Google Analytics:

Top 10 features of the new Google Analytics:

Over the past eight months, Google has steadily released one revolutionary new feature after another. On March 17, the company announced a new version of Google Analytics.

1. Dashboard:

At a minimum, these four widgets would benefit the average user.

• Visits - Timeline (can also include Metric)
• Goal Completions and/or Transactions - Timeline
• Source/Medium - Table
• Bounce Rate - Timeline

2. Keyword Clouds:

Rather than viewing a long list of keywords to spot trends, users can now evaluate a keyword cloud. This cloud makes it easy to visualize top keywords based on different user-selected criteria, including visits, bounce rates and pages per visit. 

3. Real-Time Data:

For the first time, GA offers a real-time data solution. With its real-time reports, users can view the activity on the site as it happens, drilling into the top active pages, top referrals, keywords and geographic locations driving the traffic. In addition to monitoring current activity on the site, these reports can also be used to test campaign tracking prior to launching campaigns. 

4. Site Speed:

A slow site can have a negative effect on quality score for paid search, so visits can cost more to a slower site. Google has also indicated that site speed may be an important factor in organic search rankings. Additionally, a one-second delay can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. Use this report to monitor site speed and avoid these issues.

5. Search Simplifies Navigation:

The tool makes it easier for users to quickly navigate to the proper report. Google also created an account search that lets users directly access the correct profile, rather than scrolling through hundreds to locate the right one.  

6. Webmaster Tools:

The new integration incorporates Google Webmaster Tools data into Google Analytics. 

7. Social Engagement:

GA's new social reports break down how many of a site’s visitors is socially engaged with the site, itemizing which social source and action occurred. 

8. Visitor Flow & Goal Flow Visualization:

Flow Visualization consists of two reports: Visitors Flow and Goal Flow. The Visitors Flow report can be used to visualize the "flow" of visitors through the site, while the Goal Flow is an improvement on the original Funnel Visualization reports.  

9. Event Tracking:

For the first time, Events can be used as goals. Want to find out how many people downloaded a PDF?  Now users can easily track these events without affecting other metrics.

10. Multi-Channel Funnels:

The Multi-Channel Funnels are a series of reports intended to help provide attribution information. Google is constantly striving to correct these with future iterations of the platform.