What good is all of this information if you can’t put it to use?

By now, you know all the lingo to establish a baseline and understand where your site is currently at. A baseline is an essential combination of information – it’s the only way to see meaningful change.

There are a lot of tools in Google Analytics for comparing your data – but you are an author, and you just took enought time learning the ropes. Why take more time away from editing, revising, and creative pursuits?

Instead, considering recording your data in a spreadsheet.

Now, this isn’t the fanciest way – but you don’t need fancy. You just need actionable results.

Chances are, you already know how to use a spreadsheet. Instead of getting hung up in new technology stick with what you know. You won’t have any excuses to not check your analytics!

Click here to download an Excel (.xls) spreadsheet template for recording your data. It comes complete with all the fields that are most important for quick and effective comparisons. You don’t need to record all of you metrics, especially when you’re first running your own analytics. If you don’t have Excel, click here to visit a Google Doc with the information you need to get started.

How often should I record my data?

1-3 months is a good amount of time to take between reviews of your analytics. I recommend every other month – it’s easy to get bogged down in the ‘numbers’ of your blog. Instead of spending time thinking about the impersonal aspects of the internet, worry about forging real human connections and creating good content.

What do I do with this data?

Analytics for Authors is going to explore creating great goals (and how to implement them) soon. Check back to find out!