3 Critical Google Analytics Tools
I’ve tried alot of Google Analytics apps, add-ons and tools in the past. Here are the top 3 Google Analytics Tools I use on a daily basis, they are all free and they are built by some people who know there stuff. This isnt fluff, these are real tools for working web analysts, SEM’s and web designers.
1) gaAddons
gaAddons enhances the default Google Analytics script. You install it on the page just like the regular javascript code, it’s copy and paste easy.
Automated Tagging
gaAddons automatically tags outbound links, downloads and mailto. You can switch between tagging as events or page views ( if you need to use goals ) You can also specify the path, ie /mailto/%mailto% – Ultimately powerful, this will save you hours of work, ensure consistency and work with dynamic sites and content managed sites.
The latest version is absolutely rock solid. the code is lean and easily understandble by anyone who can copy and paste a jquery snippet.
Compatible with async
The only script of this nature which is compatible with async.
Cross Domain Tracking
the latest version handles cross-domain tracking… OMG awesome.
2) WASP
WASP or Web Analytics Solution Profiler is a firefox extension ( sites down the bottom next to firebug and opens in a sidebar ) that allows you to see how GA code is triggering in real-time.Initially I used it to simply confirm google analytics was on every page, as I became more of a power user I was able to use it to test link tagging, e-commerce variables and much more.
Testing the integrity of your analytics the old fashioned way ( fill out a form an complete a goal, wait 2 hours to see if it’s working ) is finished.
3) Copy Google Analytics Profiles
When you copy a profile with several filters and lots of goals it is hell to re-enter everything by hand… Copy Profiles by Roi Revolution is a greasemonkey script that will actually add a “copy” link into the Google Analytics profiles view.
The greasemonkey setup is a bit confusing, and in my mind greasemonkey always seemed “hackish” but I can vouche that this greasemonkey thing works reliabily and it it really does copy profiles.
