That’s an interesting question. I guess the first thing that I ask you in return is why do you have a website at all? If you are using it to update the grandparents in Nova Scotia on Baby’s first steps and most recent tumble, then you really don’t need to analyze anything.
However, let’s say the blog that you’ve been writing for the last two years is generating some interest lately. Your friends keep forwarding the URL to their friends and, just like our favorite old Faberge commercial, they tell two friends, and so on and so on. Now you’re up to a few thousand subscribers who want to read your insights on kitchen gadgets! We’ve all heard stories about people who have turned their blogs into little money makers, but you need a bigger fan base to get the Magic Muffin Master people to advertise on your site. Good analytics will provide insights on how people found you, what they are reading, how often they visit, how long they stay, and how they leave. Then you can use all of that information to write new blogs, direct your attention to what your readers are interested in, and cater to their needs. Really, do you even know who your target audience is? I’ve worked with many business owners who believe they are attracting one type of customer and then we look at their demographics and find they’ve been wrong all along.
Newsweek tracks how many visitors go to their website and which articles are most read. This helps them understand what people are interested in and then they can follow up with more stories on those topics. Of course they want to sell more magazines. But when the site’s goal and the visitor needs intersect, a win/win situation is created and everybody benefits.
If you want more visitors to your site, just imagine that you are selling yourself–your ideas, insights, opinions, and unique information.