Google Analytics in Real Time

I just got accepted to the Google Analytics Real-Time beta. So, now I need everyone to go browse my blog so I have some real-time data to look at! And get your friends to come by, too. In the name of load testing, you know.

Are you ready for some Futsal?

Sharing is Caring

As I've mentioned before, one of the things I enjoy about being among "The Learned" is sharing technology with friends and family. This afternoon I sat down with the editor of Futsal On-Line to discuss web site technology. His site has been covering futsal, a form of indoor soccer (or football everywhere else in the world) for several years and has attracted a respectable following. I recommended several free Google services for managing his online presence.

Knowledge is Power

Google Analytics provides a lot of useful information about your site's audience. In addition to counting and charting page views (hits), you can also see where your visitors are on the globe using the Map Overlay, find out how visitors are reaching your site, and much more.

Google Webmaster Tools provides information on how Google's webcrawler sees your site, where it ranks based on different search terms, and what sites are linking to yours.

Translating is Hard

... unless a computer does it automatically for you. This Google blog post talks about a translation gadget that you can add to your site to allow users to easily translate your site using Google's free automatic translation service. You can try it out in the sidebar of this very blog.

Money is Not Grown on Trees

I also suggested Google's AdSense for trying to offset the costs of running a website with a little ad revenue. This blog post includes a video by Google's Chief Economist, Hal Varian, on how the AdWords auction works.

A Brief Narcissistic Interlude

I started this blog last year because I had a few things on my mind and thought I'd write about them. I also wanted to try out Google Analytics and figured a blog was a good place to track traffic. Since then I've also worked on my Google Profile, played around with Google Sites and I was even talked into joining Facebook recently.

And what are the results? Well, the blog traffic has been less than impressive. But then, I haven't been the most prolific poster or promoter. However, I have made a name for myself on Google. For the first time today, I found that I dominated the first page of search results for [Isaac Truett]. My Facebook profile comes in at #1, followed by several postings on GWT forums. Lastly, my Google Profile has qualified to be featured in search results.

But this isn't all just self-promotion. I've learned a lot about these free online services and I've enjoyed sharing some of that knowledge with family and friends. I had a conversation recently about how much is available for free that businesses, organizations, and individuals can take advantage of online. The same things I've done to increase my public presence on the internet can be done to promote and enrich your own group or yourself. I'd like to find more ways to share this knowledge, because the more people and organizations create web presences, the easier it gets to find what you're looking for, or what you need, on the internet.