Google Analytics – Cecil Turtle or Speedy Gonzales?
Yet again Google has been busy releasing new Google Analytics features. This time it is related to speed and their quest to make the web faster! So what is the Site Speed report?
The report provides you with access to two additional metrics:
Average Page Load Time – The average amount of time it takes from clicking on a link to the page loading.
Page Load Sample – The actual number of page views that were sampled to calculate the average page load time.
Why is page load time (latency) important?
Slow site speeds can frustrate users resulting in them having a bad experience online or even worse, with them deciding to go elsewhere. By measuring and improving page load time it keeps your customers happy and in turn aids conversions. In addition Google take account of the metrics in their search results and PPC Quality Scores. Which in turn enables your adverts to feature in a higher position at a lower cost-per-click.
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Where do I find the Site Speed Report?
The Site Speed report is found in the new beta version of Google Analytics which is currently available to all users. After clicking on “New Version” in the top right you can then access the report from the Content menu.
How do I setup the Site Speed Report?
When you access the report, you will be probably be presented with lots and lots of zeros! In order for the site speed reports to work you need to add an additional method to the tracking code.
Asynchronous: _gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']);
Traditional: pageTracker._trackPageLoadTime();
Why are we excited?
Here at Foviance we are really keen to explore the possibilities of combining these two new metrics with others dimensions or custom reports. This would help you answer questions such as: How do load times vary between country, region or city? Do certain browsers load faster than others? Which landing pages are the slowest to load? Should I be concerned about my site performance? So have a play and lets us know your thoughts.