Web stats latest target of Google

Web statistics – the overview of a web site’s traffic flow – are usually one of two things – too ‘raw’ as to be meaningless, or not quite detailed enough to draw firm conclusions to improve site design and visitor conversion.

Now, though, web site traffic, the currency of Google, has become the latest offering from the search engine/advertising giant with the launch of Google Analytics. The new service is free unless a site receives over five million page views per month. So small to micro-sized businesses probably don’t urgently need to factor in a budget.

Now, though, web site traffic, the currency of Google, has become the latest offering from the search engine/advertising giant with the launch of . The new service is free unless a site receives over five million page views per month. So small to micro-sized businesses probably don’t urgently need to factor in a budget.

And the even better news is that while Google Analytics provides a surprisingly well-rounded picture of visitor activity, it is not particularly complex to use.

Among the things you can discover about your site with Google Analytics are:

• Where visitors arrive from
• How they found you
• Which pages they view
• Which pages are most popular
• The success of keywords
• Problem areas with sites
• The success of advertising and marketing strategies
• Return on Investment for AdWords campaigns

Most web hosting companies, depending on the package, offer web site statistics, but these vary dramatically in quality. As a more user-friendly alternative or as a second opinion, Google Analytics could prove to be the answer for the small business web site owner.