Google Analytics and reporting
October 5, 2009Google Analytics provides many ways for reporting. The majority of users are happy with Google Analytics interface reports, such as PDF or Excel file. Addition to this, Google Analytics has also Custom Reporting BETA, which makes it possible for users to design their own report. Leevi Kokko has mentioned some of the benefits of using Custom reporting beta in his blog (in Finnish). Custom reporting is also clarified in Google Analytics official Help site.
API makes is possible to build reports outside Google Analytics. With programming languages, such as PHP, Java and JavaScript, you are able to create different applications for Google Analytics. Mobile GA is an application for using Google Analytics with your mobile phone. Axiom CMS imports Google Analytics data directly to CMS so that content editors are able to use the data in order to make better content for websites.
The easiest way of using API is probably to use Excel integration made by a Finnish guy called Mikael Thuneberg. If you have Vista or XP and Microsoft Office, just download the Excel from Mikael’s site and try it.
1. Download the file GA data fetch.xls
2. Open the file and ensure, that you have macros turned on
3. Fill in the userid (email), password and profile number (you’ll find this in URL, when you are looking at your reports in GA interface id=xxx))
4. Try to change the dimensions and metrics! That’s it! Have fun!
