As the access to infinite amounts of data gets easier, webmasters can track the performance of their websites with increased specificity. For bloggers looking to optimize their sites and increase traffic, metrics provide the information needed to create the most valuable content for their audience.
Wordpress and Sitefinity are content management systems that allow individuals to create powerful websites and online businesses quickly. Both utilize metrics in their systems to give their users information that helps them build successful sites.
Importance of the Numbers
That which can’t be measured can’t be improved. This popular adage is the foundation for the use of metrics. The success of bloggers is a direct result of the value they provide to their audience. Having a way to measure that value is the core of using analytics in optimizing a website.
There are currently 3 major search engines in the United States: Google, Bing, and Yahoo. These three constitute approximately 95% of all traffic from online search.
Website performance can be viewed in light of this to determine the source of traffic. This gives bloggers information needed to investigate any significant changes in traffic.
They can assess which engines provide the most (and least) traffic, thereby allowing them to tailor their efforts as needed.
Analytics provide the feedback to determine if content is producing results. Without this information, webmasters are blind to the changes they could be making to increase the number of visitors.
Here’s how our two favorite Content Management Systems measure up:
Analytics in WordPress
WordPress is perhaps the most versatile content management system available today. Some of the most well known blogs, news outlets, celebrities, and Fortune 500 companies use it for their websites. It’s an open source software that allows anyone to create a successful website. Naturally, WordPress provides analytics in the process.
The Google Analytics plugin for WordPress offers a wide range of features. Because of its integration with other Google services, it is ranked as one of the most popular analytics tools used today. It offers content and keyword analysis, as well as metrics for conversion rates and social media.
Google Analytics for WordPress lets users track outbound and inbound link. This is fundamental to any link building and SEO efforts to increase traffic. Its advertising features support not only Google’s AdWords, but also advertising solutions for Bing, and Yahoo.
Analytics in Sitefinity
Much like WordPress, Sitefinity is a content management system. It was created by the Telerik Corporation as an enterprise-level Content Management System for businesses. As a result, many of the retail tools that other systems lack are featured in Sitefinity.
Sitefinity’s analytics tools give webmasters the valuable information needed for long-term traffic growth and conversion. The effectiveness of marketing campaigns and the traffic generated can easily be tracked using Sitefinity’s Analytics module.
With its analytics tools, visitor statistics such as the number, frequency, and source can help determine the biggest returns on blogging and business efforts.
Metrics provide tremendous benefits to bloggers and online businesses. In their efforts to bring value to their audience, they can use analytics to gain insight into the value of the content they provide.
Metrics give webmasters increased agility in the face of significant changes in traffic or conversion. By using analytics, bloggers can better serve the needs of their audiences, while helping them grow in the process.
What do you think about the analytics tools that you use? Let us know in the comments below.
