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You are here: Home / Social Media / Google Analytics Insights for Bloggers

Google Analytics Insights for Bloggers

January 6, 2019 By Donna Biroczky Leave a Comment

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While blogging is all about the writing and the content…well, wait, it’s really not. I mean, content is the cornerstone but is it king? I don’t know.

SIMPLE GOOGLE ANALYTICS INSIGHTS FOR BLOGGERS

You can’t have a blog without content, but if you’re not paying attention to your metrics, analytics and insights, you won’t know if anyone’s even reading the blog. You won’t know what works and what doesn’t. You won’t know what you can do to bring even more readers to the site, and what is driving people away.

That’s where Google Analytics come in. I’ve had bloggers tell me that they haven’t looked at their stats in months, and while it makes me wonder how they know their pageviews/uniques for brand partnerships, I’m more wondering why they aren’t taking heed of all the other things that Google Analytics will show them. There is so much value to our numbers, beyond being able to tell a brand how many readers we have.

Even if your blog is rocking partnerships and readers, you could really be missing out on even more. If not paying attention to stats is doing well for you, that’s awesome, but imagine what paying attention to them can do for you!

google analytics insights for bloggers

Google Analytics, or GA, is a treasure chest of good stuff. Maybe it’s the geek in me speaking, but looking at your PVs and uniques is barely scratching the surface. Even though Google has tightened the reins on what search terms you have access to, a few minutes a day can really contribute to your overall road map.

  • Having a hard time filling your editorial calendar out? Look at GA.
  • Don’t know what to write about? Look at GA.
  • Wondering why people aren’t reading your blog? Look at GA.
  • Wondering why people ARE reading your blog? Look at GA.
  • Unsure of what social media platforms you should spend more of your time on? Look at GA.
  • Want to know how to speed up your site but don’t want to get too technical? Look at GA.
  • Considering linking to related posts? Look at GA.
  • Not sure if people are clicking your internal links or related posts links? Look at GA.

It’s easy to look at your analytics and get overwhelmed. There really is so much information, it’s a wormhole that you can get sucked into for hours. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you know what you’re looking for, you can focus on actually making positive changes to your blog.

I always recommend getting comfortable with GA. Push buttons. Look at all the categories. Change the dates so you’re not just looking at the past week or month, but longer periods of time. Historical data can give you a totally different perspective. Once you’re familiar with the basics, look at customizing a dashboard or creating goals. These will allow you to hone right directly in on certain things and see if the changes you’ve made are helping, or hurting, your traffic.

google analytics insights for bloggers

Beyond what pages people are clicking on the most and the least — information that helps you add to your editorial calendar for future posts, or what things you should write about now, or not ever write about again, or write about again but in a better way — look at where people are leaving. Are they coming to your homepage and clicking away? Or clicking on one category repeatedly? If yes, where are they going from there? What page makes them turn to another section of your site, or makes them leave entirely? Is one page consistently performing bad with a 100% exit rate?

Where you hit the jackpot is if you see a post that has high pageviews but a low exit rate. That’s attracting attention and keeping them interested enough that they want to read more of your site.  (You’ll find all this in Behavior>Site Content>Exit Pages.) And keep in mind, some people have found what they want and they leave because they’re done online, or they’re going to go use the information learned from your post, not that your content isn’t good. Numbers are a wonderful guide, but they aren’t everything.

One fun thing to do is to take a post that you like or resonates with you, but didn’t do well. Update it. Make changes to the keywords and/or content as is possible without having to go as far as a redirect with a new url. (Let’s just keep it basic.) Promote it, and then go back and check it after 30 days. (You can make this one of those aforementioned goals you set up in your GA dash.) This is a great experiment to learn more about how to use GA to your benefit and to test your SEO skills, too, in a very easy manner.

Also, don’t overlook the default charts available to everyone. Take a look at all the insight these give you right off the bat!

google analytics insights for bloggers

Look at trends. Do you see certain topics or categories doing better at a certain time of year? Fitness posts in January, Christmas posts in November and December, these are obvious but if you find that people are hitting up your cocktail posts every September, then plan to add more of those to your content/editorial calendar in September. Promote it on social. Be sure you’re internally linking from one cocktail post to another. Then look at your Behavior>Behavior Flow to see if you see a pattern of those internal links or related posts working. It’s like a heat map, but without the plug-in or extraneous stuff. (That’s not to say a heat map isn’t helpful, but GA may be enough, temporarily or permanently.)

Your metrics are all helpful in not just for who your audience is now, but who you want it to be. Are you really passionate about writing about pie making, but people aren’t reading them? Don’t give up on those pie posts just yet! If people are clicking on them but leaving right away, then it may be that you need more photos, or brighter photos, or less text before you get to the recipe. Consider session length, referred to as engagement, found at Audience>Behavior>Engagement. GA breaks it down into sessions as low as 0-10 seconds. If people aren’t clicking on them at all, then maybe you need to up your SEO game. Check the demographics; finding out what isn’t working, as in your readers are not the age range or locale you’re shooting for, can be as helpful as finding out what IS working.

The Acquisition category is one of my favorites. Where are my readers coming from? Acquisition>Social breaks it down in regards to what social platforms they may be coming from…or not coming from. If you want to pitch your Facebook page to a brand and the numbers aren’t there, you know where you need to put in some work. I used to get over 50% of my traffic from Twitter, which really surprised me. Then I started putting more time and effort into Facebook, and I’ve had months where over 70% of my traffic comes from Facebook. A lot of people find that Pinterest is their biggest referrer.

One last thing before your head explodes from too much info: Devices. Under the Audience category, this tells you what devices your readers are using to access your content. If 80% of your readers are on mobile, that’s good to know if you re-design your site. You want to make sure it’s easier for them to navigate your site. (And if you’re geeky like me, you can keep drilling down to see what OS they use and even what kind of mobile! It’s almost creepy, all the data that’s available…and with GDPR aka privacy guidelines in play since early 2018, I collect even less data on my readers than I could!)

google analytics insights for bloggers

This is just a really simplified, top-level version of Google Analytics insights for bloggers and website owners. There is SO much more, but baby steps. I really recommend taking more time to learn, but one focus at a time. You don’t need to know how to use it all to make positive changes. GA doesn’t operate in a vacuum either; use all your various tools together. If you find that Pinterest is your biggest traffic referral, head to your Pinterest analytics. Use that information in conjunction with what you find in GA.

Using all these numbers isn’t like math, so don’t run away screaming. It’s as easy as just realizing what information is available and knowing in what form to apply it. No formulas, just understanding the terms, and putting it together. You’re a blogger with a website established enough to have GA already installed and running, and content data to look at, so the biggest obstacles are already behind you. You’ve got this!

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I’m Donna, and I’m not a mommy blogger.
I’m a Marvel geek and creator of Dangerous Cupcake, a Southern California lifestyle blog dedicated to life after the kids grow up. As my four kids enter different stages of their lives, I get to do the same, having fun, loving Disney, watching Marvel, and not letting my age define anything. Phase 2 of life is pretty amazing. Join me in changing focus ands enjoying life during our next adventure, without totally starting over. However you do it, life is short, live a little dangerously.
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In 2020, we started our home renovation. We knew i In 2020, we started our home renovation. We knew it could be a challenge during the pandemic, but we’d been waiting and were ready. 

We started with new lighting throughout, adding additional outlets and power along the way, outside and in. What a difference it made! Then we moved on to the kitchen and its adjoining family/dining space, making it perfect for the family to eat in on the daily and for holiday meals and perfect for me to watch TV while prepping food or writing late at night. So many plans!

To really change it up, we decided to add a Butler’s Pantry to one wall, where there originally was nothing permanent. The design needed to incorporate our two wine fridges (one white, one red), our booze bottles, all our crystal and dishwater, and our bar equipment. I wanted two glass doors to display the pretty stuff and a hanging wine glass area...and a countertop to serve as a beverage area while entertaining. Easy, right?

The main kitchen layout stayed the same, but we gutted it entirely, removing all the aged oak cabinets and dark marble counters. Swinging the sledge that first time felt amazing! We chose Shaker-style cabinets in a slate grey, a stainless farmhouse double-sink and white quartz with grey marbling. To really maximize space, we turned a pony wall into a cookbook shelf with a matching counter, had a custom island built to stow my gear and provide more food prep area, and had a copper pot rack replated. I can’t forget the bench seat by the weird window that is extra storage and a great place to sit, with its new purple cushion. 

Then came a new dining set, a loveseat to complete the relaxing hangout nook, and a refaced fireplace. The blues of the backsplashes brighten up a once dark space, purple pops of color bring it all together, and we LOVE it in here!  Thanks to my son, the contractor, we have a unique area to entertain and spend time together. Stay tuned, more reno posts coming, as we’re doing the entire house!

#renovation #homerenovation #renovate #remodel #homeremodel #homedesign #homeredesign #kitchendesign #kitchenrenovation @Lowes #designyourhome #kitchenredesign #farmhousesink #shakerstyle #laminateflooring #newfloors
Did you watch Tom and Jerry as a kid? I did, and I Did you watch Tom and Jerry as a kid? I did, and I loved it! Who didn’t, right? I always rooted for Jerry the Mouse! It was a popular cartoon then and now, the infamous duo is back in a new movie hitting the big screen, and HBOMax, on February 26!

A fun hybrid of live-action and animation, the new Tom and Jerry has a stellar cast, including Chloe Grace Moritz, Michael Pena, Colin Jost, Bobby Cannavale, Jordan Bolger and more! Based in New York City, now we get to see something we never thought we’d see: Tom and Jerry have to WORK TOGETHER.

In preparation for the movie, Warner Bros. sent us this awesome box of goodies, including this smash cake, full of treats and surprises. We’re going to have movie night this weekend, where we’ll play the game and laugh together, but I’m most excited to introduce my granddaughter, Charlotte, to another cartoon I grew up with. I’m sure she’s going to love Tom and Jerry just as much as I do!

I’ll have a blog post up soon with a downloadable activity pack and links to some games to prep for the movie — or just to stay occupied on another weekend safe-at-home! I’ll also include some photos of what’s inside this massive cake! (And let me just say, the CAUTION tape on the outside of the box had the delivery man doing a double-take. “Should I just put this right here?” ...as he set it down OH so carefully!)

Thanks, Warner Bros.! Can’t wait to watch the movie and have fun with the goodies!

#TomandJerryMovie @TomandJerry #TomandJerry @hbomax @warnerbrosentertainment #warnerbros #familyfun #familymovie #movienight #familygamenight #gamenight #tomandjerrygame #cartoon #animation #hbomax #liveaction @wbpictures #liveactionmovie @boutiquepublicity
Since lockdown started, we realized just how much Since lockdown started, we realized just how much money we spend on takeout and restaurant food. I'll be honest -- I miss restaurants but at least this past year has pushed me back towards one of my favorite activities: making food for those I love. I may not be able to entertain like we used to (yet), but now that our kitchen renovation is complete, I have the space to experiment and get ready with some new recipes. I also can throw together simple food and healthier options, like this caprese salad. It's just about the easiest thing to make that can be a side dish or a meal in itself. 

I made this one using three different kinds of heirloom tomatoes from Melissa's Produce, fresh pre-sliced mozzarella and fresh basil, both picked up at our local grocer for just a few dollars, making this meal also inexpensive. Slice the tomatoes, layer them with the cheese and basil, and drizzle with your favorite type of balsamic vinegar. I used Bertolli balsamic glaze, which adds just a little tang to the salad. 

I used to order Caprese salads a lot when we'd got out. The crisp of the tomato, the creaminess of the cheese and the savory taste of the basil -- I may have made a smaller serving just for myself the next day. Healthier options don't have to be fancy, expensive or time-consuming. They also don't have to be super low-cal or small portions. Life is short, so eat good food, get some exercise and make new things.

#MelissasPartner @melissasproduce #salad #food #recipe #capresesalad #basil #freshtomatoes #heirloomtomatoes #tomatoes #freshproduce #freshbasil #saladrecipe #kitchenremodel #renovation #kitchendesign #instafoodie #foodiepics #foodie #foodphotos #foodpics #balsamicvinegar #balsamic #eathealthy #healthyfood #healthyfoodies #healthyfoodie
During lockdown, it’s been so important to have During lockdown, it’s been so important to have a safe space to spend our time. I’ve never enjoyed having a garden more than this past year. Early on, it provided vegetables and throughout, it has been a haven. We put up a tv, spruced up the furniture and still, sitting under this tree has been a favorite. Even Shuri gravitates toward its shade, and these oranges have contributed to many breakfasts, brunches and mimosas. Here’s to another Sunday being happy at home!

#oranges #orangetree #orangetrees #sundayfunday #sundaymornings #sundayvibes #sunphoto #sundayphotography #garden #backyardgarden #backyarddesign #backyardgardening #backyardgoals #backyardoasis #backyardfun #backyardphotography #naturephotographer #growyourown #growyourownfood #growyourownfruit
We haven’t had a date night out of the house on We haven’t had a date night out of the house on a normal scale since pre-COVID. We love going out but things have been closed and we also want to be safe. Normally, the hubs cooks a fancy dinner for Valentine’s Day, but this year, he surprised me with reservations for a favorite restaurant of ours, Scarlet Kitchen and Lounge in Rancho Mission Viejo. They offered a special holiday menu, served outside in a beautiful setting, with heaters keeping us toasty. I started our meal with this amazing themed cocktail, a Love Conquers All. It is made of bourbon, macadamia nut liquer, Benedictine, coconut water, pineapple, lemon, egg white and edible glitter. OMG it’s a top-three cocktail EVER. The bartender is a genius, as these flavors came together in a drink I could enjoy on a regular basis. 

The rest of our meal was equally good, but made better because we got to see our sweet friend Marla and we thoroughly enjoyed just being out in public. Hearing others laugh and talk....oh how I have missed that. 

Masks are required, tables are set apart and we felt totally safe. And happy. That matters now, more than ever. 

@scarletkitchenandlounge #scarletkitchen #scarletkitchenandlounge #cocktail #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #bourbon #bourbongram #bourbonlover #bourbonenthusiast #bourbonlife #bourboncocktails #bourbondrinker #bourbondrinkers #bourbondrinks #bourboncocktail #edibleglitter #fancydrinks #fancydrink #valentinescocktails #valentinesday2021 #datenight #nightout #foodblogger #blogger #ranchomissionviejo
Last night, I made an amazing chili verde in the I Last night, I made an amazing chili verde in the Instant Pot. It's a family favorite, and so easy that I had time to experiment in the kitchen for the first time since we finished the redesign. I decided it was a good night to enjoy another olive oil cake, using hearty and flavorful oil and fresh produce gifted to me by Garcia de la Cruz and Melissa's Produce. It was a hit!

This particular cake uses 1 1/3 cups of olive oil, which makes it incredibly moist. Garcia de la Cruz oil has such a rich and fruity flavor, it makes it better than a typical olive oil cake. You can make this cake with any kind of olive oil, but I really recommend this one. To ramp it up a notch, I used fresh blood orange juice and 1/4 cup of strained passionfruit juice, adding sweet, citrus nuances without overwhelming the basic foundation. This cake has no frosting but the top of the cake develops a slight crust, adding a little crisp to each bite. 

If you've never had a blood orange, they're in season now and it's the perfect time to give them a try. They're not just a gorgeous red color, but they are sweeter and tangier than regular oranges. I love how they changed the color of this cake batter just a little, and if I'd used another 1/4 cup of the juice instead of the passionfruit, I think the cake would be a slight pink, making it an even better item to add to your Valentine's Day meal! Passionfruit, however, is a favorite of mine and I love how versatile they are! I use their juice quite a bit in a morning smoothie!

@melissasproduce @GarciadelaCruzOliveOil #ValentinesDayRecipes #valentinesday #dessert #food #recipe #oliveoil #valentinesfood #valentinesdayfood #melissasproduce #baking #instantpot #passionfruit #bloodorange #bloodoranges #bakedessert #freshproduce #foodies #sidedish #bakeacake
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