Comments on: Must Read Book – Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics – Second Edition http://www.trendingupward.net/2010/04/must-read-book-advanced-web-metrics-with-google-analytics/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Web analytics for higher education. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:22:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joey Dorrington http://www.trendingupward.net/2010/04/must-read-book-advanced-web-metrics-with-google-analytics/#comment-784 Joey Dorrington Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:18:54 +0000 http://www.trendingupward.net/?p=1873#comment-784 I am currently reading Brian's book as well and it is a fantastic resource. It has very technical sections which build on the knowledge and understanding on Anivash's books/blogs. If you really want to understand how GA works, and how to get developers to do what you want them to do this resource is fantastic. Good call Shelby! I am currently reading Brian’s book as well and it is a fantastic resource. It has very technical sections which build on the knowledge and understanding on Anivash’s books/blogs. If you really want to understand how GA works, and how to get developers to do what you want them to do this resource is fantastic.

Good call Shelby!

]]> By: Shelby Thayer http://www.trendingupward.net/2010/04/must-read-book-advanced-web-metrics-with-google-analytics/#comment-762 Shelby Thayer Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:53:22 +0000 http://www.trendingupward.net/?p=1873#comment-762 Yes! Thanks so much for adding this in, Brian! I should have done a better job in the initial post with adding in the "what's different." What I want to know is how the heck could I have forgotten to mention advanced segments? :) I feel like that's all I write about anymore! One thing that I found really useful is that you went into using advanced segments vs. using profile filters. That's also a question that comes up frequently. Besides advanced segmentation, as I mentioned in the update after Jess' comment, I'm really getting some valuable information out of the intelligence reports. Feedburner is also huge. No more hacks needed (well, unless you don't use Feedburner). :) Anyway. Thanks. I appreciate you adding this in. Yes! Thanks so much for adding this in, Brian! I should have done a better job in the initial post with adding in the “what’s different.” What I want to know is how the heck could I have forgotten to mention advanced segments? :) I feel like that’s all I write about anymore! One thing that I found really useful is that you went into using advanced segments vs. using profile filters. That’s also a question that comes up frequently.

Besides advanced segmentation, as I mentioned in the update after Jess’ comment, I’m really getting some valuable information out of the intelligence reports. Feedburner is also huge. No more hacks needed (well, unless you don’t use Feedburner). :)

Anyway. Thanks. I appreciate you adding this in.

]]> By: Brian Clifton http://www.trendingupward.net/2010/04/must-read-book-advanced-web-metrics-with-google-analytics/#comment-760 Brian Clifton Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:28:25 +0000 http://www.trendingupward.net/?p=1873#comment-760 Hi Shelby - many thanks for your review. I was asked recently by Daniel Waisberg of the WAA about what has changed from the 1st ed. So thought I could include it here... Daniel: Has Google Analytics itself changed that much since you wrote the first edition of the book? Brian: When I started writing the new second edition (last June), my intention was for a an update. A few week’s work—estimated to be ten weeks at most! However, within 3 weeks I was re-writing whole sections and then chapters. This was because once I sat down and gave it some serious thought, so much in the product has changed. In the past two years, Google Analytics has integrated with AdSense and Feedburner, launched event tracking, advanced segments, Intelligence alerts, motion charts, custom reporting, custom variables, the data export API and the new asynchronous method of tracking. I have probably also missed a few. In the end, the re-write took me 7 months. Full interview here: http://searchengineland.com/qa-with-brian-clifton-google-analytics-guru-extrodinaire-38854 Hope this helps. Essentially, if you are more than an occasional GA user, the 2nd edition is a must read! Of course I am highly bias :) Best regards, Brian Author Hi Shelby – many thanks for your review.

I was asked recently by Daniel Waisberg of the WAA about what has changed from the 1st ed. So thought I could include it here…

Daniel:
Has Google Analytics itself changed that much since you wrote the first edition of the book?

Brian:
When I started writing the new second edition (last June), my intention was for a an update. A few week’s work—estimated to be ten weeks at most! However, within 3 weeks I was re-writing whole sections and then chapters. This was because once I sat down and gave it some serious thought, so much in the product has changed.

In the past two years, Google Analytics has integrated with AdSense and Feedburner, launched event tracking, advanced segments, Intelligence alerts, motion charts, custom reporting, custom variables, the data export API and the new asynchronous method of tracking. I have probably also missed a few. In the end, the re-write took me 7 months.

Full interview here: http://searchengineland.com/qa-with-brian-clifton-google-analytics-guru-extrodinaire-38854

Hope this helps. Essentially, if you are more than an occasional GA user, the 2nd edition is a must read! Of course I am highly bias :)

Best regards, Brian
Author

]]> By: Shelby Thayer http://www.trendingupward.net/2010/04/must-read-book-advanced-web-metrics-with-google-analytics/#comment-759 Shelby Thayer Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:53:09 +0000 http://www.trendingupward.net/?p=1873#comment-759 Hi Jess - yes, this book is fantastic. If you read the first edition, I still would recommend the second edition as well. GA has changed so much since the first edition came out. The second edition closes that gap. It goes into detail about all the added functionality, etc. Thanks for reminding me, though, I should have included the new functionality as a section in the post. Boy, I can't believe I didn't do that! Thanks! Hi Jess – yes, this book is fantastic. If you read the first edition, I still would recommend the second edition as well. GA has changed so much since the first edition came out. The second edition closes that gap. It goes into detail about all the added functionality, etc. Thanks for reminding me, though, I should have included the new functionality as a section in the post. Boy, I can’t believe I didn’t do that! Thanks!

]]> By: Jess http://www.trendingupward.net/2010/04/must-read-book-advanced-web-metrics-with-google-analytics/#comment-758 Jess Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:17:02 +0000 http://www.trendingupward.net/?p=1873#comment-758 Yep. I read this last year. Very helpful. :) Yep. I read this last year. Very helpful. :)

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