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em."

Measurement and Testing: Launch Your Campaign to New Heights

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:15:44 GMT

From Jeremy Lockhorn at ClickZ

Cross-channel measurement is a hot topic. It must be part of your measurement set in some way. Otherwise, you risk underestimating your online efforts' value or making optimization (and budget allocation) decisions with incomplete, incorrect information. Numerous studies demonstrate a significant combined effect of simultaneous on- and offline media. The IAB's Cross Media Optimization Studies (XMOSs) are probably the best-known examples.

Nielsen//NetRatings Combines Panel, Analytics Results

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:12:54 GMT

From Kevin Newcomb at ClickZ

In an attempt to reconcile discrepancies between panel- and census-based online audience measurement solutions, Nielsen//NetRatings has combined the two in an integrated methodology. The new methodology is already being used in Italy, and clients in the U.S. are testing the approach.
The new methodology, which the company calls "Data Integration," brings together results from Nielsen//NetRatings' NetView panel and its SiteCensus Web analytics approach. By linking the panel with its site-centric solution, the Data Integration method comes up with what NetRatings calls an "Integrated Audience" number.

The ROI of Usability Analysis

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:07:12 GMT

From Jack Aaronson at ClickZ

Earlier this year, Fingerhut decided it wanted to redesign its online user experience, and my company performed the site assessment. Its goals were no different from any other retailer: increase conversion rates, decrease cart abandonment, streamline checkout, and make the site more navigable.

Analytics Intervention: Your Site Should Support Your Business Goals

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 06:03:55 GMT

From Shane Atchison at ClickZ

To effectively harness the Web, companies must define clear Web channel goals that are tied directly to overall company goals. Then, they need to track the KPIs that will help them measure progress toward those goals. Once that happens, analysis can make a Web site become a clear, supporting plank of an overall corporate strategy. Here's how to define those Web channel goals...

Beyond Web Analytics Data: Online Surveys

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 05:55:47 GMT

From Neil Mason at ClickZ

Total reliance on Web analytics data can be likened to driving down a road at full speed while only looking in the rear-view mirror. You can tell where you've been, but you don't know what's about to happen. Getting beyond the "what" and more into "why" enables you to predict where the business is going. To do this, you must learn why your customers do what they do and how they feel about it.

Psssst, Hey Buddy, Wanna Lose $1 Million Per Day?

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 07:42:11 GMT

Eric Peterson at JupiterResearch mentions a great way to lose big bucks. Just shut down two of your most popular ecommerce sites. Damn, now why didn't I think of that? Since we would not lose quite that much at work, maybe I'll tell our head of corporate marketing to stop worrying about downtime. Sure I will... when pigs fly.

Eric Peterson, Web Analytics Book Mogul

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 07:16:40 GMT

Eric Peterson, noted web analytics author and JupiterResearch analyst, reminded me today via email blast that his Web Site Measurement Hacks: Tips and Tools to Help Optimize Your Online Business book is now available from Amazon. I suppose I could skip a few lunches to pay for a copy. Maybe I should skip a few more meals and buy Web Analytics Demystified too. Can't hurt to pre-order The Big Book of Key Performance Indicators while I'm at it. Only need to skip a few beers to pay for that one.

Well this certainly doesn't bode well for the data collectors ...

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 08:13:42 GMT

From Eric Peterson at JupiterResearch:

I would like to go on record as saying that when I first wrote and we first published our findings about cookie deletion on the Internet I didn't think that six months later I'd be seeing the kind of red state/blue state polarization on the issue that has recently appeared.