Google Analytics - Finally Offers Real-Time Analytics

By Geoff Jackson on 30 September 2011 @ 10:53 AM.

Tags: analytics, google analytics, real time analytics, web analytics.

It's been a long-time coming but Google Analytics finally announced it's beta launch of real time analytics yesterday. The beta roll-out will be available to all users of Google Analytics eventually (over the next few weeks) but currently, you have to request an invitation to check it out.

I've been a huge fan of real time analytics for some time now, it saw me make the primary switch from Google Analytics to other analytic platforms that were readily offering this either via a desktop client or browser based version and for particular websites, tracking and monitoring real time analytics has given real insight into user behaviour and the popularity of posts instantly which has influenced focus and strategy which can be addressed within minutes/hours thanks to this real time view.

As mentioned, I've only experience the benefit of real time analytics for particular websites, in many instances, tracking user behaviour and collecting data with a 24 hour delay is satisfactory. Blogs, social networks and sites frequently publishing content inparticular however, can really benefit from viewing visitors to new content within seconds of it being published, tracking referrals from Twitter or Facebook within seconds of sharing to those networks. Publishers will now have the opportunity to get instant insight into what articles are attracting traffic within the most recognised and widely used analytics platform... All for free (many real time analytics platforms are paying subscription based).

As we play around with the dashboard and features, we'll update this article with any neat findings we make. Let us know what you think in the comments.

About the Author

Geoff is more commonly recognised online by his internet pseudonym 'zigojacko'. He is the Director of Search at Clubnet Search Marketing, founder of The Clubnet Group and has a huge involvement in the music, clubbing and entertainment sector where he also manages operations at Clubnet UK

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