KAIZEN Analytics

Google Trends for Websites - do you trust it?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Google Trends for Websites is one of the free competitive intelligence services provided by Google. It is pretty easy and straightforward to use: just type in domain names of sites you want to compare and it gives you traffic trends over time (for the selected period) and some additional data. Unlike Compete free service, Google Trends for Websites offers worldwide coverage with the ability to segment results per country. Cool, isn't it?Simple but valuableWhile simple, it is a very interesting service as you can compare traffic trends of your site vs. your competitors. You can learn a lot like the impact of competitor advertising...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

My little Web Analytics bookshelf

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:41:00 +0000

When it comes to advices on how to get started in Web analytics and or how to expand your Web Analytics skills, nothing beats practical experience. However theory is also important. Blogs from Web analytics expert are a good sources of inspiration and knowledge (check my little blogroll on the right side for few ones). And Web Analytics books. Yep, books that talks about Web Analytics. Not so long ago, Web Analytics books were a very rare specie but now these are almost like rabbits. There are plenty of them and the number just keeps growing. Just in the course of this year, many famous Web analytics experts published their own...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Dear WebTrends, I need some REST!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Early August 2009, it was quite difficult to not hear about WebTrends Analytics 9 launch. The new release generated a lot of buzz in the Web Analytics community – mainly about the new “revolutionary” user interface that “reinvented” Web Analytics (Cough! Cough!). Well, I had the opportunity to get my hands on the new baby and to test it. To be honest, what excited me the most was not the new UI (which is good I must admit) but the integration of REST URL’s, the latest WebTrends data extraction API. What are REST URL’s?REST acronym stands for Representational State Transfer – in case you want to know. It relates to a style of...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Usability labs: a way to really understand your online customers!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Imagine the scene. You have what you think is a very simple. But when you look at the poor results you get from your favourite Web Analytics, it leaves you scratching your head and wondering: “How can our online customers failed to use it properly? Are our website users stupid?” “I am a web user, call me stupid!” Well, there are probably few of your users who may be stupid like in everywhere – but no, online users (i.e your customers) are not stupid! It is just that too often, we get it wrong! Yes us, you know the super Web experts (web designers, online marketers, Web Analytics ninjas).Too often, we forgot one important fact: we...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Happy birthday Kaizen-Analytics!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:06:00 +0000

One year ago, I started this blog – going one level further in my Web Analytics passion (or “geekiness” if you prefer :-)). 37 posts later, it is time to blow the first candle. The first one of a long serie? Well, I hope so. It is personally an “emotional” milestone for me. I can not hide that this experience has been really thrilling. Yes, really. Running this blog is very exciting & lot of fun (told you, I am a Web Analytics geek - no way I can hide it). But most important, it is rich in learning. But it would not have been possible without you – yes you, behind your screen (or PDA, smartphone or whatever device). You, who...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Web analytics– where should it sit in the organization: in business or in IT?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:00:00 +0000

In this post, I would like to talk about organizing Web Analytics in a company and the important question : who should own and lead Web Analytics competencies? where should these competencies sit in the organization? And what if Web Analytics all started from the IT side? As a practitioner and based on my personal experience so far, my answer would be: not in IT. But why do I believe that IT is not the best option for managing and leading Web Analytics competencies within an organization? Web Analytics relates to businessBasically, Web Analytics is about improving business performances of online channels. This is done by...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Successful Web Analytics: what does it take?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Is Web Analytics hard? Well, I do not want to resurrect an old debate here but I must say that if Web Analytics may be not that hard, successful web analytics is. We all know that Web Analytics is not just about having a tool (whether it is a free or a paid solution) and the right tags & key reports. You may have heard the famous Avinash Kaushik’s "90/10" rule: “For every 10$ you invest in your WA tool, you should invest 90$ in people". Or Eric Peterson’s "70/20/10" rule: “Web Analytics is 70% people, 20% processes & 10% tool”. So people & process are essential for Web Analytics but is that all you need to be...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Toyota Europe launches the Toyota Range Experience!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:56:00 +0000

I usually try not to do (too much) propaganda for the company where I work but this time – I can not refrain myself. I am so excited by this new project that went live today on the Toyota European site and that will be rolled out to Toyota national websites across Europe in the coming weeks. Welcome to the Toyota Range ExperienceToday we launched a new “tool” – the Toyota Range Experience, a rich full screen environment that allows you to explore Toyota European model line-up. The “tool” was developed by our European agency – Amaze – and the Toyota Europe Web developers team. The main goal the tool is to increase Toyota model...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Web Analytics, Dutch women and Dennis' vision of tomorrows analytics

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Last Thursday, I spoke at the Web Analytics Congres in Amsterdam – presenting Toyota case together with WebTrends – one of the key sponsors of the event. In my part, I explained how we leverage Web Analytics in our pan-European context to drive actions and to continuously improve our business performances in true Kaizen way. I was really pleased and honoured to present at such event. And from what I heard or read in some posts (for example see "26 learning van Web Analytics Congres 2009") and tweets, it seems that the audience was listening and had some interest. If sharing my experience has given some ideas to anyone then my main...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Competitive intelligence for free: a practical example

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Competitive intelligence is an important element of any ideal analytical framework. While measuring and benchmarking your online performances is a must-do, your website is part of an ecosystem. It is not just about you and the customers but you, the customers and competitors! So it is important to understand how you are performing against the competition. Competitive intelligence is also usually one of the most difficult or expensive data to obtain. For a long time, it has been mainly limited to the Northern American market or to specific industries. Until Google introduced services like Google Trends, Google Trends for websites or...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Next Web Analytics Wednesday @ TheseDays (Antwerp): Understanding the value of social media!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I am pleased to finally confirm that 3rd Belgian Web Analytics Wednesday will be held in June. For the occasion, WAW will go back to where it started this year. The event will be hosted by These Days. The event will take place in Antwerp at These Days office on the 3rd of June 2009, starting at 18:30. WebTrends, the Analytics advisor, is generously sponsoring this WAW edition.Host:Sponsor: Social media: "Are you listening"? I am really excited to announce that the main theme of this Web Analytics Wednesday will be all about "social media: listen, measure and engage!". Highly recommended to Web Analysts, marketing managers, online...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Coming speaking engagements: Amsterdam (NL) & Lille (FR)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:44:00 +0000

The San Jose eMetrics summit took place this week in California. It is THE event of the year (with the Washington DC edition) and if you were not there (like me), you may have heard about all great presentations & announcements on Twitter or various WA blogs. eMetrics are really great event. I already attended past editions of the London eMetrics summit so I know how it tastes (by the way, I highly recommend this event to all European practioners - really worth it). Unfortunately for me, due to the current recession, I will not be able to attend this year edition. So sad... Still, I will have the great honour to speak at other...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Automotive & Internet: towards online vehicle buying

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:30:00 +0000

The importance of Internet for automotive industry is not to be demonstrated anymore (see previous post “Automotive & Internet: trends & challenges”). Automotive websites play a key role as they support customers during the purchase process, mainly during the awareness and consideration phases. Still the most important step - the purchase - happens offline but for how long? According to Cap Gemini’s Car Online 08/09 report(1), online vehicle buying may become a reality as the one of the key changes consumers expect to see in the coming decade is that the whole purchase process will be done online. Cap Gemini’s Car Online...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Free "Improving Online Performances" seminar - Antwerp May 14th

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:30:00 +0000

If you have missed past Belgian Web Analytics Wednesdays and their case-studies, Netprofiler is organizing a FREE seminar - "Improve online performances" on the 14th of May, 18:00 at the Ramada Plaza in Antwerp, Belgium. The event will start by an overview of Web Analytics key solutions and latest developments. It will be followed by the presentation of three "success" cases. The first case will be about Selexyz - the Netherlands largest bookshop - and how it managed to increase its traffic from Google by 250% in half year through a successful Long Tail campaign with Google Adwords. The 2nd case will explain how the World Wild...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Increasing online form conversion – some tips & best practices

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:10:00 +0000

The great thing with Internet is that you have many services that used to be done in the offline world: you can ask questions to a company about its products. You can arrange a test drive on automotive site. You can register to a TV cable service, you can switch energy provider… You get the idea (and I am not even talking about e-commerce sites). All these services involve filling an online form at a certain stage. That is where online experience can turn into online nightmare and frustration. Online forms are often the Achille’s eels of many websites and I am still surprised – as an end-user – to see so many terrible “online”...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Applied Segmentation & Targeting - two case studies from WAW @ Ghent

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Two months after first Belgian Web Analytics Wednesday (WAW) of 2009, a second one took place last week in Ghent. The event was hosted and sponsored by bSeen, a Belgian specialist in Search Marketing but also in Web Analytics. For the occasion, they hold the event in a superb location – at the Zebrastraat. Thanks to lot of promotion done by bSeen who invited many of their customers, the event drove more than 90 persons! This was really great to see so many attendees and for once also many “practioners”. Theme of this WAW was about “applied segmentation & targeting” with two case studies and one vendor (Nedstat) short...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Web Analytics, recession and...me!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Is Web Analytics a recession-proof job? How does it feel to work in Web Analytics in an industry that is severely hit by the current economic crisis? How does it affect one’s daily job? And future? How to survive it? Here are some personal thoughts & experience from a Web Analytics practioner working in the automotive industry “Web Analytics – the recession-proof job”That was what many professionals were saying last year before the recession really hit hard on the world: whether it was survey from the Web Analytics crowd or predictions from various industry experts such as e-Consultancy. All sounded good. Maybe too good to...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Your Web Analytics data vs. online advertising data: why they don’t match (and never will)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:30:00 +0000

Whenever you fully measure an online campaign (SEA, banners, emailing), you usually get data from your beloved Web Analytics tool (what I call internal or onsite data) and data from your advertising agency (what I call external or offsite data). A common reflex is to put both together, trying to reconciliate them… But they won’t and (almost) never will. How is that possible? “There must be something wrong!”I have stopped counting the number of times I got asked this question “I got figures from my Adwords/banner campaign but when I look at our WebTrends data, I don’t get the same numbers. Why are there some discrepancies? Which...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Web Analytics Wednesday @ Zebrastraat - Ghent: book your agenda!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Following the success of last Web Analytics Wednesday (WAW) in Antwerp, bSeen and the Web Analytics Association are very pleased to invite you to the next Belgian WAW that will take place in the superb Zebrastraat center in Ghent on the 25th of March 2009, starting at 6:30 PM. The event will be hosted and generously sponsored by bSeen - the specialist in Search Marketing.Segment, target and optimize! Segmentation & targeting are very common terms in Web Analytics but how can one make it actually actionable in order to really improve business performances? To find out, come and join us to this Web Analytics Wednesday where main...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Good practices: set-up your super-heroes team & evangelize your organization

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Adoption of Web Analytics culture within any organization is not an easy task. It is probably one of the biggest challenges with Web Analytics. It takes time and perseverance. And when you are alone, it may seem impossible. What you need is to look for the Web analytics heroes who are waiting for you to uncover their true talents...and to help you spread Web Analytics in your organization. You can’t excite them all! Just imagine the scene. You just finished reading “Web Analytics Hour a Day” from Avinash Kaushik (or whatever great books on Web Analytics). You have trained yourself and your super cool Web Analytics tool has no more...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Eric T. Peterson's Big Book of KPI's available in French

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:34:00 +0000

You may have already read the news if you are reading the LBi-OX2 blog but the folks over there (Julien Coquet with the support of Florence Moreau) have translated Eric T. Peterson's famous Big Book of KPI's in French. Cocorico! It is almost must have if you or your audience is French speaking - or a good opportunity to learn Edith Piaf's language with Web Analytitcs :-) The book is exclusively available in electronic format for FREE on www.webkpi.fr (you only need to register). The goal behind this initiative is to help promote Web Analytics practices and usage amongst France and other French speaking communities. The Big Book...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

New Signals to Search Engines - a "thought" paper by Mike Grehan

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:30:00 +0000

If Marianina Mannings is the Web Analytics princess then Mike Grehan, global KMD officer at Acronym Media, probably deserves the title of "Google king" :-). I had the chance to meet Mike Grehan at last year eMetrics Summit in London and I attended his very insightful presentation "New signals to search engines". In December 2008, Mike finally released his "thought" paper on that topic, a teaser of his new book due Spring 2009. I really enjoyed reading the paper and found it really interesting. If you have any interest in Search Engine Marketing or in Web in general, this is definitely recommended reading! In his paper, Mike...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Web Analytics Wednesday in Antwerp @ These Days - Summary

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:34:00 +0000

On last Wednesday, the first Web Analytics Wednesday (WAW) of 2009 in Belgium took place in Antwerp at These Days office. From start, it was already a popular success as around 40 persons attended the event - it could have been more as many people cancelled due to current flu epidemy! A majority of the attendees was from Web agencies: LBi, Queromedia, Boondoggle, Emakina, The Reference and more. Vendors were represented (Unica, Google, Nedstat). It seemed that practioners were a rare specy :-). We also had some international visitors from the Netherlands and from Northern France. All very enthusiastic! Building a Web Analytics...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Feedburner & Google migration - not going so well!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:02:00 +0000

As many bloggers, I am using Feedburner for my blog RSS feed. It is a great tool, easy to use with good stats. It is one of the many things that has been bought by almighty Google a while ago. Few days ago, I have been asked to move my Feedburner account to my Google account as - logically - Google is "integrating" Feedburner with other Google tools & services. Account migration apparently went well...until I saw my stats for the last days: total subscribers dropped of more than 50%! Aaaaargh! I was so happy to see it slowly increasing and then BAM! Such sudden change made me react (as any good analyst would do). A quick check...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]

Dear Readers - Let me hear your voice

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Notté) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0000

"People love to talk if you give them a chance; they are after all, your customers" said once a wise man (who is now working as the Web Analytics evangelist in a very well know company :-)). I can't agree more with this quote - except that I don't have customers but readers (i.e. you!). Therefore I decided to give you a chance to talk. First, I will run a satisfaction survey using 4Q survey from iPerception and Avinash Kaushik (the author of the introduction quote) for few weeks. Later, I will probably use a less "intrusive" feedback collection method. Why the hell would I want to listen to you? ;-) First of all, it is part of my...

[[This is only a summary - Visit my blog to read the full article, with cool pictures and other interesting content. Just click on the post title]]