0% found this document useful (0 votes)
133 views91 pages

Social Media and Web Analytics. B

The document discusses social media and web analytics, highlighting the significance of social media in business marketing, communication, and customer engagement. It outlines the benefits and dangers of social media, including its impact on mental health and privacy, while emphasizing the importance of social media analytics for understanding audience behavior and enhancing business strategies. Additionally, it covers various types of social media and their roles in fostering connections, driving sales, and building brand loyalty.

Uploaded by

pranav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
133 views91 pages

Social Media and Web Analytics. B

The document discusses social media and web analytics, highlighting the significance of social media in business marketing, communication, and customer engagement. It outlines the benefits and dangers of social media, including its impact on mental health and privacy, while emphasizing the importance of social media analytics for understanding audience behavior and enhancing business strategies. Additionally, it covers various types of social media and their roles in fostering connections, driving sales, and building brand loyalty.

Uploaded by

pranav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 91

Social Media and Web Analytics

SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB ANALYTICS


FOR: MBA (IV)

AUTHOR: DR. ASHISH KUMAR JHA

1 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

UNIT-1

Social Media Analytics

Social media refers to interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications that


facilitate the sharing of information, ideas, interests, and expressions within
virtual communities and networks. Despite the diverse range of standalone and
integrated social media services available today, they share several common
features:

1. Interactive Web 2.0 Platforms: Social media platforms enable users to


engage in interactive online activities.
2. User-Generated Content: The essence of social media lies in user-
generated content, including text posts, comments, digital photos or videos,
and data generated through various online interactions.
3. Personal Profiles: Users establish and maintain service-specific profiles
on social media platforms, which are created and managed by the
respective social media organizations.
4. Networking Capabilities: Social media fosters the formation of online
social networks by facilitating connections between a user's profile and
those of other individuals or groups.

Social Media and Business

Since the turn of the century, social media marketing has become a focal point of
the advertising and marketing campaigns of companies both large and small
worldwide. Communicating with existing and potential customers through social
media offers numerous advantages to businesses.

First, compared to traditional avenues of advertising, social media marketing is


much less expensive. The costs for social media marketing often involve only the
creation of advertising content and the compensation for the employees charged
with posting material on the various social media websites

Second, businesses can instantly communicate information to their entire


database of current and/or potential customers. They also have the ability to tailor
advertising to certain demographic groups and then communicate that content
only to the targeted customer segment.

The ease of connection and communication through social media platforms


enables companies to much more deeply and effectively engage with their target
market. They can converse with customers at length and in-depth, obtaining

2 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

valuable feedback about their company and its products and services, and then
use the feedback obtained to craft future marketing campaigns. Through social
media sites, a company can also provide its customers with easy access to
customer service, 24/7.

Social media makes it possible for companies to “humanize” their company and
to much more quickly and easily build, establish, and maintain their brand
identity and public image.

Types of Social Media

Social media may take the form of a variety of tech-enabled activities. These
activities include photo sharing, blogging, social gaming, social networks, video
sharing, business networks, virtual worlds, reviews, and much more. Even
governments and politicians utilize social media to engage with constituents and
voters.

For individuals, social media is used to keep in touch with friends and extended
family. Some people will use various social media applications to network career
opportunities, find people across the globe with like-minded interests, and share
their thoughts, feelings, insights, and emotions. Those who engage in these
activities are part of a virtual social network.

For businesses, social media is an indispensable tool. Companies use the platform
to find and engage with customers, drive sales through advertising and
promotion, gauge consumer trends, and offer customer service or support.

Social media’s role in helping businesses is significant. It facilitates


communication with customers, enabling the melding of social interactions on e-
commerce sites. Its ability to collect information helps focus on marketing efforts
and market research. It helps in promoting products and services, as it enables the
distribution of targeted, timely, and exclusive sales and coupons to would-be
customers. Further, social media can help in building customer relationships
through loyalty programs linked to social media.

Benefits of Social Media

Social media has changed the way we all interact with each other online. It gives
us the ability to discover what’s happening in the world in real-time, to connect
with each other and stay in touch with long-distance friends, and in order to have
access to endless amounts of information at our fingertips. In many senses, social

3 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

media has helped many individuals find common ground with others online,
making the world seem more approachable.

According to a survey by Pew Research Centre, the use of social media is


correlated with having more friends and more diverse personal networks,
especially within emerging economies.6 For many teenagers, friendships can
start virtually, with 57% of teens meeting a friend online.

Businesses are also using social media marketing to target their consumers right
on their phones and computers, building a following in order to build a loyal fan
base, and create a culture behind their own brand. Some companies, such as
Denny’s, have created entire personas on Twitter in order to market to younger
consumers using their own language and personas.

The Dangers Posed by Social Media Platforms

Social media has exploded in popularity, among all types of people, all across the
world. In the developed world and emerging market countries, nearly everyone
is a user of at least one social media platform. However, social media’s
widespread adoption and use have created significant new threats to things such
as people’s privacy and mental health.

Recent studies by psychologists have uncovered the facts that people engaging
with others through social media has led to measurable increases in depression,
stress/anxiety, suicides (especially among young people), and problems of low
self-esteem.

In addition to the threats posed to our mental health, the widespread use of social
media has also created and/or amplified threats of a more practical, tangible
nature such as stalking, identity theft, invasion of privacy, and political and social
polarization.

The very real and substantive potential dangers posed by social media are even
the subject of two recently-released Netflix original movies “The Social
Dilemma” and “The Great Hack.” The subject explored in the 2019 documentary,
“The Great Hack”, is the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Social media landscape shows how media’s world is divided and which particular
media platforms are reigning supreme in the digital world at this moment.

Social media landscape

Connecting with customers and potential customers positively impacts your


relationship with customers, as well as increases brand loyalty.

4 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

It is beneficial to build a presence online that is communicative, connects with


your customers, shares your content and highlights your skills through the
different platforms of social media.

The social media landscape is constantly growing, changing and improving. Is


your business present and active in the social media landscape?

It is an area of marketing that you should definitely start exploring. Being able to
engage with your followers puts you at a huge advantage over your competitors.

Simply it’s the social “ecosystem” where we can distinguish tools for:

Introduction to Social Media, Social media

Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing
of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual
communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of social media
arise due to the variety of stand-alone and built-in social media services currently
available, there are some common features:

Social media are interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications.


User-generated content such as text posts or comments, digital photos or videos,
and data generated through all online interactions is the lifeblood of social media.
Users create service-specific profiles for the website or app that are designed and
maintained by the social media organization.
Social media helps the development of online social networks by connecting a
user’s profile with those of other individuals or groups.

Social Media and Business

Since the turn of the century, social media marketing has become a focal point of
the advertising and marketing campaigns of companies both large and small
worldwide. Communicating with existing and potential customers through social
media offers numerous advantages to businesses.

First, compared to traditional avenues of advertising, social media marketing is


much less expensive. The costs for social media marketing often involve only the
creation of advertising content and the compensation for the employees charged
with posting material on the various social media websites.

5 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Second, businesses can instantly communicate information to their entire


database of current and/or potential customers. They also have the ability to tailor
advertising to certain demographic groups and then communicate that content
only to the targeted customer segment.

The ease of connection and communication through social media platforms


enables companies to much more deeply and effectively engage with their target
market. They can converse with customers at length and in-depth, obtaining
valuable feedback about their company and its products and services, and then
use the feedback obtained to craft future marketing campaigns. Through social
media sites, a company can also provide its customers with easy access to
customer service, 24/7.

Social media makes it possible for companies to “humanize” their company and
to much more quickly and easily build, establish, and maintain their brand
identity and public image.

Types of Social Media

Social media may take the form of a variety of tech-enabled activities. These
activities include photo sharing, blogging, social gaming, social networks, video
sharing, business networks, virtual worlds, reviews, and much more. Even
governments and politicians utilize social media to engage with constituents and
voters.

For individuals, social media is used to keep in touch with friends and extended
family. Some people will use various social media applications to network career
opportunities, find people across the globe with like-minded interests, and share
their thoughts, feelings, insights, and emotions. Those who engage in these
activities are part of a virtual social network.

For businesses, social media is an indispensable tool. Companies use the platform
to find and engage with customers, drive sales through advertising and
promotion, gauge consumer trends, and offer customer service or support.

Social media’s role in helping businesses is significant. It facilitates


communication with customers, enabling the melding of social interactions on e-
commerce sites. Its ability to collect information helps focus on marketing efforts
and market research. It helps in promoting products and services, as it enables the
distribution of targeted, timely, and exclusive sales and coupons to would-be
customers. Further, social media can help in building customer relationships
through loyalty programs linked to social media.

Benefits of Social Media

6 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Social media has changed the way we all interact with each other online. It gives
us the ability to discover what’s happening in the world in real-time, to connect
with each other and stay in touch with long-distance friends, and in order to have
access to endless amounts of information at our fingertips. In many senses, social
media has helped many individuals find common ground with others online,
making the world seem more approachable.

According to a survey by Pew Research Center, the use of social media is


correlated with having more friends and more diverse personal networks,
especially within emerging economies.6 For many teenagers, friendships can
start virtually, with 57% of teens meeting a friend online.

Businesses are also using social media marketing to target their consumers right
on their phones and computers, building a following in order to build a loyal fan
base, and create a culture behind their own brand. Some companies, such as
Denny’s, have created entire personas on Twitter in order to market to younger
consumers using their own language and personas.

The Dangers Posed by Social Media Platforms

Social media has exploded in popularity, among all types of people, all across the
world. In the developed world and emerging market countries, nearly everyone
is a user of at least one social media platform. However, social media’s
widespread adoption and use have created significant new threats to things such
as people’s privacy and mental health.

Recent studies by psychologists have uncovered the facts that people engaging
with others through social media has led to measurable increases in depression,
stress/anxiety, suicides (especially among young people), and problems of low
self-esteem.

In addition to the threats posed to our mental health, the widespread use of social
media has also created and/or amplified threats of a more practical, tangible
nature such as stalking, identity theft, invasion of privacy, and political and social
polarization.

The very real and substantive potential dangers posed by social media are even
the subject of two recently-released Netflix original movies “The Social
Dilemma” and “The Great Hack.” The subject explored in the 2019 documentary,
“The Great Hack”, is the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Social media landscape shows how media’s world is divided and which particular
media platforms are reigning supreme in the digital world at this moment.

7 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Social media landscape

Connecting with customers and potential customers positively impacts your


relationship with customers, as well as increases brand loyalty.

It is beneficial to build a presence online that is communicative, connects with


your customers, shares your content and highlights your skills through the
different platforms of social media.

The social media landscape is constantly growing, changing and improving. Is


your business present and active in the social media landscape?

It is an area of marketing that you should definitely start exploring. Being able to
engage with your followers puts you at a huge advantage over your competitors.

Simply it’s the social “ecosystem” where we can distinguish tools for:

Social Media Analytics in Small and Large organizations:

Social media analytics

is the ability to gather and find meaning in data gathered from social channels to
support business

decisions and measure the performance of actions based on those decisions


through social media.

Social media analytics is broader than metrics such as likes, follows, retweets,
previews, clicks, and impressions gathered from individual channels. It also
differs from reporting offered by services that support marketing campaigns such
as LinkedIn or Google Analytics.

Social media analytics uses specifically designed software platforms that work
similarly to web search tools. Data about keywords or topics is retrieved through
search queries or web ‘crawlers’ that span channels. Fragments of text are
returned, loaded into a database, categorized and analyzed to derive meaningful
insights.

Social media analytics includes the concept of social listening. Listening is


monitoring social channels for problems and opportunities. Social media
analytics tools typically incorporate listening into more comprehensive reporting
that involves listening and performance analysis.

8 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

The job of social media analytics tools is to make this content useful and effective
for business:

Grow the business and evaluate the impact of marketing campaigns


Make better business decisions and build a strong strategy
Improve customer experience and satisfaction and build brand awareness.

Uses in Business:

Social media analytics can increase engagement and responsiveness: A marketing


software company increased the leads generated through social media by 47%
over last year, thanks to a complete picture of what its customers are saying on
the web.

Social media analytics helps organizations understand their targeted audience. An


American gaming and media streaming website used social media analytics to
analyze and define the segments of its audience that were most interested in
certain types of video games in order to offer insight and more effectively support
its clients’ ad strategies.

Brand awareness has a major impact on consumer choices. A British non-profit


that needed to amplify its message and increase fundraising used social media
analytics to measure and improve brand awareness through deep insights on what
consumers were saying about its brand and the success of its promoted hashtags.

Social media analytics can help you learn from the competition. Monitoring and
analyzing unstructured information help companies stay informed about the latest
from competitors, as well as the reactions customers and the activities to avoid.
One of the most important European supermarkets analyzed social conversations
around the home delivery service of its biggest competitor in order to understand
who its key customers were, how the customers described the service and
customers’ “level of trust” in the company.

Social media analytics can highlight problems and weaknesses to discover new
trends and avoid a brand crisis. A large brewing company found that one of its
products had a 25% negative sentiment rating. Thanks to a constant social media
analytics and monitoring, the company was able to control the crisis and quickly
recover.

These strategies affect a range of business activity:

Customer experience: An IBM study discovered “organizations are evolving


from product-led to experience-led businesses.” Behavioural analysis can be
applied across social channels to capitalize on micro-moments to delight

9 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

customers and increase loyalty and lifetime value.


Product development: Analyzing an aggregate of Facebook posts, tweets and
Amazon product reviews can deliver a clearer picture of customer pain points,
shifting needs and desired features. Trends can be identified and tracked to shape
the management of existing product lines as well as guide new product
development. Branding: Social media may be the world’s largest focus group.
Natural language processing and sentiment analysis can continually monitor
positive or negative expectations to maintain brand health, refine positioning and
develop new brand attributes.

Competitive Analysis: Understanding what competitors are doing and how


customers are responding is always critical. For example, a competitor may
indicate that they are foregoing a niche market, creating an opportunity. Or a
spike in positive mentions for a new product can alert organizations to market
disruptors.
Operational efficiency: Deep analysis of social media can help organizations
improve how they gauge demand. Retailers and others can use that information
to manage inventory and suppliers, reduce costs and optimize resources.

Application of Social Media Analytics in different Social media platforms

Businesses have specific goals for taking advantage of social media information.
Some use it in-house for their own needs, and others offer their analyses as a
service.
It’s important to first understand how social media analytics can help gauge the
power and reach of our customer’s social media platform. In a nutshell, these
metrics help measure the performance of social media channels. Using this
information, you can analyze the content to optimize a strategy to drive your
business forward. One example of a social media analytics metric is click-
through rate, which is the percentage of people that click your link from a social
media post to your actual website.

IBM is one business that has taken to social media metrics very rapidly, and they
have blogs and tools used to leverage social media. As one of their business
models, they offer business-to-business solutions. Currently IBM offers “social
merchandising” for retail and consumer products using Twitter data, but they are
working to provide market insights for these areas, as well as for media and
entertainment.

Leveraging the Numbers to Increase Your Market Presence


Here’s where it gets a bit confusing. There’s a difference between simple
engagement via your social media platform and analytics. It’s pretty easy to look

10 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

at how many inquiries you receive and how you responded to each one. That
would be engagement. When you look at analytics, you can also determine where
these inquiries came from, how quickly they responded to your social media post,
their habits when engaging through social media. It’s a broad snapshot that you
can use to help tailor your message to the needs of your audience.

Social media analytics helps companies address these experiences and use
them to:

Spot trends related to offerings and brands


Understand conversations; what is being said and how it is being received Derive
customer sentiment towards products and services
Gauge response to social media and other communications
Identify high-value features for a product or service
Uncover what competitors are saying and its effectiveness.

Brandwatch

Key benefits: Track and analyze data from more than 95 million sources,
including blogs, forums, and review sites, as well as social networks
Free or paid: Paid tool
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Best for: PR and communications teams, social media marketers who focus on
engagement and brand monitoring Brandwatch is a powerful tool with five easy-
to-use social media analytics report templates:
Summary: A high-level view of social conversations about your brand,
competitors, or keywords.
Trends: A report on the conversations and accounts influencing a specific topic
or hashtag, including mentions per hour or minute.
Reputation: A checkup on sentiment trends you might need to monitor or
address.
Influencers: A report to help you identify influencer marketing opportunities
relevant to your brand and analyze their activity.
Competitor comparison: Benchmarking social media data for conversation
volume, sentiment, and share of voice.

Google Analytics:
Key benefit: See how much traffic and leads flow to your website from your
social media channels
Paid or free: Free tool
Skill level: All skill levels
Best for: all social media professionals should be familiar with Google Analytics,
but especially those who work for a web-based business.

11 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Channelview Insights:

Key benefits: Analyze the YouTube performance of multiple channels


Free or paid: Paid tool (free for Hootsuite Enterprise users)
Skill level: all skill levels
Best for: YouTube marketers and creators, social media managers who run a
YouTube channel alongside other social channels The Channelview Insights App
adds YouTube analytics to the

Hootsuite dashboard.
With this integration, you can analyze your YouTube video and channel
performance alongside all your other social media channels. You can also
schedule automatic, regular reports.
Easily see the following metrics in one place:
Views, engagement, subscription activity.
Video traffic sources.
Audience insights for demographics, geography, acquisition and more.

Web Analytics Meaning, Key Metrics and Tools

Web Analytics involves collecting, measuring, analyzing, and reporting web


data to understand and optimize web usage. It goes beyond merely measuring
website traffic; it includes the analysis of visitor behavior and website
performance to improve the online experience for visitors and achieve business
goals. Web analytics provides insights into how visitors find a site, the pages they
visit, the duration of their stay, and their actions on the site, such as making
purchases or filling out contact forms. By understanding these metrics, businesses
can identify trends, pinpoint weaknesses in their web design or content strategy,
and make informed decisions to enhance website effectiveness, increase
conversions, and optimize marketing campaigns. Tools like Google Analytics
play a crucial role in web analytics, offering a comprehensive view of website
performance and user engagement to help businesses tailor their digital presence
to meet both user needs and business objectives.

Web Analytics Key Metrics:

12 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Traffic Sources:
Identifies where your visitors are coming from, such as direct visits, search
engines, social media, or referral sites.

This helps in understanding which channels are most effective in driving traffic.

Page Views:
The total number of pages viewed. Repeated views of a single page are counted.
This metric gives insight into how

engaged visitors are with your site’s content.

Unique Visitors:
Tracks the number of distinct individuals who visit your site during a given
period, regardless of how often they visit.

This helps in understanding your site’s reach.

Bounce Rate:
The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A
high bounce rate might indicate that

your landing pages are not relevant or engaging enough.

Average Session Duration:


The average amount of time users spend on your site during a visit. Longer
durations typically indicate more

engaging content or a more effective user interface.

Conversion Rate:
The percentage of visitors who take a desired action out of the total number of
visitors. Actions can include making a

purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form.

Exit Pages:
Identifies the last pages visitors view before leaving your site. High exit rates on
specific pages can indicate

problems with content, navigation, or call to action.

Mobile Traffic:
The percentage of visitors accessing your site via mobile devices. Understanding
this metric is crucial for optimizing

13 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

mobile user experience.

Top Pages:
The most visited pages on your site. This metric helps in identifying the most
popular content or products.

Click-Through Rate (CTR):


The ratio of users who click on a specific link to the number of total users who
view a page, email, or advertisement.

It is used to measure the success of online advertising campaigns.

Cost per Acquisition (CPA):


The average cost to acquire a customer, calculated by dividing the total cost of a
campaign by the number of

conversions. It helps in evaluating the financial efficiency of different marketing


channels.

Return on Investment (ROI):


Measures the profitability of investments in marketing campaigns, calculated by
dividing the net profit from the

investment by the cost of the investment.

Web Analytics Tools:

Google Analytics:
The most widely used web analytics service, Google Analytics provides detailed
insights into website traffic, user

behavior, and conversion metrics. It’s versatile, free for basic use, and integrates
with other Google services.

Adobe Analytics:
Part of the Adobe Experience Cloud, this tool offers advanced analytics
capabilities, including segmentation, real-

time analytics, and predictive analytics. It’s well-suited for large enterprises with
complex analytics needs.

14 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Mixpanel:
Focuses on user engagement by tracking interactions on web and mobile
applications. Mixpanel allows businesses

to analyze how users engage with their product and provides insights into user
retention and conversion.

Hotjar:

Combines analytics and feedback tools to give a comprehensive understanding


of how users interact with a website. Features include heatmaps, session
recordings, and surveys, making it valuable for improving user experience and
conversion rates.

Crazy Egg:
Provides visual analytics tools like heatmaps, scroll maps, and click reports,
helping businesses understand how

visitors interact with their websites and identify areas for improvement.

Piwik
A privacy-focused web analytics tool offering comprehensive tracking
capabilities similar to Google Analytics but with

a strong emphasis on data privacy and security. It can be self-hosted or used as a


cloud service.

Clicky:
Offers real-time analytics, including detailed information on individual visitors.
Features include heatmaps, uptime

monitoring, and the ability to watch what users are doing in real-time.

Woopra:
Specializes in customer journey analytics, providing detailed insights into every
touchpoint across the customer

lifecycle. Woopra helps businesses understand how individual users interact with
their website and apps.

Google Search Console:


Not a traditional analytics tool but essential for monitoring and optimizing
website visibility in Google search results. It

15 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

provides data on search queries, click-through rates, and technical issues affecting
site ranking.

SEMrush:
Primarily an SEO tool, SEMrush offers features for traffic analytics, organic
research, and paid search optimization.

It’s useful for analyzing your site’s performance and monitoring competitors.

Tableau:
While not exclusively a web analytics tool, Tableau can integrate web data for
advanced visual analytics, making it

possible to create interactive dashboards that combine web metrics with other
business data.

Kissmetrics:
Focuses on advanced analytics and tracking to understand user behavior and
conversion. Kissmetrics provides

insights into the entire customer journey, making it easier to make data-driven
marketing decisions.

Web analytics platform, Web analytics evolution, Need of web analytics,


Advantages & Limitations

Web analytics is the measurement and analysis of data to inform an understanding


of user behavior across web pages.
Analytics platforms measure activity and behavior on a website, for example:
how many users visit, how long they stay, how many pages they visit, which
pages they visit, and whether they arrive by following a link or not.
Businesses use web analytics platforms to measure and benchmark site
performance and to look at key performance indicators that drive their business,
such as purchase conversion rate.

Evolution:
Web analytics became more established as an essential tool for web optimization,
providing increasingly complex solutions that reported massive amounts of data.
The Web Analytics Association (WAA), now known as the Digital Analytics
Association, was born.

2005: Google Buys Urchin & Launches Google Analytics

16 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Google Analytics quickly became the most widely used web analytics service on
the market. Focusing heavily on quantitative analysis, it tied in directly with
Google’s other web marketing offerings.

2006: The Birth of Clicktale (Now Contentsquare) & In-Page Analytics


The launch of In-Page analytics allowed website owners to see everything their
visitors did on a webpage. Video session playbacks of visitor behavior delivered
qualitative usability and conversion-based data, while heatmaps and form
analytics provided online businesses with both quantitative statistics and
qualitative behavioral data about website visitors.

2012: Universal Analytics


Google launched Universal Analytics, meaning that users could be tracked across
multiple devices and platforms through user IDs. Beyond that, offline behavior
began to be monitored, and customer data became richer with the addition of
demographic and other information.

2016: Machine Learning on Mobile


Google Analytics incorporated machine learning into its app analytics, giving
marketers smarter insights on the go. This enabled a streamlined mobile Google
Analytics experience, showing more relevant metrics, with real-time monitoring.
This was a turning point in the analytics industry.

The following are some of the most commonly used tools:


Google Analytics: The ‘standard’ website analytics tool, free and widely used.
Piwik: An open-source solution similar in functionality to Google and a popular
alternative, allowing companies full ownership and control of their data.
Adobe Analytics: Highly customizable analytics platform (Adobe bought
analytics leader Omniture in 2009). Kissmetrics: Can zero in on individual
behavior, i.e. cohort analysis, conversion and retention at the segment or
individual level.
Mixpanel: Advanced mobile and web analytics that measure actions rather than
pageviews.
ly:Offers detailed real-time analytics, specifically for publishers.
CrazyEgg: Measures which parts of the page are getting the most attention using
‘heat mapping’.

Characteristic:

Audience Insights:
• Visitor Metrics: Track the number of visits and unique visitors.
• Visitor Type Ratio: Analyze the proportion of new visitors to returning
visitors.

17 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics


Geographical Distribution: Identify the countries from which visitors
originate.
• Device Usage: Differentiate between desktop and mobile users.
Audience Behavior:
• Landing and Exit Pages: Determine common entry and exit points on the
website.
• Popular Pages: Identify frequently visited pages.
• Session Duration: Measure the average time spent per visit.
• Page Views: Assess the number of pages viewed per visit.
• Bounce Rate: Monitor the percentage of single-page visits.
Campaign Analysis:
• Traffic Sources: Identify campaigns driving the highest traffic.
• Referral Websites: Determine which external sites refer the most visitors.
• Keyword Performance: Evaluate the effectiveness of keyword searches in
driving traffic.
• Campaign Medium Breakdown: Compare the impact of different
mediums, such as email and social media.

Need:
There’s an old business adage that whatever is worth doing is worth measuring.
Website analytics provide insights and data that can be used to create a better user
experience for website visitors. Understanding customer behavior is also key to
optimizing a website for key conversion metrics.
For example, web analytics will show you the most popular pages on your
website, and the most popular paths to purchase.
With website analytics, you can also accurately track the effectiveness of your
online marketing campaigns to help inform future efforts.

Advantages & Limitations:

You Can Track Behavior


Using website data, you can learn how people find you (e.g., keyword searches
or links at other sites) and what they do once they’re at your site. For example, if
people land on a page, read information and then leave, they “bounce” without
looking at other pages. You might find that you have a high bounce rate and need
to address that, explains Engaio Digital.
If you have an e-commerce site, you can track visitors through the purchasing
process. If you see that many of them start to make a purchase, but leave at the
same step during checkout, you can analyze what’s going on with that page or
step, conduct customer surveys or interviews, and try to fix the problems.

Surface-Level Data Isn’t Great

18 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Let’s say you sell DIY painting equipment. You find out that your most visited
product pages are for paint brushes. You decide to gear more of your content and
advertising toward paint brushes. The problem is, if you had drilled down a bit,
you would have found there’s another story.
It might turn out that most of your customers prefer paint brushes, while a smaller
percentage prefer rollers and another group prefers sprayers. By just using your
first-line data and not drilling down, you won’t be able to take advantage of this
new knowledge. If you could, you would then serve brush pictures and links to
visitors your algorithm determines are in that main group, roller images to visitors
from the second group and sprayer product pages and links to visitors from the
third group.

You Can Track Device Use


Even free, basic analytics programs and plugins let you know what percentage of
your visitors are checking out your website on a phone, tablet or desktop
computer. Using this information, you can make sure to optimize your site for
each device, points out digital marketing solutions provider, Spotler. You might
also decide that most of your visitors are younger, based on the fact that the vast
majority of your visitors are on a smartphone, or vice versa.

You Might Need a Privacy Policy


If you collect and analyze user data, you might need to post a privacy policy on
your website. This is required by some partners, like Google AdSense. You can
use a free privacy policy generator, which lets you type your company name into
the legalese, making this a pretty easy process.

Free Analytics Tools


Many website hosts provide free analytics tools for your website. If yours doesn’t,
your webmaster can link your site for free to Google Analytics or another data-
tracking program. If you have a WordPress site, you can download a variety of
free analytics plugins. Many of these use the freemium model they give you basic
data at no cost, but charge more if you want to upgrade and get more information.

19 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

UNIT-2

Network Fundamentals: The Social Networks perspective

Nodes, Ties and Influencers, Social Network, Web data and Methods:

Network fundamentals from a social networks perspective refer to the basic


concepts and principles that govern the structure, dynamics, and behavior of
social networks. Social networks are composed of individuals or entities (such as
organizations or communities) connected through relationships, interactions, or
information flows. Understanding network fundamentals is essential for
analyzing and studying various aspects of social networks, including their
formation, evolution, influence, and impact.

Concepts in network fundamentals include:

Nodes: Nodes represent the entities or individuals within a social network. They
can be people, organizations, or any other identifiable unit.

Edges: Edges, also known as ties or links, represent the connections between
nodes in a social network. These connections can be friendships, communication
channels, collaborations, or any other form of interaction.

Network Structure: The structure of a social network refers to the patterns of


connections between nodes. It includes characteristics such as density (the extent
of connections), centrality (the importance of certain nodes), and clustering (the
presence of groups or communities).

Network Dynamics: Social networks are not static but evolve and change over
time. Network dynamics refer to the processes and mechanisms that influence the
formation, growth, and dissolution of connections within a network.

Network Measures: Various measures are used to analyze and quantify network
characteristics. These include degree centrality (the number of connections of a
node), betweenness centrality (the extent to which a node bridges different parts
of the network), and clustering coefficient (the degree to which nodes in a
network form clusters).

Network Effects: Network effects occur when the value or impact of a network
increases as more nodes or connections are added. This can lead to phenomena
such as information diffusion, social influence, and collective behavior.

20 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Network Analysis: Network analysis is a set of methods and techniques used to


study social networks. It involves visualizing and analyzing the structure,
properties, and dynamics of networks using various mathematical and statistical
approaches.

Small World Phenomenon: The small world phenomenon states that individuals
in a social network are typically connected by relatively short paths, allowing
information or influence to spread quickly. This concept is often exemplified by
the “six degrees of separation” idea.

Social Capital: Social networks are a source of social capital, which refers to the
resources (such as trust, information, and support) that individuals and groups
can access through their network connections. Social capital plays a crucial role
in personal and professional relationships, community development, and
collective action.

Homophily and Heterophily: Homophily refers to the tendency of individuals


in a network to form connections with similar others, based on shared attributes
or characteristics. Heterophily, on the other hand, refers to connections formed
between individuals with different attributes. These concepts influence the
formation of social ties and the dynamics of information diffusion within
networks.

Influence and Contagion: Social networks play a significant role in the spread
of influence, behaviors, and information. The structure and dynamics of networks
can determine the speed and extent of contagion, where ideas, opinions, or
behaviors spread from one individual to another.

Network Resilience and Vulnerability: Social networks can exhibit varying


degrees of resilience and vulnerability to external shocks or disruptions. The
structure of a network, including the presence of redundant connections or key
individuals, can impact its ability to withstand and recover from disturbances.

Online Social Networks: The advent of the internet and digital technologies has
led to the emergence of online social networks. These platforms facilitate
connections and interactions between individuals across geographic boundaries,
presenting unique opportunities and challenges for studying social networks.

Understanding network fundamentals in the social networks context allows


researchers, analysts, and practitioners to explore and study various phenomena,
such as the spread of information and misinformation, the formation of social
communities, the influence of opinion leaders, and the impact of social networks
on individual behavior and collective outcomes. It provides a framework for

21 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

analyzing and interpreting the complex dynamics of human interactions and


social structures.

Nodes:
In social network analysis, nodes represent the individual entities or actors within
a network. Nodes can be people, organizations, communities, websites, or any
other unit that is part of the network. Each node is characterized by its unique
attributes, such as demographics, interests, affiliations, or roles.
Ties:

Ties, also known as edges or links, represent the connections or relationships


between nodes in a social network. Ties can be of various types, including
friendship, communication, collaboration, exchange of information, or any other
form of interaction. The strength of ties can also vary, representing the intensity
or frequency of interaction between nodes.

Influencers:
Influencers are nodes within a social network who have a significant impact on
other nodes. They possess a high degree of influence or power to shape opinions,
spread information, or drive behaviors within the network. Influencers can be
individuals with a large number of connections, high centrality in the network, or
possessing expertise or authority in a particular domain.

Social Network:
A social network refers to the entire system or structure of nodes and ties,
capturing the relationships and interactions among individuals or entities. It
provides a visual representation of the connections and patterns of
communication or influence within a community, organization, or society.
Analyzing social networks allows us to understand how information flows, ideas
spread, and relationships form and evolve within a given context.

Web data:
Web data refers to the vast amount of information and interactions generated on
the internet. It includes websites, social media platforms, online forums, blogs,
and other online sources. Web data is valuable for studying social networks as it
provides a rich source of information about individuals, their connections, and
their online activities.

Methods:
In social network analysis, various methods are employed to study and analyze
social networks. These methods can include both quantitative and qualitative

22 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

approaches. Quantitative methods involve using statistical techniques to analyze


network structure, identify key nodes, measure centrality, and examine patterns
of connectivity. Qualitative methods involve gathering in-depth insights through
interviews, surveys, or observations to understand the motivations, dynamics, and
behaviors within the network.

Capturing Data: Web Logs, Web Beacons, Java Script Tags, Packet Sniffing
:

Capturing data refers to the process of collecting and recording information for
analysis, storage, or further processing. In the context of social networks and web
data, capturing data involves gathering relevant information from online sources
to study and analyze social networks.

Methods and Techniques for capturing data from social networks and web
sources:

Web Scraping: Web scraping involves automatically extracting data from


websites using specialized software or tools. It allows researchers to collect
structured data from web pages, social media platforms, forums, or other online
sources. Web scraping can be done using programming languages like Python,
and it enables the retrieval of specific data points or entire datasets.

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): Many social media platforms


and online services provide APIs that allow developers to access and retrieve data
programmatically. APIs provide a standardized way to interact with the platform
and retrieve data such as user profiles, posts, comments, or connections. By
leveraging APIs, researchers can gather data directly from social media platforms
in a structured and reliable manner.

Data Crawling: Data crawling involves systematically navigating through


websites or web pages to extract data. Notes)
It typically involves traversing links, following pathways, and scraping data from
multiple pages. Data crawling can be useful when capturing data from websites
with multiple layers or when collecting a large amount of data from diverse
sources.

Surveys and Questionnaires: Surveys and questionnaires are traditional


methods for capturing data. In the context of social networks, researchers may
design and distribute online surveys to gather information about individuals’
online behaviors, connections, or opinions. Surveys can provide valuable insights
into the dynamics of social networks and individuals’ perceptions and
experiences within those networks.

23 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Observational Studies: Observational studies involve directly observing and


recording interactions or behaviors within social networks. Researchers can
observe online communities, forums, or social media platforms to capture data
on how individuals interact, share information, or form connections. This method
allows for a deeper understanding of real-time interactions and behaviors within
social networks.

When capturing data, it is important to consider ethical considerations and


comply with relevant privacy policies and regulations. Researchers should ensure
that the data collection process respects users’ privacy and safeguards their
personal information.

Capturing data from social networks and web sources provides researchers with
valuable information to study social networks, analyze patterns of interaction,
understand behaviors, and gain insights into various phenomena. By employing
appropriate data capture methods, researchers can gather reliable and relevant
data to support their analyses and research objectives.

Web Logs
Capturing data from web logs involves extracting and analyzing information from
server logs generated by websites. Web logs, also known as server logs or access
logs, record various details about website interactions and activities. They can
provide valuable insights into user behavior, website performance, and security
issues. Here’s an overview of the process:

Understanding Web Logs: Web logs typically contain information such as IP


addresses, timestamps, requested URLs, user agents, response codes, and other
relevant data. Each entry in the log represents a single request made to the web
server.

Accessing Web Log Files: The web log files are usually stored on the web server
itself. Accessing the log files depends on the server configuration and
permissions. The log files can be accessed directly from the server or through
remote access methods like Secure Shell (SSH) or FTP.

Parsing and Extracting Data: Once the log files are obtained, they need to be
parsed to extract the relevant data. Parsing involves analyzing the log file format
and extracting specific fields or information of interest. This can be done using
scripting languages or specialized log analysis tools.

Data Analysis: After extracting the data, it can be analyzed using various
techniques. Common analysis tasks include:

24 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

User Behavior Analysis: Examining patterns of user interactions, such as


popular pages, session durations, referral sources, and navigation paths.

Performance Analysis: Assessing website performance metrics, such as


response times, page load times, and server errors.

Security Analysis: Identifying suspicious or malicious activities, such as


repeated failed login attempts or access to sensitive directories.

Traffic Analysis: Understanding the volume of traffic, geographical distribution


of visitors, and peak usage periods.

SEO Analysis: Analyzing search engine crawlers, keyword usage, and other
factors affecting search engine optimization.

Data Visualization: Visualizing the captured data can provide insights and make
patterns more apparent. Data visualization techniques, such as charts, graphs, and
maps, can help in understanding trends, correlations, and anomalies within the
data.

Data Storage and Retention: It is essential to establish a proper data storage and
retention strategy for web log data. Depending on the size and importance of the
data, it can be stored in databases or data warehouses for future reference and
analysis.

Privacy and Security Considerations: When capturing data from web logs, it is
crucial to adhere to privacy regulations and ensure the security of the captured
data. Sensitive information, such as IP addresses, should be handled with care
and anonymized when necessary.

Web Beacons
Web beacons, also known as web bugs, pixel tags, or clear GIFs, are small
transparent images or snippets of code embedded in web pages or emails. They
are used to track and collect information about user behavior and interactions
with websites, advertisements, and email campaigns. Here’s an overview of web
beacons and their usage:

Purpose: Web beacons serve various purposes, including:

Tracking: Web beacons are often used to track user activities, such as page
views, clicks, and conversions.

25 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

They can provide information on how users engage with web content,
advertisements, and email campaigns.

Analytics: Web beacons can be used in conjunction with analytics tools to gather
data on website performance, user demographics, and user preferences. This data
helps in understanding audience behavior and optimizing web content and
marketing strategies.

Remarketing: Web beacons are sometimes employed in remarketing campaigns,


where they track user interactions and display targeted advertisements based on
users’ previous actions or interests.

Email Tracking: Web beacons embedded in emails allow senders to track email
opens, link clicks, and engagement. This information helps in evaluating the
effectiveness of email campaigns and measuring user response.

Functioning: Web beacons work by loading a small image or executing a code


snippet when a user accesses a web page or opens an email. This action triggers
a request to a remote server, which collects and records relevant information such
as IP address, user agent, referring URL, and timestamp. The server logs this data
for analysis and tracking purposes.

Invisible Tracking: Web beacons are usually invisible to the user as they are
often designed as transparent pixels or tiny pieces of code hidden within the web
page or email. Users are generally unaware of their presence and the data
collection process.

Privacy Considerations: Web beacons raise privacy concerns as they can track
user behavior and collect personal information. To address these concerns,
website owners and email senders are required to disclose their use of web
beacons and provide clear privacy policies that explain how user data is collected,
used, and shared. Users should have the option to opt out or control the tracking
process.

Blocking and Opt-Out: Users can employ various techniques to block or limit
the tracking capabilities of web beacons. These include browser extensions, ad
blockers, and privacy settings that prevent the loading of images from external
sources. Additionally, many email clients offer options to disable automatic
image loading, which can prevent web beacons from recording email opens.

Java Script Tags


JavaScript tags, also known as JavaScript tracking codes or snippets, are pieces
of JavaScript code that are inserted into web pages to capture and collect data

26 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

about user interactions and behaviors. These tags allow website owners and
marketers to track various metrics, analyze user behavior, and measure the
effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Here’s an overview of how JavaScript tags
are used for data capturing:

Inserting JavaScript Tags: JavaScript tags are typically inserted into the HTML
code of a web page by placing the code snippet within <script> tags. The
JavaScript code is executed by the user’s web browser when they visit the web
page.

Tracking User Interactions: JavaScript tags can track various user interactions,
such as page views, clicks, form submissions, and video plays. By capturing these
interactions, website owners can analyze user behavior, understand how visitors
engage with the website, and make data-driven decisions.

Collecting Data: JavaScript tags collect data by accessing and manipulating


different elements of a web page. For example, they can extract information from
form fields, capture user input, record the timestamp of a page view, or track the
URL of a clicked link. This data is typically sent to a tracking server or a third-
party analytics platform for further analysis.

Analytics and Measurement: JavaScript tags are often used in conjunction with
analytics platforms, such as Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics, to measure
and analyze website performance. These platforms provide insights into key
metrics like traffic sources, user demographics, conversion rates, and user
engagement.

Customization and Event Tracking: JavaScript tags can be customized to track


specific events or actions on a website. For example, they can be configured to
track button clicks, downloads, scroll depth, or video interactions. This level of
customization allows website owners to focus on specific goals or conversion
actions.

Conversion Tracking and Attribution: JavaScript tags are commonly used for
conversion tracking and attribution analysis. They enable website owners to
determine the source of conversions, such as purchases or form submissions, and
attribute them to specific marketing channels or campaigns. This information
helps optimize marketing efforts and allocate resources effectively.

Privacy and Compliance: When using JavaScript tags for data capturing, it’s
important to consider privacy regulations and comply with applicable laws, such
as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer
Privacy Act (CCPA). Website owners should inform users about data collection

27 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

practices, provide options for consent, and ensure the secure handling of collected
data.

Packet Sniffing
Packet sniffing, also known as packet capturing or network monitoring, is a
technique used to intercept and analyze network traffic passing through a
computer network. It involves capturing packets of data as they are transmitted
between devices on the network and examining their contents for various
purposes, such as troubleshooting, security analysis, or network performance
monitoring. Here’s an overview of packet sniffing:

Purpose: Packet sniffing is primarily used for network analysis and monitoring.
It allows network administrators, security professionals, or system analysts to
inspect the contents of network packets to understand how data is being
transmitted, identify network issues, detect security threats, or analyze network
performance.

Capture Process: Packet sniffing involves capturing network packets by


monitoring the data traffic passing through a network interface. This can be done
using specialized software tools known as packet sniffers or network analyzers.
These tools can be installed on a computer or a dedicated device connected to the
network.

Types of Data Captured: Packet sniffers capture various types of data


transmitted over the network, including source and destination IP addresses, port
numbers, protocol information, packet timestamps, and payload data. The
payload data can include information such as email content, web page contents,
or even sensitive data if not encrypted.

Analysis and Interpretation: Once the packets are captured, they can be
analyzed and interpreted to gain insights into network behavior. This can involve
examining packet headers, extracting data from packet payloads, reconstructing
network conversations, or identifying patterns of communication between
devices. Security and Threat Detection: Packet sniffing can be used for security
purposes to detect and analyze network attacks or suspicious activities. By
inspecting packet contents, security analysts can identify signs of malware,
unauthorized access attempts, or data breaches. It helps in early detection and
response to security incidents.

Privacy and Legal Considerations: Packet sniffing raises privacy concerns


since it involves capturing and analyzing network traffic that may contain
sensitive or confidential information. In many jurisdictions, intercepting or
analyzing network packets without proper authorization is illegal. Therefore, it is

28 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

crucial to obtain proper consent or comply with legal requirements when


conducting packet sniffing activities.

Encryption and Protection: To protect against packet sniffing, it is


recommended to use encryption protocols such as Transport Layer Security
(TLS) or Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to secure sensitive data transmitted
over the network. These encryption mechanisms make it difficult for attackers or
unauthorized individuals to capture and interpret the contents of network packets.

Outcome data: E-commerce, Lead generation, Brand/ Advocacy and


Support :

Outcome data refers to the measurable results or effects that can be attributed to
specific activities or initiatives in various domains. In the context of e-commerce,
lead generation, brand advocacy, and support, outcome data can provide valuable
insights into the effectiveness and impact of these activities.
Collecting and analyzing outcome data in these domains allows businesses to
make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and optimize their
strategies to achieve their goals. By understanding the impact of e- commerce,
lead generation, brand advocacy, and support activities through outcome data,
organizations can drive growth, enhance customer experiences, and build a strong
and sustainable business presence.

E-commerce:
Outcome data in e-commerce typically focuses on metrics related to sales,
revenue, and customer behavior. This includes key performance indicators such
as conversion rate, average order value, customer lifetime value, and repeat
purchase rate. By analyzing these metrics, businesses can assess the success of
their e-commerce strategies, identify areas for improvement, and make data-
driven decisions to optimize their online sales performance.
Lead Generation:
Outcome data in lead generation revolves around metrics that track the quality
and quantity of leads generated. This may include metrics such as lead conversion
rate, lead-to-customer ratio, cost per lead, and lead nurturing effectiveness. By
analyzing these metrics, businesses can gauge the effectiveness of their lead
generation efforts, identify high-performing channels or campaigns, and optimize
their lead generation strategies accordingly.
Brand Advocacy:
Outcome data in brand advocacy focuses on measuring the impact of brand
awareness and customer advocacy activities. Metrics may include social media
engagement, customer sentiment analysis, customer reviews and ratings, and
brand reach or visibility. By tracking and analyzing these metrics, businesses can

29 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

assess the level of customer loyalty and advocacy, identify brand ambassadors or
influencers, and cultivate a positive brand image.
Support:
Outcome data in support centers around metrics that measure customer
satisfaction, response time, issue resolution rates, and customer feedback. This
data helps organizations assess the effectiveness of their support services, identify
areas for improvement, and provide better customer experiences. Metrics like
customer satisfaction scores, net promoter scores, and customer retention rates
can provide insights into the overall quality of support services.

Competitive Data: Panel Based measurement, ISP Based Measurement,


Search Engine Data, Organizational Structure:

Competitive data refers to information and insights about competing businesses


or organizations operating in the same industry or market. It includes data related
to their strategies, performance, market share, customer base, products or
services, pricing, marketing campaigns, and more. Competitive data is crucial for
businesses as it helps them understand the competitive landscape, make informed
decisions, and gain a competitive advantage.
Market Analysis: Competitive data provides valuable insights into market
trends, customer preferences, and the overall competitive landscape. It helps
businesses understand their position in the market and identify opportunities or
gaps they can leverage to differentiate themselves from competitors.
Competitor Analysis: By analyzing competitive data, businesses can gain a
deeper understanding of their competitors. This includes information about their
products or services, pricing strategies, marketing tactics, distribution channels,
and customer base. It allows businesses to identify their competitors’ strengths
and weaknesses and develop strategies to outperform them.
Benchmarking: Competitive data enables businesses to benchmark their
performance against their competitors. By comparing key metrics such as market
share, revenue growth, customer satisfaction, or operational efficiency,
businesses can identify areas where they excel or lag behind their competitors.
This helps in setting realistic goals and developing strategies for improvement.
Product Development and Innovation: Competitive data provides insights into
the products or services offered by competitors. By analyzing their features,
quality, pricing, and customer feedback, businesses can identify opportunities for
product enhancements or new product development. This helps them stay ahead
of the competition and meet customer needs more effectively.
Pricing Strategies: Competitive data helps businesses understand how their
competitors price their products or services. This information is valuable for
setting competitive and profitable pricing strategies. By analyzing competitor

30 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

pricing, businesses can adjust their own pricing strategies to attract customers and
increase market share.
Marketing and Advertising: Competitive data provides insights into the
marketing and advertising strategies of competitors. This includes information
about their target audience, messaging, channels, and promotional activities. By
understanding their competitors’ marketing efforts, businesses can refine their
own marketing strategies, differentiate their brand, and effectively reach their
target customers.
Risk Management: Competitive data can help businesses identify potential risks
and challenges posed by competitors. By monitoring their activities, businesses
can proactively respond to changes in the market, anticipate competitive threats,
and develop contingency plans to mitigate risks.
Panel Based Measurement
Panel-based measurement is a research methodology used to collect data from a
representative sample of individuals or households over a period of time. It
involves recruiting a panel, which is a group of pre-selected participants, and
collecting data from them through surveys, interviews, or other data collection
methods. Panel- based measurement offers several advantages for market
research and audience measurement purposes. Here are some key aspects related
to panel-based measurement:
Representative Sample: Panels are carefully selected to represent a larger
population of interest. The panel members are chosen based on specific
demographic, geographic, or behavioral criteria to ensure that the sample is
representative of the target population. This allows for more accurate and reliable
data collection and analysis.
Longitudinal Data: Panel-based measurement involves collecting data from the
same group of panelists over an extended period. This longitudinal approach
enables researchers to track changes in attitudes, behaviors, or consumption
patterns over time. It provides valuable insights into trends, seasonality, and the
effectiveness of marketing or advertising campaigns.
Behavioral Data: Panels can capture actual behavioral data rather than relying
solely on self-reported information. This is particularly useful in areas such as
media consumption, online activities, purchasing behavior, or product usage. By
tracking panelists’ actual behavior, researchers can gain a deeper understanding
of their preferences and habits.
Detailed Insights: Panel-based measurement allows for in-depth data collection
and analysis. Researchers can explore specific topics, attitudes, or behaviors by
asking follow-up questions or conducting more detailed surveys. This enables a
more comprehensive understanding of consumer preferences, motivations, or
opinions. Cross-Sectional Analysis: Panel data can be combined with other data
sources for cross-sectional analysis. This means that researchers can compare and
analyze data from different points in time or different panels to identify trends,
patterns, or changes over time.

31 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Audience Measurement: Panel-based measurement is widely used for audience


measurement in media research. By tracking panelists’ media consumption
habits, researchers can provide accurate and detailed insights into audience reach,
viewership, or listenership for television, radio, or digital platforms.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that panel-based measurement also has
limitations. Maintaining panel retention and engagement can be challenging over
time. There may also be biases or limitations associated with the
representativeness of the panel sample, panelist compliance, or the potential
influence of panel participation on behavior.
ISP Based measurement
ISP (Internet Service Provider) based measurement refers to the collection and
analysis of data related to internet usage and behavior by leveraging data provided
by internet service providers. This methodology involves monitoring and
analyzing internet traffic, user interactions, and other relevant metrics to gain
insights into online activities, trends, and patterns. Here are some key aspects
related to ISP-based measurement:
Data Collection: ISP-based measurement relies on the data collected by internet
service providers. ISPs have access to a wealth of information about their
subscribers’ online activities, including websites visited, search queries,
downloads, and streaming habits. This data can be aggregated and anonymized
to provide insights into broader trends and behaviors.
Broad Coverage: Since ISPs provide internet connectivity to a large number of
users, ISP-based measurement offers broad coverage of internet usage. It can
capture data from a diverse range of individuals and households, providing a
comprehensive view of online activities across different demographic segments
and geographic locations.
Real-Time Insights: ISP-based measurement allows for real-time or near real-
time analysis of internet usage patterns. By monitoring internet traffic in real-
time, researchers can identify emerging trends, popular websites or content, and
changes in user behavior. This timely information is valuable for businesses,
advertisers, and policymakers to adapt their strategies and make informed
decisions.
Granular Data: ISP-based measurement can provide granular data about internet
usage at an individual level. This means that researchers can analyze specific user
behavior, preferences, or engagement patterns. This level of detail enables more
targeted and personalized insights for marketing, content development, or policy
planning.
Privacy Considerations: Privacy is a critical aspect of ISP-based measurement.
To ensure privacy protection, ISPs typically anonymize and aggregate the data
they provide for measurement purposes. Personal identifying information is
stripped or encrypted to safeguard user privacy and comply with data protection
regulations. Challenges: ISP-based measurement also comes with challenges.
One challenge is data accuracy and completeness, as not all internet activities

32 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

may be captured or recorded by ISPs. Additionally, sample bias can occur if the
data provided by ISPs only represents a subset of the internet user population.
Ensuring data quality, integrity, and representativeness is crucial for reliable and
meaningful analysis.
ISP-based measurement has various applications, including market research,
audience measurement, content optimization, and policy formulation. By
leveraging the vast amount of data available through ISPs, researchers and
analysts can gain valuable insights into online behavior, inform business
strategies, and enhance the user experience on the internet.
Search Engine Data
Search engine data refers to the information collected from search engines, such
as Google, Bing, or Yahoo, regarding user queries, search results, and user
interactions with search engine platforms. It provides valuable insights into user
behavior, search trends, and consumer interests. Here are some key aspects
related to search engine data:
User Queries: Search engine data captures the queries entered by users when
they perform searches. These queries reflect the information users are seeking,
their interests, and the problems they are trying to solve. Analyzing these queries
can provide insights into popular topics, search trends, and emerging interests.
Search Results: Search engine data includes information about the search results
displayed in response to user queries. This data can reveal the types of content
and websites that are most relevant and valuable to users. It can help businesses
understand how their websites rank in search results and optimize their content
to improve visibility and attract more organic traffic.
User Interactions: Search engine data also captures user interactions with search
engine platforms. This includes click-through rates on search results, dwell time
on websites, bounce rates, and other engagement metrics. By analyzing these
interactions, businesses can understand user preferences, the effectiveness of
their content, and areas for improvement in their online presence.
Search Trends and Patterns: Search engine data provides insights into search
trends and patterns over time. It can reveal seasonal fluctuations, emerging topics,
and changing consumer interests. Businesses can leverage this data to identify
market opportunities, develop targeted marketing campaigns, and align their
products or services with current consumer demands.
Keyword Research: Search engine data is instrumental in keyword research,
which involves identifying and analyzing the keywords that users are searching
for. Keyword research helps businesses optimize their website content, create
relevant and targeted advertising campaigns, and improve their search engine
rankings.
Privacy Considerations: It’s important to note that search engine data collection
raises privacy concerns. Search engines handle large volumes of personal
information, including search queries, location data, and user preferences.

33 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Privacy policies and regulations aim to protect user privacy and govern the
collection, storage, and use of search engine data.
Organizational Structure
The organizational structure for handling competitive data within an organization
may vary depending on its size, industry, and specific needs. However, here are
some key elements that can be considered in the organizational structure for
managing competitive data:
Competitive Intelligence (CI) Team: Establish a dedicated team responsible for
gathering, analyzing, and disseminating competitive data within the organization.
This team may consist of professionals with expertise in market research, data
analysis, and industry knowledge.
Reporting Line: Determine the reporting line for the CI team. It can directly
report to senior management or be part of the marketing, strategy, or business
development department, depending on the organization’s structure and
priorities.
Information Sources: Identify the key sources of competitive data relevant to
the organization’s industry. This may include industry reports, market research
firms, competitor websites, industry conferences, customer feedback, social
media, and other relevant channels. The CI team should have access to and
actively monitor these sources.
Data Collection and Analysis: Define processes and methodologies for
collecting and analyzing competitive data. This may involve conducting regular
market scans, tracking competitor activities and pricing, monitoring industry
trends, and analyzing customer feedback. The CI team should have the necessary
tools and resources to collect, analyze, and interpret data effectively.
Data Dissemination: Determine how competitive data will be shared within the
organization. This may involve creating reports, dashboards, or presentations to
communicate key insights and findings to relevant stakeholders such as senior
management, marketing teams, product development teams, and sales teams.
Ensure that the information is disseminated in a timely and actionable manner.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Encourage collaboration and information-
sharing between the CI team and other departments within the organization. This
can help align competitive insights with business strategies, product development
plans, marketing campaigns, and sales activities. Foster a culture of collaboration
and ensure that the CI team has access to relevant stakeholders and decision-
makers.
Compliance and Ethics: Emphasize the importance of ethical and legal practices
in gathering and using competitive data. Ensure that the CI team adheres to
applicable laws and regulations regarding data privacy and intellectual property
rights. Establish guidelines and protocols to maintain the confidentiality and
integrity of competitive data.

34 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Type and Size of Data, Identifying unique page definition, Cookies, Link
Coding Issues:

The type and size of data can vary depending on the context and the specific needs
of an organization. Here are some common types and sizes of data that
organizations may encounter:
Structured Data: Structured data refers to data that is organized and formatted
in a specific way, typically stored in databases or spreadsheets. It includes data
such as customer information, sales transactions, inventory records, financial
statements, and other structured datasets. Structured data is typically categorized,
labeled, and easily searchable.
Unstructured Data: Unstructured data refers to data that does not have a
predefined format or organization. It can include text documents, emails, social
media posts, images, videos, audio files, and other forms of multimedia.
Unstructured data is often more challenging to process and analyze compared to
structured data due to its varied formats and lack of clear organization.
Big Data: Big data refers to extremely large and complex datasets that exceed
the processing capabilities of traditional data management tools. It is
characterized by its volume, velocity, and variety. Big data often involves
analyzing large amounts of structured and unstructured data from diverse sources,
such as social media, sensor networks, transaction logs, and more. Advanced
analytics techniques and technologies are used to extract insights from big data.
Real-time Data: Real-time data refers to data that is generated and processed
instantly or with minimal delay. It is often associated with real-time systems, such
as stock market trading, IoT devices, or social media feeds. Real-time data
requires fast and efficient processing to enable timely decision-making and
response.
Internal Data: Internal data refers to data that is generated and collected within
an organization’s own systems and processes. It includes data from customer
relationship management (CRM) systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP)
systems, financial systems, and other internal databases. Internal data provides
insights into the organization’s operations, performance, and customer
interactions.
External Data: External data refers to data that is obtained from sources outside
the organization. It can include market research reports, industry data, public
datasets, government data, competitor information, social media data, and more.
External data enriches internal data by providing broader market insights and
external benchmarks.
The size of data can vary significantly, ranging from small datasets that can be
managed using standard software tools to massive datasets that require
specialized infrastructure and processing techniques. The size of data is often
measured in terms of storage capacity (e.g., gigabytes, terabytes, petabytes) or
the number of records or observations in a dataset.

35 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Organizations need to consider the type and size of data they handle to determine
the appropriate data storage, management, analysis, and security strategies.
Different types of data may require different technologies, tools, and approaches
to effectively capture, store, process, and derive insights from the data.
Identifying unique page definition
Identifying a unique page definition involves determining the distinct
characteristics and elements that define a particular web page. Here are some key
factors to consider when identifying a unique page definition:
URL: The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address that uniquely
identifies a page on the internet. Each web page typically has a unique URL that
distinguishes it from other pages. Analyzing the URL structure can help identify
unique pages within a website.
HTML Structure: The HTML structure of a web page includes elements such
as headings, paragraphs, images, links, and other content elements. Analyzing the
HTML structure can reveal patterns and unique combinations of elements that
define a specific page.
Content: The content of a web page, including text, images, videos, and other
media, plays a significant role in defining its uniqueness. Analyzing the textual
content and media assets can help identify distinct pages based on their unique
content.
Metadata: Web pages often contain metadata, such as title tags, meta
descriptions, and keywords. Analyzing the metadata associated with a page can
provide additional insights into its unique characteristics.
Navigation and Internal Links: The navigation structure and internal linking
within a website can help identify unique pages. Pages that are accessible through
different navigation paths or have specific links pointing to them may be
considered unique.
Page Functionality: Some pages on a website may have unique functionalities
or features that distinguish them from others. For example, a contact form, a
search page, or a product details page may have unique characteristics that set
them apart.
Dynamic Parameters: In some cases, web pages may have dynamic parameters
appended to their URLs, such as session IDs or tracking codes. Analyzing and
understanding these parameters can help differentiate between unique pages.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are stored on a user’s device when they visit a
website. They serve various purposes and play an important role in enhancing the
browsing experience. Here are some key aspects of cookies:
Function: Cookies serve different functions depending on their type. Some
cookies are necessary for the basic functionality of a website, such as
remembering login credentials or items in a shopping cart. Others are used for
analytical purposes, tracking user behavior, personalization, and targeted
advertising.

36 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Information Storage: Cookies store specific information related to a user’s


interaction with a website. This information can include preferences, browsing
history, session data, and user-specific settings. When a user revisits a website,
cookies help retrieve this stored information, allowing for a more personalized
and efficient browsing experience.
First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies: First-party cookies are set by the website
the user is currently visiting, while third-party cookies are set by external domains
or advertisers that have content embedded on the website. Third-party cookies
are often used for tracking and targeted advertising purposes.
Privacy Concerns: While cookies are generally harmless, there are privacy
concerns associated with the collection and use of user data. Some users may be
uncomfortable with the idea of their browsing activities being tracked and their
data being shared with third parties. To address these concerns, many websites
provide cookie consent notices and privacy policies that allow users to manage
their cookie preferences.
Cookie Management: Users have the option to manage cookies through their
web browser settings. They can choose to block or delete cookies, limit their use
to certain websites, or configure browser settings to notify them when a cookie is
being used. However, it’s important to note that blocking certain types of cookies
may impact the functionality and user experience of websites.
Compliance and Regulations: There are regulations in place, such as the
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, that govern
the use of cookies and require websites to obtain user consent for non-essential
cookies. Compliance with these regulations ensures that user privacy is respected
and protected.
Link Coding Issues
Link coding issues refer to problems or errors in the coding or implementation of
hyperlinks on a website. These issues can have various negative impacts on the
website’s functionality, user experience, and search engine optimization. Here
are some common link coding issues:
Broken Links: Broken links occur when a hyperlink on a website leads to a page
or resource that no longer exists or is inaccessible. Broken links can frustrate
users, disrupt navigation, and negatively impact search engine rankings.
Regularly checking and fixing broken links is important for maintaining a smooth
user experience and ensuring the website’s overall health.
Incorrect or Inconsistent URLs: Inconsistent or incorrect URLs can cause
confusion and lead to link errors. This may happen when a URL is mistyped,
contains unnecessary characters, or does not follow a consistent structure. Using
descriptive, keyword-rich, and user-friendly URLs can improve the usability and
search engine optimization of the website.
Improper Link Formatting: Links should be properly formatted using HTML
code to ensure they function correctly. This includes using the correct anchor text,
using the “href” attribute to specify the destination URL, and ensuring proper

37 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

opening and closing tags. Improperly formatted links may not work as intended
or may not be recognized by search engines.
NoFollow Attribute: The rel=”nofollow” attribute is used to indicate to search
engines that a link should not pass on any authority or “link juice” to the linked
page. It is commonly used for sponsored links, user-generated content, or to
prevent search engine crawling of specific pages. Ensuring the proper
implementation of the nofollow attribute can help control the flow of link equity
within a website.
Linking to Irrelevant or Low-Quality Websites: Linking to irrelevant or low-
quality websites can negatively impact the credibility and reputation of a website.
It is important to ensure that outbound links are relevant, trustworthy, and provide
value to the users. Additionally, monitoring incoming links to the website is
crucial to identify and address any low-quality or spammy backlinks that may
harm search engine rankings.
Accessibility Issues: Link coding should consider accessibility guidelines to
ensure that users with disabilities can navigate the website effectively. This
includes using descriptive anchor text that provides context and avoiding the use
of generic phrases like “click here” as link text.

38 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

UNIT-3
Common metrics: Hits, Page views, Visits, unique page views, Bounce,
Bounce rate & its improvement, Average time on site, Real time report,
Traffic Source Report, Custom Campaigns, Content Report, Google
analytics

While “hits” is a term commonly used in web analytics, it is not considered a


reliable or meaningful metric on its own. Hits refer to the total number of requests
made to a server for any file, including images, scripts, stylesheets, and pages.
However, hits do not provide a clear indication of actual user engagement or
meaningful interactions with a website.
The reason hits are not considered a reliable metric is that a single page load can
generate multiple hits due to the various elements on the page, such as images,
scripts, and CSS files. Therefore, a high number of hits does not necessarily
equate to high user engagement or website success.
Instead, it is more valuable to focus on other metrics that provide insights into
user behavior and engagement. Some of these metrics include:
1. Pageviews: The number of times a specific page is viewed by users. This
metric provides insights into the popularity and relevance of specific pages
on a website.
2. Unique Visitors: The number of individual users who visit a website
within a specified time period. This metric helps understand the reach and
size of the website’s audience.
3. Time on Page: The average amount of time users spend on a specific page.
This metric indicates the level of user engagement and interest in the
content.
4. Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who complete a desired
action, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or subscribing to a
newsletter. This metric measures the effectiveness of a website in
achieving its goals.
5. Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing
only one page. A high bounce rate may indicate that users did not find the
content engaging or relevant.
6. Click-through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who click on a
specific link, advertisement, or call-to-action. This metric measures the
effectiveness of marketing campaigns and the appeal of specific content.
7. Revenue: The total monetary value generated from sales or transactions
on a website. This metric is crucial for e-commerce businesses to measure
their financial success.

Page views, Visits, Unique page views

39 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Page views, visits, and unique page views are commonly used metrics in web
analytics to measure website traffic and user engagement. Here’s an explanation
of each metric:
1. Page Views: A page view refers to each time a webpage is loaded or
refreshed by a user. It counts all instances when a user visits a particular
page, regardless of whether it is a unique visit or a repeat visit. For
example, if a user visits a webpage three times, each visit will count as
three page views.
2. Visits (Sessions): A visit, also known as a session, represents a single
browsing session by a user on a website. It begins when a user enters the
website and ends when the user exits or remains inactive for a certain
period of time, typically 30 minutes. Visits are determined by various
factors, including the time between consecutive page views and the
duration of user activity.
3. Unique Page Views: Unique page views indicate the number of distinct
users who have viewed a specific page during a given time period. It
provides insight into the number of individual users who accessed a
particular page, regardless of the number of times they visited it. Unique
page views are useful for understanding the popularity and reach of
specific content on a website.

Bounce, Bounce Rate & its improvement


Bounce, bounce rate, and ways to improve bounce rate are important concepts in
web analytics and website optimization. Here’s an explanation of each term and
how to improve bounce rate:
1. Bounce: A bounce occurs when a user visits a webpage and then leaves
without interacting with any other page on the same website. In other
words, it is a single-page session where the user exits without exploring
further.
2. Bounce Rate: Bounce rate is the percentage of single-page sessions
(bounces) out of the total sessions on a
website. It is calculated by dividing the number of single-page sessions by the
total number of sessions and multiplying by 100. A high bounce rate indicates
that a significant portion of users are leaving the website without engaging
further.
Improving Bounce Rate: Reducing bounce rate is important because it indicates
how engaging and relevant your website’s content is to users. Here are some
strategies to improve bounce rate:
1. Improve Page Load Speed: Slow-loading pages can lead to higher bounce
rates. Optimize your website’s performance by minimizing file sizes,
leveraging browser caching, and using content delivery networks (CDNs).

40 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

2. Enhance User Experience: Ensure your website has a clean and intuitive
design, easy navigation, and clear calls-to-action. Make it easy for users to
find the information they are looking for and engage with your content.
3. Target Relevant Traffic: Optimize your marketing efforts to attract the
right audience to your website. Targeting the right keywords, refining your
advertising campaigns, and using relevant meta tags can help bring in users
who are genuinely interested in your content.
4. Optimize Content: Create high-quality and engaging content that matches
user intent. Make sure your content is well-structured, informative, and
easy to read. Use headlines, bullet points, and visual elements to make your
content more appealing and scannable.
5. Internal Linking: Incorporate internal links within your content to guide
users to related pages and encourage them to explore further. This helps
reduce the likelihood of users bouncing after viewing a single page.
6. Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and
responsive. With the increasing number of users accessing websites on
mobile devices, optimizing for mobile can significantly impact bounce
rates.
7. Test and Iterate: Continuously monitor and analyze your website’s
performance using web analytics tools. Test different elements, layouts,
and content variations to identify what resonates best with your audience
and drives engagement.

Average Time on site


Average time on site is a web analytics metric that measures the average amount
of time visitors spend on a website during a specific period. It is a valuable
indicator of user engagement and can provide insights into how effectively a
website is capturing and retaining visitors’ attention. Here’s a brief explanation
of average time on site and its significance:
Average time on site is calculated by dividing the total time spent by all visitors
on a website by the total number of visitors. It provides an average duration, in
minutes or seconds, that users spend exploring the website’s content.

Significance of Average Time on Site:


1. User Engagement: A longer average time on site generally indicates that
visitors are spending more time consuming the content, exploring different
pages, and engaging with the website. It suggests that the website is
capturing and holding users’ attention effectively.
2. Content Relevance: When visitors spend more time on a website, it
implies that the content is relevant and valuable to them. It indicates that
users find the information interesting, engaging, and worth their time.
3. User Experience: A longer average time on site can also suggest that the
website offers a positive user experience. It could mean that the website is

41 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

easy to navigate, visually appealing, and provides a seamless browsing


experience.
4. Conversion Potential: While a longer average time on site is generally
positive, it does not guarantee conversions. However, it can indicate that
visitors have a higher likelihood of taking desired actions, such as making
a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or filling out a form, as they have
spent more time engaging with the content.
5. Content Performance: Average time on site can help identify the
performance of different types of content or pages on a website. By
analyzing the average time on site for specific pages or sections, website
owners can determine which areas are more engaging and which might
require improvement.
It’s important to note that average time on site has its limitations as a metric. For
example, if a user opens a webpage and leaves it open in a tab without actively
engaging with the content, it can artificially inflate the average time on site.
Additionally, visitors who spend a shorter time on a website may still find value
in a quick visit, especially if they find the information they were seeking.
Real time Report
A real-time report is a type of analytics report that provides up-to-the-minute data
and insights about website or app activity. Unlike traditional reports that are
generated on a scheduled basis (such as daily, weekly, or monthly), real- time
reports offer immediate and continuous updates on user behavior, traffic sources,
conversions, and other key metrics. Here’s an overview of real-time reports and
their benefits:
Real-Time Report Features:
1. Live Data: Real-time reports display data as it happens, allowing you to
monitor current website or app activity in real time. This includes metrics
such as active users, page views, conversions, traffic sources, and more.
2. User Behavior: Real-time reports provide insights into how users are
interacting with your website or app at any given moment. You can see
which pages they are visiting, how long they stay, where they come from,
and even their geographic location.
3. Traffic Sources: Real-time reports show you the sources driving traffic to
your website or app in real time. This includes organic search, paid
advertising, social media referrals, direct traffic, and more. It helps you
understand which channels are currently driving the most traffic and adjust
your marketing efforts accordingly.
4. Conversions: Real-time reports can track conversions and revenue
generated in real time. This allows you to see immediate results of
marketing campaigns, product launches, or other events that drive
conversions.
Benefits of Real-Time Reports:

42 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

1. Immediate Insights: Real-time reports offer instant insights into user


behavior and website performance. You can quickly identify any
anomalies, trends, or issues that need attention, enabling you to make
timely decisions and optimizations.
2. Proactive Adjustments: With real-time data, you can make on-the-fly
adjustments to marketing campaigns, content strategies, or user experience
based on the current behavior and response of your audience.
3. Monitoring Campaign Performance: Real-time reports help you monitor
the performance of ongoing marketing campaigns. You can track the
impact of email sends, social media promotions, or other initiatives in real
time and make necessary adjustments to optimize results.
4. Detecting Issues and Opportunities: Real-time reports allow you to
promptly identify any technical issues, such as website downtime or errors,
and take immediate action to rectify them. Similarly, you can spot sudden
spikes in traffic or engagement and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
5. Enhanced User Experience: By monitoring user behavior in real time,
you can gain insights into how visitors are interacting with your website or
app and make adjustments to improve the user experience. This can lead
to increased engagement, longer sessions, and higher conversions.
Traffic Source Report
A traffic source report is a type of analytics report that provides information about
the different sources from which visitors are arriving at your website or app. It
offers insights into the channels or platforms that are driving traffic to your site,
helping you understand how users are discovering and accessing your content.
Here’s an overview of a traffic source report and its key features:
Features of a Traffic Source Report:
1. Source Type: A traffic source report categorizes the sources of traffic into
different types, such as organic search, direct traffic, referral traffic, social
media, paid advertising, email marketing, and more. Each source type
represents a different way in which users find and navigate to your website.
2. Traffic Volume: The report provides information on the volume of traffic
generated by each source. It shows the number of visits or sessions
attributed to each traffic source, allowing you to gauge the relative
importance and impact of different channels.
3. Engagement Metrics: In addition to traffic volume, a traffic source report
may include engagement metrics associated with each source. This can
include metrics like bounce rate (the percentage of visitors who leave the
site after viewing only one page), average time on site, pages per visit, and
conversion rate. These metrics help assess the quality of traffic from each
source and understand user behavior.
4. Referring Websites: The report may provide a list of referring websites or
specific URLs that are driving traffic to your site. This can help identify

43 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

external websites, blogs, or social media platforms that are sending visitors
your way.
5. Campaign Tracking: Traffic source reports often include information
about campaign tracking. This allows you to see how different marketing
campaigns, such as email campaigns or paid advertising, are performing in
terms of driving traffic and conversions.
Benefits of a Traffic Source Report:
1. Insights into User Behavior: By analyzing the traffic source report, you
can gain insights into how users are finding your website and what
channels are most effective in driving traffic. This information can help
you make data-driven decisions about your marketing efforts and optimize
your strategies accordingly.
2. Allocation of Resources: Understanding which traffic sources are
bringing in the most visitors and driving the highest quality traffic allows
you to allocate your resources more effectively. You can focus on channels
that are performing well and consider adjustments for underperforming
sources.
3. Campaign Performance Evaluation: With the traffic source report, you
can evaluate the performance of different marketing campaigns. By
comparing traffic and engagement metrics across campaigns, you can
assess the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make informed
decisions about future campaigns.
4. Optimization Opportunities: The report helps identify areas for
improvement in your traffic acquisition strategies. For example, if the
report shows a high bounce rate from a specific source, you can investigate
why visitors are leaving quickly and take steps to improve the user
experience or targeting for that particular source.
5. ROI Analysis: By analyzing traffic sources and associated conversion
data, you can calculate the return on investment (ROI) for your marketing
activities. This enables you to assess the effectiveness of your marketing
spend and make informed decisions about budget allocation.
Custom Campaigns
Custom campaigns, also known as campaign tracking or UTM (Urchin Tracking
Module) parameters, are a way to track and analyze the performance of specific
marketing campaigns or initiatives within your overall digital marketing strategy.
By adding custom parameters to your campaign URLs, you can track and identify
the specific sources, mediums, and other campaign-related details that are driving
traffic to your website.
Here’s how custom campaigns work and why they are valuable:
1. Creating Custom Campaign URLs: To track a specific campaign, you
can create custom campaign URLs by adding UTM parameters to your
regular URLs. UTM parameters are tags appended to the end of a URL that

44 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

provide information about the source, medium, campaign name, and other
relevant details. The common UTM parameters include:
Source (utm_source): This parameter identifies the specific source of the traffic,
such as a search engine, social media platform, or newsletter.
Medium (utm_medium): This parameter specifies the marketing medium or
channel through which the traffic is generated, such as organic search, paid
search, social media, email, or referral.
Campaign (utm_campaign): This parameter allows you to give a unique name or
identifier to your campaign so that you can easily differentiate it from other
campaigns.
Content (utm_content): This optional parameter can be used to differentiate
different versions of the same campaign, such as different ad variations or calls
to action.
Term (utm_term): This optional parameter is primarily used for tracking
keywords in paid search
campaigns.
2. Tracking and Analyzing Campaign Performance: When users click on
a custom campaign URL, the UTM
parameters are captured by your analytics tool (such as Google Analytics) and
associated with the visitor’s session data. This allows you to track the
performance of your campaigns in terms of traffic, engagement, conversions, and
other key metrics. You can see which campaigns are driving the most traffic,
which channels are generating the highest conversion rates, and how different
versions or sources of the same campaign are performing.
3. Campaign Optimization and ROI Analysis: Custom campaigns provide
valuable insights for optimizing your marketing efforts. By analyzing the
data from different campaigns, you can identify which sources or channels
are delivering the best results and allocate your resources accordingly. You
can also compare the performance of different campaigns to determine
their return on investment (ROI) and make data-driven decisions about
future campaign strategies.
4. A/B Testing and Personalization: Custom campaigns allow you to
conduct A/B testing and personalize your marketing messages. By creating
different versions of a campaign with unique UTM parameters, you can
track and compare their performance. This helps you understand which
variations resonate better with your audience and optimize your messaging
accordingly.
5. Reporting and Attribution: Custom campaigns provide more granular
data for reporting and attribution analysis. Instead of relying solely on
overall traffic or conversion numbers, you can drill down into the
performance of individual campaigns and assess their impact on your
marketing goals. This allows for more accurate reporting and a better
understanding of the effectiveness of your marketing initiatives.

45 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Content Report
A content report is a type of report that provides insights and analysis on the
performance and engagement of the content published on a website or digital
platform. It helps marketers, content creators, and website owners understand
how their content is being received by users and how it contributes to their
marketing goals.
Elements and Benefits of a content report:
1. Content Performance Metrics: A content report typically includes
metrics such as page views, unique page views, average time on page,
bounce rate, and exit rate. These metrics help assess the popularity,
engagement, and effectiveness of the content. They provide insights into
which pages or articles are attracting the most traffic and retaining visitors
for longer durations.
2. User Behavior Analysis: Content reports also provide information on user
behavior, such as the navigation paths users take, the entry and exit pages,
and the flow of traffic through different sections of the website. This helps
understand how users interact with the content, which pages are acting as
entry points or exit points, and if there are any specific patterns or trends
in user behavior.
3. Conversion Tracking: Depending on the goals of the website or digital
platform, content reports may include conversion tracking. This could
include tracking metrics like goal completions, newsletter sign-ups,
purchases, or other desired actions taken by users after interacting with the
content. It helps assess the content’s impact on driving conversions and
achieving business objectives.
4. Content Engagement: Content reports often include metrics related to
user engagement, such as social shares, comments, likes, or ratings. These
metrics indicate the level of interest and interaction that users have with
the content. By analyzing engagement metrics, content creators can
identify which topics, formats, or styles of content resonate most with their
audience.
5. Content Optimization: Content reports provide valuable insights for
content optimization. By analyzing the performance metrics, user
behavior, and engagement data, content creators can identify areas for
improvement and make data-driven decisions. They can identify
underperforming content, update or repurpose successful content, or focus
on creating content that aligns with user preferences and interests.
6. Audience Segmentation: Content reports can also provide information on
the audience demographics and segmentation. This includes data such as
the geographical location of visitors, their language preferences, device
usage, or referring sources. By understanding the characteristics of the
audience, content creators can tailor their content to better meet their needs
and preferences.

46 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

7. Reporting and Decision Making: Content reports serve as a basis for


reporting and decision making. They provide stakeholders with a
comprehensive view of the content’s performance and impact. By
analyzing the data, stakeholders can make informed decisions about
content strategies, investments, or improvements needed to achieve their
marketing objectives.
8.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that allows website
owners to track and analyze various aspects of their website’s performance. It
provides valuable insights into user behavior, audience demographics, traffic
sources, and conversion metrics. Here are some key features and benefits of
Google Analytics:
1. Tracking Website Traffic: Google Analytics tracks the number of visitors
to your website, allowing you to monitor overall traffic trends. It provides
information about the number of sessions, pageviews, unique visitors, and
bounce rate.
2. Audience Analysis: Google Analytics provides detailed information about
your website’s audience, including demographics (age, gender, location),
interests, and behavior. This data helps you understand who your visitors
are and tailor your content and marketing strategies accordingly.
3. Traffic Sources: Google Analytics shows you how visitors are finding
your website, whether through organic search, referral links from other
websites, social media platforms, or direct visits. This information helps
you evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns and optimize
your traffic sources.
4. Behavior Flow: Google Analytics visualizes the flow of user behavior on
your website, showing the paths visitors take from one page to another.
This helps you identify popular pages, entry points, and potential areas for
improvement in terms of user navigation and engagement.
5. Conversion Tracking: Google Analytics allows you to set up goals and
track conversions on your website. Whether it’s completing a purchase,
submitting a form, or signing up for a newsletter, you can measure and
analyze conversion rates to assess the effectiveness of your marketing
efforts.
6. E-commerce Tracking: If you run an online store, Google Analytics
provides e-commerce tracking capabilities. It enables you to monitor sales
performance, track product popularity, and analyze customer behavior
within the purchasing process.
7. Site Performance: Google Analytics provides insights into the
performance of your website, including page load times, site speed, and
mobile usability. This information helps you identify any technical issues

47 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

that may impact user experience and take necessary steps to improve site
performance.
8. Custom Reporting: Google Analytics allows you to create custom reports
and dashboards to track specific metrics and KPIs that are relevant to your
business. You can tailor the reporting to your specific needs and share the
data with stakeholders.
9. Integration with Other Tools: Google Analytics integrates with other
Google tools such as Google Ads, Google Search Console, and Google
Data Studio, enabling you to access and analyze data from multiple sources
in a unified platform.
10.Continuous Improvement: By analyzing the data provided by Google
Analytics, you can gain insights into user behavior, identify areas for
improvement, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your website
and marketing strategies over time.

Key Performance Indicator: Need, Characteristics, Perspective and Uses:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics used to measure the
performance and effectiveness of an organization, department, or specific
activities within a business. They serve as important benchmarks for evaluating
progress, identifying areas for improvement, and aligning business goals with
performance outcomes. Here are the key aspects of KPIs:
Need for KPIs:
KPIs are essential for tracking and assessing the success of an organization in
achieving its objectives. They provide a clear and measurable framework for
evaluating performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and making data-
driven decisions. KPIs help organizations stay focused on their strategic goals
and measure progress over time.
Characteristics of Effective KPIs:
1. Measurable: KPIs must be quantifiable and measurable in order to track
progress accurately. They should be based on data that can be collected and
analyzed consistently.
2. Relevant: KPIs should directly align with the organization’s strategic
objectives and reflect the critical success factors. They should focus on the
aspects of performance that have the most significant impact on the
organization’s goals.
3. Actionable: KPIs should be actionable, meaning they should provide insights
and information that can drive meaningful actions and improvements. They
should be specific enough to guide decision-making and drive performance
improvements.
4. Time-bound: KPIs should be time-bound, with clear targets and deadlines.
This allows for monitoring progress over specific periods and enables timely
adjustments and interventions.

48 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Perspectives of KPIs:
KPIs can be categorized into different perspectives depending on the aspect of
the organization they measure. Common perspectives include:
Financial Perspective: KPIs related to financial performance, such as revenue
growth, profitability, return on investment, and cost control.
Customer Perspective: KPIs related to customer satisfaction, loyalty, retention,
and acquisition.
Internal Process Perspective: KPIs related to the efficiency and effectiveness
of internal processes, such as cycle time, quality, and productivity.
Learning and Growth Perspective: KPIs related to the development of
employees, innovation, and organizational capabilities.

Uses of KPIs:
Performance Evaluation: KPIs provide a basis for evaluating the performance
of individuals, teams, departments, and the overall organization. They help
identify areas of success and areas needing improvement. Goal Setting and
Alignment: KPIs help set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-
bound (SMART) goals. They align individual and departmental goals with the
broader organizational objectives. Decision-making: KPIs provide objective
data that can guide decision-making at various levels within the organization.
They provide insights into areas of strength, weakness, and opportunities for
improvement. Performance Monitoring: KPIs allow for ongoing monitoring of
progress towards goals and objectives. They provide real-time or periodic updates
on performance, enabling proactive actions to address any issues or deviations.
Communication and Accountability: KPIs facilitate communication and
transparency within the organization. They help in communicating performance
expectations, progress updates, and fostering accountability among individuals
and teams.

Graphs and Matrices, Basic measures for individuals and networks:

Graphs and matrices are fundamental tools used in analyzing and measuring
individuals and networks within the
context of social network analysis. Here are the basic measures associated with
individuals and networks:
Degree Centrality: Degree centrality measures the number of connections an
individual node has within a network. It quantifies the importance or popularity
of an individual based on the number of connections they have. In a directed
network, there are two types of degree centrality: in-degree (number of incoming
connections) and out-degree (number of outgoing connections).
Closeness Centrality: Closeness centrality measures how close an individual is
to all other nodes in the network. It calculates the average shortest path length
between an individual and all other nodes. Individuals with higher closeness

49 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

centrality can quickly reach other nodes in the network and are considered to have
more influence or control over the flow of information.
Betweenness Centrality: Betweenness centrality quantifies the extent to which
an individual acts as a bridge or intermediary between other individuals in the
network. It measures the number of times an individual lies on the shortest paths
between other pairs of individuals. Individuals with higher betweenness centrality
have more control over the flow of information and can influence communication
between others.
Eigenvector Centrality: Eigenvector centrality measures the influence of an
individual based on the influence of its neighbouring nodes. It assigns a centrality
score to each node, taking into account both the number of connections and the
importance of those connections. Individuals with higher eigenvector centrality
are connected to other influential nodes in the network and have a higher degree
of influence themselves. Clustering Coefficient: The clustering coefficient
measures the extent to which individuals within a network tend to form clusters
or groups. It quantifies the density of connections between an individual’s
neighbours. A higher clustering coefficient indicates a higher level of cohesion
and interconnectedness among an individual’s immediate connections.

These measures can be represented and analyzed using graphs and matrices.
Graphs visually depict the nodes (individuals) and edges (connections) in a
network. Matrices, such as adjacency matrices or incidence matrices, provide a
structured representation of the relationships between individuals in the network.
These matrices can be used to calculate the measures mentioned above and gain
insights into the structure, connectivity, and influence within the network.
By analyzing these basic measures for individuals and networks, researchers and
analysts can understand the structure and dynamics of social networks, identify
key individuals or influential nodes, and study the patterns of communication and
interaction within the network. These measures provide valuable insights into
social relationships, information flow, and the overall functioning of the network.

Random Graphs & Network evolution

Random graphs and network evolution are concepts within the field of network
science that help us understand the
formation and growth of networks.
Random graphs refer to mathematical models that generate networks with
random connections. In a random graph, nodes are connected to each other
randomly, without any specific underlying structure or preference. The Erdős-
Rényi model and the Barabási-Albert model are popular random graph models.
Random graphs are useful for understanding the properties of networks and can
serve as a baseline for comparing real-world networks. They help us study the
statistical characteristics of networks, such as degree distribution, clustering

50 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

coefficient, and average path length. Random graphs also provide a way to
analyze network robustness, vulnerability, and the spread of information or
diseases within a network.
Network evolution, on the other hand, refers to the changes that occur in a
network over time. Networks are not static entities; they evolve and adapt based
on various factors. Network evolution can occur through processes such as
growth, preferential attachment, rewiring, and node deletion.
Preferential attachment is an important mechanism in network evolution, where
nodes that already have a high number of connections tend to attract more
connections. This process leads to the “rich-get-richer” phenomenon, where
popular nodes become even more popular over time. The Barabási-Albert model
is an example of a network evolution model that incorporates preferential
attachment.
Studying network evolution helps us understand how networks grow, how new
connections are formed, and how network properties change over time. It
provides insights into the dynamics of real-world networks, such as social
networks, collaboration networks, and biological networks. By analyzing
network evolution, we can gain insights into the emergence of influential nodes,
the formation of communities, and the overall structure and functioning of
evolving networks.
Random Graphs: Random graphs are mathematical models that generate
networks with random connections. In the Erdős-Rényi model, nodes are
connected randomly with a fixed probability. This model assumes that each pair
of nodes has an equal chance of being connected. The resulting random graph can
have varying degrees of connectivity, ranging from sparse to dense networks.
Degree Distribution: The degree distribution of a random graph describes the
probability distribution of node degrees, which represents the number of
connections each node has. In random graphs, the degree distribution typically
follows a binomial distribution or a Poisson distribution, depending on the
specific random graph model. Small-World Property: Random graphs can
exhibit the small-world property, which means that even in large networks, the
average path length between any two nodes is relatively small. This property
enables efficient communication and information flow within the network.
Network Evolution: Network evolution refers to the changes that occur in a
network over time. Networks can evolve through various processes, including
growth, preferential attachment, rewiring, and node deletion. These processes can
lead to the emergence of new connections, the formation of clusters or
communities, and changes in network structure and properties.
Preferential Attachment: Preferential attachment is a mechanism often
observed in network evolution. It suggests that nodes with a higher number of
connections tend to attract more connections. This results in a “rich-get-richer”
phenomenon, where well-connected nodes become even more connected over
time. Preferential attachment plays a significant role in the formation of scale-

51 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

free networks, where a few nodes have a disproportionately large number of


connections.
Network Models: Various network models, such as the Barabási-Albert model,
capture the principles of network evolution, including preferential attachment.
These models simulate the growth of networks by adding nodes and connecting
them to existing nodes based on their degree. The resulting networks exhibit
characteristics like scale-free degree distributions, where a few nodes have high
degrees while the majority have relatively fewer connections.

Social Context Affiliation & Identity

Social context affiliation and identity refer to how individuals associate


themselves with specific social groups,
communities, or contexts and how these affiliations shape their sense of self and
identity.
Understanding social context affiliation and identity is crucial for understanding
human behavior, social dynamics, and intergroup relations. It helps explain why
individuals align themselves with particular groups, how group affiliations shape
their attitudes and behaviors, and the ways in which identities intersect and
interact in diverse social contexts. This knowledge is valuable for promoting
inclusivity, understanding social inequalities, and fostering positive social
interactions.
Social Context Affiliation: Social context affiliation refers to the process by
which individuals choose and become part of specific social groups or
communities. These affiliations can be based on shared interests, values, beliefs,
cultural background, or other factors that provide a sense of belonging. Social
context affiliations can range from informal groups like friends or hobby clubs to
formal organizations, institutions, or communities.

Identity Formation: Affiliation with social contexts influences an individual’s


identity formation. Identity is the way individuals perceive and define themselves
in relation to others and the world around them. Social affiliations provide a
framework for individuals to develop and express their identities. For example,
being part of a particular cultural or ethnic community can shape one’s cultural
identity, while being part of a professional organization can shape one’s
professional identity.

Social Identity Theory: Social identity theory explains how individuals derive
their sense of self and identity from their membership in social groups. According
to this theory, individuals tend to associate themselves with groups that enhance
their self-esteem and social status. They derive a sense of belonging, pride, and
identity from their group memberships, and they may even adopt the norms,
values, and behaviors associated with those groups.

52 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Group Influence on Behavior: Affiliation with specific social contexts also


influences an individual’s behavior. People often conform to the norms and
expectations of their affiliated groups to maintain social cohesion and acceptance.
This can lead to the adoption of group-specific attitudes, behaviors, and values.
Individuals may prioritize the interests and goals of their affiliated groups and
engage in behaviors that align with the group’s identity.

Intersectionality: Affiliation and identity are complex and can be influenced by


multiple social factors, such as race, gender, sexuality, religion, and
socioeconomic status. Intersectionality recognizes that individuals’ affiliations
and identities are shaped by the intersections of various social categories. It
emphasizes the interconnectedness of social identities and how they can intersect
and interact to shape an individual’s experiences and sense of self.

Cultural and Social Norms: Social context affiliation plays a significant role in
shaping an individual’s adherence to cultural and social norms. When individuals
affiliate with a specific social context, they tend to adopt the values, beliefs, and
behaviors that are considered appropriate or expected within that context. This
conformity to social norms helps individuals navigate social interactions and
maintain social cohesion within their affiliated groups.
Group Identity and Belonging: Affiliation with social contexts provides
individuals with a sense of group identity and belonging. Group identity refers to
the perception of oneself as a member of a particular social group or category.
This group identity contributes to a person’s overall sense of self and can
influence their self-esteem and well-being. Belonging to a group offers social
support, validation, and a shared sense of purpose or identity, which can enhance
psychological and emotional well-being.
Social Comparison and Self-Evaluation: Affiliations with social contexts often
lead to social comparison, where individuals evaluate themselves in relation to
others within their group. Social comparison helps individuals gauge their own
abilities, achievements, and social standing within their affiliated groups. It can
impact self-esteem, motivation, and personal development, as individuals strive
to meet the standards and expectations set by their social context.
Identity Negotiation: Affiliations with multiple social contexts may require
individuals to negotiate their identities in different contexts. This process
involves navigating the expectations and demands of various social groups while
maintaining a coherent sense of self. Identity negotiation can be complex, as
individuals may experience conflicts or tensions between different aspects of
their identities.
Personal and Collective Identities: Social context affiliation influences both
personal and collective identities. Personal identity refers to an individual’s
unique characteristics, values, and beliefs that define them as an individual.
Collective identity refers to the shared identity and sense of belonging within a

53 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

larger social group, such as a community or nation. Both personal and collective
identities are shaped by social context affiliation and contribute to an individual’s
overall identity.

Web analytics Tools: A/B testing, Online surveys, Web Crawling and
Indexing:

A/B Testing
A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method used in marketing and
experimentation to compare two versions of a webpage, advertisement, or other
digital content to determine which one performs better in achieving a specific
goal or outcome. It involves randomly dividing a sample of users into two groups:
Group A and Group B.
In A/B testing, Group A is exposed to the original or control version (referred to
as variant A) while Group B is exposed to a modified version (referred to as
variant B). The two variants differ in a specific aspect, such as a different
headline, call-to-action button, layout, or color scheme. The performance of each
variant is then measured, and statistical analysis is applied to determine if there
is a significant difference in their effectiveness.
The primary objective of A/B testing is to gather data-driven insights about user
behavior and preferences to optimize the performance of a particular element or
feature. It helps answer questions like:
1. Which version leads to higher click-through rates, conversions, or sales?
2. Which variant improves user engagement or reduces bounce rates?
3. Which design or content element generates more user interactions or time spent
on the page?
By systematically testing different variants and measuring the outcomes, A/B
testing allows marketers and designers to make informed decisions based on
empirical evidence rather than assumptions or subjective opinions. It helps
identify areas of improvement, validate hypotheses, and optimize digital
experiences to achieve desired business objectives.
To conduct an effective A/B test, it is important to define clear goals and metrics,
ensure an adequate sample size for statistical significance, and carefully track and
analyze the results. A/B testing platforms or tools can assist in managing the test
setup, randomization, data collection, and statistical analysis.
It’s worth noting that A/B testing is an iterative process, and multiple rounds of
testing may be required to refine and optimize digital assets continually. By
utilizing A/B testing, businesses can make data-driven decisions, improve user
experiences, and ultimately achieve better results in their marketing and
optimization efforts.

54 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Online Surveys
Online surveys are a popular method of collecting data and gathering insights
from a targeted audience. They involve the distribution of a set of questions
through digital platforms, such as websites, email, social media, or survey
platforms, to collect respondents’ opinions, feedback, or demographic
information.
Here are some key aspects of online surveys:
1. Design: Online surveys can be designed using various question formats,
including multiple-choice, open-ended, Likert scale, or rating scales. The
design should be user-friendly, visually appealing, and easy to navigate to
encourage higher response rates.
2. Target Audience: Online surveys allow researchers to reach a wide range
of participants, including specific demographics or individuals with
particular interests. Targeting the right audience ensures that the collected
data is relevant to the research objective.
3. Convenience and Accessibility: Respondents can complete online
surveys at their convenience, from any location with internet access. This
convenience factor leads to higher response rates compared to other data
collection methods, such as phone or in-person interviews.
4. Data Collection: Online surveys automatically collect and store responses
in a centralized database, eliminating the need for manual data entry. This
streamlines the analysis process and reduces the chances of data entry
errors.
5. Data Analysis: Online survey platforms often provide tools for data
analysis, including generating summary statistics, creating visualizations,
and exporting data for further analysis. Researchers can gain insights by
analyzing response patterns, identifying trends, and drawing conclusions
from the collected data.
6. Cost and Time Efficiency: Online surveys are generally more cost-
effective than traditional methods, such as paper-based surveys or phone
interviews. They eliminate printing and mailing costs and can be conducted
within a shorter time frame, allowing for quicker data collection and
analysis.
7. Flexibility: Online surveys offer flexibility in terms of survey length,
question branching, and customization options. Researchers can tailor
surveys to specific research objectives and easily modify them as needed.
However, it’s important to note that online surveys have limitations. Response
bias may occur, as respondents self- select to participate. It’s essential to consider
the representativeness of the sample and account for potential biases in the
analysis. Additionally, not all populations have equal access to the internet, which
can limit the reach of online surveys.

55 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Web Crawling and Indexing


Web crawling and indexing are fundamental processes in the field of web search
engines, allowing for efficient and comprehensive search results. Here’s an
explanation of both processes:
1. Web Crawling: Web crawling, also known as web scraping or spidering,
refers to the automated process of systematically browsing the World Wide Web
to discover and gather information from web pages. It involves the use of web
crawlers or bots, which are computer programs that navigate through web pages
by following hyperlinks.
The web crawler starts with a list of seed URLs and proceeds to visit each URL,
extracting the content and following any outgoing links on the page. This process
continues recursively, enabling the crawler to access and collect data from a large
number of web pages. The collected data can include text, images, metadata, and
other relevant information.
Web crawling is vital for search engines as it allows them to continuously
discover and update their index of web pages. It enables search engines to provide
up-to-date and comprehensive search results by ensuring that new content is
indexed and existing content is reindexed.
2. Indexing: Once web pages are crawled, the next step is indexing. Indexing is
the process of organizing and storing the collected web page data in a structured
manner to facilitate quick and efficient search retrieval. The data is typically
stored in an index database that allows for fast searching and retrieval of relevant
information.
During indexing, various techniques are employed to analyze and extract key
information from web pages. This can include extracting text content, identifying
important keywords, generating metadata, and establishing relationships between
different web pages. The indexed data is organized in a way that makes it
searchable based on user queries.
Indexing allows search engines to quickly retrieve relevant search results based
on user queries. By matching the search query against the indexed data, search
engines can rank and display the most relevant web pages to the user.
Web crawling and indexing are continuous processes as new web pages are
constantly added to the web and existing pages are updated. Search engines
employ sophisticated algorithms to ensure efficient crawling, effective indexing,
and accurate retrieval of search results.
It’s worth noting that web crawling and indexing raise important ethical
considerations, such as respecting website owners’ terms of service, adhering to
copyright laws, and being mindful of privacy concerns. Responsible web
crawling and indexing practices involve respecting website guidelines and
ensuring the appropriate use of collected data.

56 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Natural Language Processing Techniques for Micro-text Analysis:

Micro-text analysis refers to the process of analyzing short and concise text data,
such as social media posts, tweets, product reviews, and chat messages. Natural
Language Processing (NLP) techniques play a crucial role in extracting
meaningful insights from micro-text data.

NLP Techniques in micro-text analysis:

Tokenization: Tokenization is the process of breaking down a text into


individual tokens or words. In micro-text analysis, tokenization helps in
segmenting short text data into meaningful units, allowing for further analysis.
Part-of-speech Tagging: Part-of-speech tagging assigns grammatical labels
(e.g., noun, verb, adjective) to each word in a sentence. It helps in understanding
the syntactic structure of micro-texts and extracting relevant information.
Named Entity Recognition (NER): NER identifies and classifies named entities,
such as people, organizations, locations, and dates, within micro-texts. It helps in
extracting specific entities mentioned in the text and understanding their
relationships.
Sentiment Analysis: Sentiment analysis determines the sentiment or opinion
expressed in a micro-text, whether it is positive, negative, or neutral. It is
commonly used in analyzing product reviews, social media posts, and customer
feedback.
Topic Modeling: Topic modeling is a technique that discovers latent topics
within a collection of micro-texts. It helps in identifying the main themes or
subjects discussed in the text data.
Emotion Detection: Emotion detection aims to identify the emotional content or
sentiment expressed in micro- texts. It goes beyond simple sentiment analysis by
detecting specific emotions such as joy, anger, sadness, or surprise.
Text Classification: Text classification involves categorizing micro-texts into
predefined categories or classes. It is useful for tasks like spam detection, topic
classification, and sentiment-based categorization.
Word Embeddings: Word embeddings represent words or phrases as numerical
vectors in a high-dimensional space. They capture semantic relationships
between words, enabling algorithms to understand the context and meaning of
micro-texts.
Named Entity Disambiguation: Named Entity Disambiguation resolves
ambiguities in named entities by associating them with their specific meanings or
entities. It helps in disambiguating references to people, locations, or
organizations mentioned in micro-texts.
Text Summarization: Text summarization techniques condense lengthy micro-

57 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

texts into shorter summaries while preserving key information. They are useful
for extracting the most important points from a large amount of micro-text data.
Named Entity Linking (NEL): Named Entity Linking connects named entities
mentioned in micro-texts to their corresponding entries in a knowledge base or
database. It helps in enriching the understanding of entities and enables further
exploration of related information.
Entity Sentiment Analysis: Entity sentiment analysis focuses on determining
the sentiment or opinion expressed towards specific named entities within micro-
texts. It provides a more granular understanding of sentiment by associating it
with particular entities.
Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis: Aspect-based sentiment analysis goes
beyond overall sentiment and analyzes the sentiment associated with specific
aspects or features mentioned in micro-texts. It is particularly useful for product
reviews, where different aspects of a product are discussed.
Opinion Mining: Opinion mining, also known as sentiment mining or sentiment
analysis, involves extracting subjective information, opinions, and attitudes from
micro-texts. It helps in understanding public opinion and sentiment trends.
Emotion Classification: Emotion classification aims to categorize micro-texts
into different emotional categories, such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, or
surprise. It provides insights into the emotional experiences expressed in micro-
texts.
Text Clustering: Text clustering groups similar micro-texts together based on
their content. It helps in identifying patterns, themes, or clusters of related micro-
texts, which can be useful for segmentation or summarization purposes.
Language Detection: Language detection determines the language in which a
micro-text is written. It is particularly helpful in multilingual contexts, where
micro-texts may be in different languages.
Intent Classification: Intent classification involves identifying the intention or
purpose behind a micro-text, such as whether it is a question, request, complaint,
or suggestion. It aids in understanding user intent and facilitating appropriate
responses.
Named Entity Extraction: Named entity extraction involves identifying and
extracting named entities from micro-texts, such as people’s names,
organizations, locations, or dates. It helps in building knowledge graphs or
understanding key entities mentioned in micro-texts.
Cross-lingual NLP: Cross-lingual NLP techniques enable the analysis of micro-
texts in different languages, including translation, sentiment analysis, or entity
extraction across language boundaries. They facilitate multilingual analysis and
understanding.
These NLP techniques empower researchers, analysts, and organizations to gain
valuable insights from micro-texts, enabling them to understand customer
sentiment, track trends, perform market research, and make data-driven

58 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

decisions. They leverage the power of language processing to unlock the


information embedded within short and concise text data.

59 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Unit: 4

Facebook Analytics: Introduction, Parameters, Demographics, Analyzing


page audience, Reach and engagement analysis, Post-Performance on FB:

Facebook Analytics is a powerful tool that provides insights into the


performance and engagement of your Facebook Page, website, and mobile app.
It allows you to gather data and analyze the behavior of your audience, enabling
you to make informed decisions and optimize your marketing efforts.
With Facebook Analytics, you can track various metrics such as page likes, post
reach, engagement, and referral traffic. It provides detailed demographic
information about your audience, including their age, gender, location, and
interests. This data helps you better understand your target audience and tailor
your content and advertising strategies accordingly.
One of the key features of Facebook Analytics is the ability to create custom
funnels and conversion paths. You can track user journeys from initial interaction
to conversion, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or
completing a specific action. This helps you identify bottlenecks in the user
journey and optimize your conversion rates.
Facebook Analytics also allows you to segment your audience based on various
criteria, such as demographics, behaviors, and interests. This segmentation
enables you to analyze the performance of different audience segments and
personalize your marketing messages for better engagement and conversion.
Additionally, Facebook Analytics provides valuable insights into user retention
and lifetime value. You can track how often users return to your platform, how
long they stay engaged, and the revenue generated by each user over their
lifetime. This information helps you identify loyal customers and implement
strategies to retain them.
To ensure privacy and data protection, Facebook Analytics complies with
relevant regulations and offers options for data anonymization and user consent
management.

Parameters
Facebook Analytics provides a range of parameters that can be used to analyze
and measure various aspects of your Facebook Page, website, and mobile app
performance. These parameters allow you to gather valuable insights about your
audience, engagement, conversions, and more. Here are some key parameters
offered by Facebook Analytics:
1. Page Views: The number of times your Facebook Page has been viewed.
2. Page Likes: The number of people who have liked your Facebook Page.
3. Post Reach: The number of unique individuals who have seen your posts.
4. Post Engagement: The number of interactions (likes, comments, shares)
your posts receive.

60 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

5. Impressions: The total number of times your content, including posts and
ads, is displayed.
6. Click-through Rate (CTR): The percentage of people who clicked on a link
in your post or ad after seeing it.
7. Conversion Rate: The percentage of users who completed a desired action,
such as making a purchase or signing up, after interacting with your content
or ads.
8. Referral Traffic: The number of visits to your website or app that originated
from Facebook.
9. Demographics: Information about the age, gender, location, and interests
of your audience.
10.Retention: The percentage of users who continue to engage with your app
or website over time.
11.Lifetime Value (LTV): The estimated revenue generated by a user during
their lifetime engagement with your business.
12.Custom Funnels: A series of steps that track user interactions and
conversions, allowing you to analyze the effectiveness of your conversion
paths.
13.Segmentation: The ability to segment your audience based on various
criteria, such as demographics, behaviors, and interests, to gain insights
into different user groups.
14.Event Tracking: The tracking of specific user actions within your app or
website, such as button clicks, form submissions, or video views.
15.Ad Performance: Data related to the performance of your Facebook ads,
including impressions, clicks, conversions, and cost per action.

Demographics:

Facebook Analytics offers a range of demographic insights that provide valuable


information about your audience. These demographic parameters help you
understand the characteristics of your Facebook Page followers and website
visitors. Here are some key demographic insights available in Facebook
Analytics:
1. Age: You can view the age distribution of your audience, allowing you to
understand the age groups that are most engaged with your content.
2. Gender: Facebook Analytics provides insights into the gender breakdown
of your audience, helping you tailor your messaging and content to specific
genders if necessary.
3. Location: You can gain insights into the geographic locations of your
audience, including countries, regions, and cities. This information helps
you understand where your audience is located and target specific regions
with localized campaigns.

61 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

4. Language: Facebook Analytics allows you to analyze the languages


spoken by your audience, which can be useful for targeting specific
language preferences with your content.
5. Interests: Facebook collects data on the interests and hobbies of its users,
and Facebook Analytics provides insights into the top interests of your
audience. This information helps you understand the preferences and
affinities of your audience, enabling you to create content that aligns with
their interests.
6. Device Usage: You can gain insights into the devices used by your
audience to access your Facebook Page and website. This includes
information on the types of devices (mobile, desktop, tablet) and operating
systems (iOS, Android, Windows) used by your audience.
7. Household Income: Depending on the availability of data, Facebook
Analytics may provide insights into the income distribution of your
audience. This information can help you understand the purchasing power
and socioeconomic status of your audience.

Analyzing page audience


Facebook Analytics provides powerful tools for analyzing your page audience
and gaining valuable insights. Here are some key features and capabilities for
analyzing your page audience in Facebook Analytics:
1. Overview: The overview section gives you a high-level summary of your
page audience, including metrics like page likes, reach, engagement, and
demographics. It provides an overall snapshot of your audience’s
characteristics and engagement level.
2. Demographics: Facebook Analytics allows you to dive deeper into the
demographics of your page audience. You can view insights such as age,
gender, location, language, and interests. This information helps you
understand the composition of your audience and tailor your content to
their preferences.
3. Engagement: Facebook Analytics provides detailed metrics on the
engagement of your page audience. You can analyze the number of post
likes, comments, shares, and reactions to understand which types of
content resonate the most with your audience. This helps you identify
trends and create more engaging content.
4. Retention: The retention analysis in Facebook Analytics enables you to
understand how engaged your audience is over time. You can track the
retention rate of your page audience, which shows the percentage of users
who continue to engage with your page over a specific time period. This
helps you assess the long-term impact of your content and identify
strategies for improving audience retention.
5. Lifetime Value: Facebook Analytics allows you to analyze the lifetime
value (LTV) of your page audience. This metric provides insights into the

62 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

revenue generated by your audience over their lifetime engagement with


your page. It helps you understand the financial impact of your audience
and optimize your strategies to increase their value.
6. Cohort Analysis: Facebook Analytics enables you to perform cohort
analysis, which involves grouping your audience based on specific
characteristics or behaviors. This helps you compare the engagement and
retention of different audience segments and identify patterns or trends.
7. Custom Audiences: Facebook Analytics allows you to create custom
audiences based on specific criteria, such as demographics, behaviors, or
engagement with your page. You can analyze the performance of these
custom audiences and gain insights into their behavior and preferences.

Reach and engagement analysis


Analyzing reach and engagement is crucial for understanding the effectiveness of
your content and the level of audience interaction on Facebook. Here’s how you
can analyze reach and engagement in Facebook Analytics:
1. Reach Analysis: Facebook Analytics provides insights into the reach of
your content, which refers to the number of unique users who have seen
your posts or ads. You can analyze reach by post type, time period, or
specific content categories to understand which posts are reaching the most
users. This helps you identify the reach patterns and optimize your content
strategy accordingly.
2. Engagement Analysis: Facebook Analytics offers various metrics to
analyze the engagement with your content. These metrics include post
likes, comments, shares, reactions, and clicks. By analyzing these
engagement metrics, you can identify the type of content that generates the
most interaction and resonates with your audience. This allows you to
refine your content strategy and create more engaging posts.
3. Top Performing Content: Facebook Analytics enables you to identify the
top-performing posts based on reach and engagement metrics. You can
analyze the characteristics of these posts, such as content format, topic, or
post timing, to understand what factors contribute to their success. This
information helps you replicate the success by creating similar content that
appeals to your audience.
4. Audience Segmentation: Facebook Analytics allows you to segment your
audience based on various criteria such as demographics, interests, or
behaviors. By analyzing reach and engagement metrics for different
audience segments, you can identify patterns and preferences specific to
each segment. This helps you personalize your content and targeting
strategies to maximize reach and engagement for each audience segment.
5. Time and Frequency Analysis: Analyzing reach and engagement metrics
over time helps you understand the performance patterns of your content.
You can identify the best days and times to post, as well as the optimal

63 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

posting frequency. This analysis helps you schedule your content


effectively to maximize reach and engagement.
6. Comparisons and Benchmarks: Facebook Analytics allows you to
compare your reach and engagement metrics with industry benchmarks or
with your own past performance. This helps you assess your performance
relative to others and set realistic goals for improvement.

Post-Performance on FB
Analyzing the performance of your Facebook posts is essential to understand how
well they resonate with your audience and achieve your goals. Here’s how you
can evaluate post-performance on Facebook:
1. Reach: Assessing the reach of your posts helps you understand the number
of people who have seen them. Facebook provides reach metrics such as
organic reach (the number of unique users who saw your post in their News
Feed) and paid reach (the number of users who saw your post through paid
advertising). Analyzing reach helps you gauge the overall visibility of your
posts.
2. Engagement: Engagement metrics measure how users interact with your
posts. These metrics include likes, comments, shares, and reactions.
Evaluating engagement helps you determine the level of audience
involvement and interest in your content. Posts with high engagement
indicate that they have captured the attention of your audience and sparked
conversations.
3. Clicks: Tracking the number of clicks on your posts provides insights into
the actions taken by users after viewing your content. This can include link
clicks, profile clicks, or clicks on multimedia elements like photos or
videos. Analyzing clicks helps you assess the effectiveness of your call-to-
action and the level of interest in your shared links or additional content.
4. Conversion: If your posts are intended to drive specific actions, such as
signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase, tracking conversions is
crucial. Facebook allows you to set up conversion tracking to measure the
number of users who completed desired actions after engaging with your
posts. This helps you understand the direct impact of your posts on
achieving your objectives.
5. Post Types and Formats: Analyzing the performance of different post
types and formats helps you identify which ones resonate most with your
audience. Facebook provides data on various post formats, such as text
posts, photos, videos, and links. By analyzing metrics like reach and
engagement for each post type, you can determine the content formats that
generate the highest levels of interaction.
6. Audience Insights: Facebook offers audience insights that provide
demographic information about the users who engage with your posts. This
includes data on age, gender, location, and interests. Understanding the

64 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

characteristics of your engaged audience helps you tailor your content to


better suit their preferences and interests.
7. Post Scheduling: Analyzing the performance of posts at different times
and days of the week helps you identify optimal posting times. Facebook
provides insights into when your audience is most active and receptive to
your content. By scheduling your posts strategically, you can maximize
reach and engagement.

Social Campaigns: Goals and evaluating outcomes, Measuring and


Analyzing

Social Campaigns:

Social campaigns refer to strategic marketing initiatives that are executed on


social media platforms to achieve specific goals. These campaigns can be
designed to raise brand awareness, increase engagement, drive website traffic,
generate leads, or promote specific products or services. Evaluating the outcomes
of social campaigns is crucial to measure their effectiveness and determine the
return on investment.

Breakdown of social campaigns, their goals, and how to evaluate their outcomes:
1. Campaign Goals: Clearly define the goals of your social campaign before
launching it. Common goals include increasing brand awareness, driving
website traffic, growing social media followers, generating leads,
promoting sales, or enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Each
goal requires different metrics and evaluation methods.
2. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Determine the KPIs that align with
your campaign goals. For example, if your goal is to increase brand
awareness, KPIs can include reach, impressions, and social media
mentions. If you aim to generate leads, KPIs may include click-through
rates, form submissions, or email sign-ups. Establishing relevant KPIs will
help you measure the success of your campaign.
3. Metrics and Tracking: Utilize social media analytics tools and tracking
mechanisms to collect relevant data and metrics. Social platforms often
provide built-in analytics dashboards that offer insights into post reach,
engagement, clicks, conversions, and other performance metrics.
Additionally, use UTM parameters or tracking links to monitor website
traffic and conversions originating from your social campaign.
4. Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data to evaluate the outcomes of
your social campaign. Compare the actual results with your predefined
goals and KPIs. Assess metrics such as reach, engagement, clicks,
conversions, lead quality, customer feedback, and revenue generated. Look

65 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

for patterns, trends, and correlations in the data to understand the impact
and effectiveness of your campaign.
5. Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the ROI of your social campaign
by comparing the costs incurred with the outcomes achieved. This can
include factors like ad spend, content creation costs, and staff time.
Calculate the monetary value of the outcomes, such as revenue generated
or cost per lead acquired, and compare it with the campaign costs to
determine the overall ROI.
6. Campaign Optimization: Use the insights gained from the evaluation
process to optimize future social campaigns. Identify what worked well
and what can be improved. Adjust your strategies, targeting, messaging,
and content based on the data analysis. Continuously monitor and refine
your campaigns to achieve better outcomes in subsequent iterations.

Measuring and Analyzing Social Campaigns


Measuring and analyzing social campaigns is essential to understand their
performance, effectiveness, and impact. Here are key steps to effectively measure
and analyze social campaigns:
1. Define Objectives and KPIs: Clearly define the objectives of your social
campaign, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic,
generating leads, or boosting sales. Based on the objectives, establish Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with your goals. For example,
KPIs can include reach, engagement, clicks, conversions, or customer
acquisition.
2. Implement Tracking Mechanisms: Utilize tracking tools and
technologies to gather relevant data. Social media platforms offer built-in
analytics dashboards that provide insights into campaign performance. Use
UTM parameters or tracking links to monitor traffic and conversions
originating from social campaigns. Implement conversion tracking pixels
or codes on your website to measure specific actions taken by users.
3. Monitor Reach and Engagement: Track the reach of your campaign,
which refers to the number of people who have seen your content. Analyze
engagement metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and click-through
rates to assess audience interaction and interest. Monitor the growth of your
social media following and the virality of your content.
4. Analyze Conversion and Sales Data: If your campaign aims to drive
conversions or sales, track and analyze the data related to these actions.
Monitor conversion rates, revenue generated, and return on ad spend
(ROAS). Connect your social campaign data with your CRM or e-
commerce platform to attribute sales and customer actions to specific
campaigns.
5. Audience Insights: Use social analytics tools to gain insights into your
target audience. Analyze demographic data such as age, gender, location,

66 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

and interests to understand who is engaging with your campaign. This


information can help you refine your targeting and tailor your messaging
to better resonate with your audience.
6. A/B Testing: Conduct A/B tests by creating variations of your campaign
elements, such as ad copy, visuals, or audience targeting. Compare the
performance of different versions to identify what resonates best with your
audience. A/B testing allows you to optimize your campaigns for better
results.
7. Reporting and Visualization: Create comprehensive reports that
showcase the performance of your social campaigns. Use data
visualization techniques to present the information in a clear and easily
understandable format. Include key metrics, trends, and insights to
communicate the effectiveness of your campaigns to stakeholders.
8. Continuous Optimization: Regularly review the performance data and
insights gained from your campaigns. Identify patterns, trends, and areas
for improvement. Adjust your strategies, targeting, messaging, or creative
elements based on the analysis. Continuously optimize your campaigns to
achieve better results and maximize return on investment.

Social Network Analysis like Instagram, twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube etc.


AdWords, Benchmarking :

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a valuable tool for understanding and


analyzing social networks on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn,
YouTube, and others. SNA involves studying the relationships, interactions, and
connections among individuals or entities within a network. Here’s how SNA can
be applied to these platforms:
1. Instagram: SNA on Instagram can involve analyzing follower networks,
identifying influencers and their impact on followers, mapping out
engagement patterns, and studying the flow of information through
comments and likes. It can help identify key nodes (popular accounts),
detect clusters or communities, and understand the spread of trends or
content.
2. Twitter: SNA on Twitter focuses on analyzing connections between users,
examining retweet patterns, identifying influential users and communities,
and studying information diffusion and sentiment analysis. It can provide
insights into user interactions, topic trends, and the formation of online
communities around specific hashtags or interests.
3. LinkedIn: SNA on LinkedIn can help uncover professional connections,
study collaboration networks, identify influential individuals within
industries or organizations, and analyze job market dynamics. It can
provide insights into career pathways, expertise distribution, and
networking patterns among professionals.

67 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

4. YouTube: SNA on YouTube involves analyzing subscriber networks,


identifying popular channels and content creators, studying viewer
engagement and comments, and understanding the spread of videos across
the platform. It can help identify influential YouTubers, explore
collaborations, and uncover audience preferences.

In addition to SNA, other techniques and tools can be used to enhance analysis:

1. AdWords: AdWords is a platform provided by Google for advertising on


various networks, including search engines and social media. It allows
businesses to track and analyze the performance of their ad campaigns,
including click-through rates, conversion rates, and return on investment.
By analyzing AdWords data, advertisers can optimize their campaigns and
improve targeting.
2. Benchmarking: Benchmarking involves comparing your performance
against industry standards or competitors. In the context of social media,
benchmarking can be used to compare engagement rates, follower growth,
reach, and other metrics with similar accounts or competitors. This helps
identify areas for improvement and set performance targets.

Categories of Traffic, Organic traffic, Paid traffic:

When analyzing website traffic, it is common to categorize it into different types


based on its source and acquisition methods. Two primary categories of traffic
are organic traffic and paid traffic.
Analyzing and understanding the different types of traffic is crucial for evaluating
the effectiveness of marketing strategies and optimizing website performance. By
monitoring organic and paid traffic metrics, businesses can gain insights into their
audience behavior, the effectiveness of their SEO and advertising efforts, and the
return on investment (ROI) from their marketing campaigns. This information
helps in making data-driven decisions to improve website visibility, attract
targeted visitors, and drive conversions.

Organic Traffic: Organic traffic refers to visitors who land on a website through
unpaid, natural search engine results. These visitors find the website by
conducting relevant searches using search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
Organic traffic is driven by the website’s search engine optimization (SEO)
efforts, including keyword optimization, content quality, and backlink building.
Organic traffic is considered valuable as it indicates that the website is attracting
visitors who have a genuine interest in its content or offerings.
Paid Traffic: Paid traffic refers to visitors who land on a website through paid
advertising efforts. This includes various online advertising methods such as pay-
per-click (PPC) campaigns, display ads, social media ads, sponsored content, and

68 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

influencer partnerships. Paid traffic allows businesses to target specific


demographics, keywords, or interests to reach their desired audience. It provides
immediate visibility and can be used to drive traffic to a website or specific
landing pages. Paid traffic is typically measured and analyzed based on metrics
like impressions, clicks, click-through rates (CTRs), and conversion rates.

Referral Traffic: Referral traffic refers to visitors who land on a website through
external sources, such as links from other websites, social media platforms, online
directories, or email marketing campaigns. Analyzing referral traffic helps
identify the sources that drive the most visitors to the website and can provide
insights into the effectiveness of partnerships, collaborations, or content
promotion strategies.

Direct Traffic: Direct traffic represents visitors who reach a website by directly
typing the website URL into their browser or through bookmarks. This category
includes users who are already familiar with the website or have it saved as a
favourite. Analyzing direct traffic helps understand brand recognition, user
loyalty, and the overall reputation of the website.

Social Media Traffic: Social media traffic refers specifically to visitors who
come to a website through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube. Social media analytics provide insights into
which platforms are driving the most traffic, the engagement levels of social
media users, and the impact of social media campaigns on website visits and
conversions.

Mobile Traffic: With the increasing use of mobile devices, it is important to


analyze traffic from mobile sources separately. Mobile traffic includes visitors
who access the website through smartphones or tablets. Understanding mobile
traffic helps optimize the website for mobile devices, improve user experience,
and tailor marketing efforts to mobile users’ preferences.

Geographic Traffic: Geographic traffic analysis involves examining the location


of website visitors. It provides insights into the regions or countries that generate
the most traffic, allowing businesses to target specific geographic areas for
localized marketing campaigns or identify opportunities for expansion.

Google Analytics, Brief introduction and working, Google website optimizer,


Implementation technology, Limitations, Performance concerns, Privacy issues

69 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google that allows


website owners and marketers to track and analyze various aspects of their
website’s performance. It provides valuable insights into user behavior, traffic
sources, conversion rates, and more. Here is a brief introduction to Google
Analytics, its working, and related aspects:

1. Introduction: Google Analytics helps businesses gain a better


understanding of their website visitors and how they interact with the
website. It offers a wide range of metrics and reports that can be used to
make data-driven decisions and optimize website performance.
2. Working: Google Analytics works by placing a tracking code snippet on
each page of the website. This code collects anonymous data about user
behavior, including pageviews, sessions, bounce rates, conversion rates,
and more. The data is sent to Google’s servers where it is processed and
organized into reports that can be accessed through the Google Analytics
interface.
3. Google Website Optimizer: Google Website Optimizer, now known as
Google Optimize, is a separate tool provided by Google that allows website
owners to conduct A/B testing and multivariate testing. It helps optimize
website design, content, and user experience by testing different variations
and measuring their impact on user engagement and conversions.
4. Implementation Technology: Google Analytics can be implemented
using JavaScript code snippets provided by Google. The code needs to be
placed in the website’s HTML pages or added through a tag management
system. There are also plugins and extensions available for popular content
management systems (CMS) that simplify the implementation process.
5. Limitations: While Google Analytics offers powerful insights, it does
have some limitations. For example, it relies on cookies to track user
interactions, so it may not accurately capture data from users who have
disabled cookies or use ad-blocking software. Additionally, it may not
provide real-time data and there may be a delay in data processing and
reporting.
6. Performance Concerns: Google Analytics can impact website
performance as it requires the loading of additional JavaScript code and
the transfer of data to Google’s servers. This can slow down website
loading times, especially if the website receives high levels of traffic.
Website owners should carefully consider the impact on performance and
implement optimizations if necessary.
7. Privacy Issues: Google Analytics collects and stores user data, including
IP addresses, which can raise privacy concerns. Website owners need to
ensure compliance with privacy regulations and display a privacy policy
that informs users about the data being collected and how it is used. Google

70 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

also provides options to anonymize IP addresses and offers data retention


controls to address privacy concerns.
8. Features and Reports: Google Analytics offers a wide range of features
and reports to analyze website data. These include audience demographics,
behavior flow, conversion tracking, goal setting, e-commerce tracking, and
more. Users can customize and filter the data to gain specific insights into
their website performance.
9. Integration with Other Tools: Google Analytics can be integrated with
other Google products, such as Google Ads and Google Search Console,
allowing for a more comprehensive view of marketing campaigns and
organic search performance. Integration with other analytics tools and
platforms is also possible through custom APIs and data export options.
10.Data Visualization: Google Analytics provides data visualization
features, including charts, graphs, and dashboards, to present data in a
visually appealing and easily understandable manner. This allows users to
quickly identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.
11.Multi-Channel Attribution: Google Analytics offers multi-channel
attribution models, which help measure the influence of various marketing
channels on conversions. It helps understand the customer journey across
different touchpoints and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing efforts.
12.Google Analytics Premium: In addition to the free version, Google offers
a premium version of Google Analytics called Google Analytics 360. This
version provides advanced features, increased data processing limits, and
enhanced support for larger businesses with more complex analytics needs.
13.Training and Support: Google provides extensive documentation,
tutorials, and online resources to help users understand and effectively use
Google Analytics. There are also training courses and certifications
available for individuals and organizations looking to enhance their
knowledge and expertise in using the tool.
14.Continuous Updates and Improvements: Google regularly updates and
improves Google Analytics, introducing new features, reports, and
capabilities. It is essential for users to stay updated with these changes to
take full advantage of the tool’s functionalities.
15.Compliance and Data Security: Google Analytics adheres to data
protection regulations and offers data privacy and security features. This
includes options to configure data retention periods, manage data sharing
settings, and comply with regulations like the General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR).

71 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Unit-5

Heuristic evaluations, Conducting a Heuristic evaluation, Benefits of


Heuristic evaluations:

Heuristic evaluation is a usability evaluation method used to assess the user


interface (UI) design of a website, application, or product. It involves a systematic
inspection of the interface by expert evaluators who identify usability problems
based on a set of predetermined heuristics or usability principles.
1. Purpose: The primary goal of a heuristic evaluation is to identify and
prioritize usability issues and design flaws in the interface. It helps uncover
potential problems that may affect user satisfaction, efficiency, and
effectiveness.
2. Heuristics: Heuristics are general principles or guidelines that are derived
from research and best practices in the field of usability. Commonly used
heuristics include visibility of system status, consistency and standards,
error prevention, user control and freedom, and more. Evaluators apply
these heuristics to evaluate the interface and identify deviations from best
practices.
3. Expert Evaluators: Heuristic evaluations are typically conducted by
usability experts or evaluators who have experience and expertise in
usability principles and evaluation methods. These evaluators perform a
thorough inspection of the interface, looking for violations of the heuristics
and usability issues.
4. Evaluation Process: During a heuristic evaluation, evaluators
systematically review the interface, often using a combination of
techniques such as walkthroughs, scenarios, and usability guidelines. They
identify potential usability problems and document them along with
recommendations for improvement.
5. Quick and Cost-Effective: Heuristic evaluations are generally quick and
cost-effective compared to other usability evaluation methods. They can
provide valuable insights into the usability of an interface, even with a
small number of evaluators.
6. Limitations: Heuristic evaluations have some limitations. They rely on the
expertise of the evaluators, so their effectiveness can vary depending on
the evaluators’ knowledge and experience. They may not capture all
usability issues and may not uncover problems that only arise in real-world
user interactions.
7. Iterative Process: Heuristic evaluations are often conducted iteratively,
meaning that multiple rounds of evaluations can be performed throughout
the design and development process. This allows for continuous
improvement and refinement of the interface based on the identified issues.

72 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

8. Complementary Method: Heuristic evaluations are often used in


combination with other usability evaluation methods, such as user testing
or expert reviews, to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the
interface’s usability.

Conducting a heuristic evaluation


Conducting a heuristic evaluation involves several steps to systematically assess
the usability of an interface. Here is a general framework for conducting a
heuristic evaluation:
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Heuristics: Before starting the evaluation,
become familiar with the set of heuristics or usability principles that will
guide your evaluation. Commonly used sets of heuristics include Nielsen’s
10 Usability Heuristics and Schneiderman’s Eight Golden Rules.
2. Understand the Context: Gain a clear understanding of the context in
which the interface is used. Consider factors such as the target users, their
goals, the tasks they need to accomplish, and any specific requirements or
constraints.
3. Review the Interface: Review the interface thoroughly, either by
accessing the actual product or using design mockups and prototypes.
Examine each screen, page, or component to evaluate its adherence to the
heuristics and identify potential usability issues.
4. Apply Heuristics: Apply the selected set of heuristics to evaluate the
interface. Consider each heuristic individually and assess whether the
interface violates or adheres to the principles. Note any areas where the
interface may need improvement.
5. Document Findings: Document the usability issues you have identified
along with a description of the problem and its impact on the user
experience. Include screenshots or examples to provide clarity and context.
Categorize the issues based on severity or priority.
6. Provide Recommendations: For each identified issue, provide
recommendations or suggestions for improving the interface. Offer
specific solutions or design changes that can address the usability
problems. Consider how the proposed changes align with the identified
heuristics.
7. Iterate and Review: Iterate the evaluation process if needed, conducting
additional rounds of evaluation to ensure thorough coverage of the
interface. If possible, involve multiple evaluators to increase the diversity
of perspectives and insights.
8. Communicate Results: Compile the findings, recommendations, and
supporting evidence into a comprehensive report or presentation. Clearly
communicate the identified issues, their impact on usability, and the
proposed solutions to stakeholders or the design team.

73 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

9. Collaborate and Discuss: Engage in discussions and collaboration with


the design team or stakeholders to prioritize the identified issues and agree
on action plans for improvement. Work together to implement the
recommended changes.
10.Monitor and Revaluate: After implementing the recommended changes,
monitor the interface’s usability and reassess its effectiveness. Conduct
further evaluations, such as user testing, to validate the improvements and
identify any new issues that may arise.

Benefits of Heuristic evaluations


1. Early Identification of Usability Issues: Heuristic evaluations can be
conducted during the design phase or even before the development stage.
This allows for the early identification of usability issues, helping to
address them before they become more costly and time-consuming to fix.
2. Cost-Effective: Heuristic evaluations are a relatively low-cost method
compared to other usability evaluation techniques like user testing. They
can be conducted by usability experts or even by individuals with basic
knowledge of usability principles, making it a cost-effective way to
identify potential issues.
3. Quick and Efficient: Heuristic evaluations can be conducted quickly,
providing rapid feedback on the usability of an interface. Evaluators can
review the interface based on established heuristics or guidelines, allowing
for a systematic evaluation process.
4. Objectivity and Consistency: Heuristic evaluations provide a structured
approach to assessing usability. By following established heuristics,
evaluators can maintain objectivity and consistency in identifying usability
issues across different interfaces or evaluators.
5. Early Input from Multiple Perspectives: Heuristic evaluations can
involve multiple evaluators with different backgrounds and expertise. This
allows for a diverse range of perspectives and insights, enhancing the
identification of usability issues and potential solutions.
6. Identifying Systemic Issues: Heuristic evaluations can uncover systemic
usability issues that affect the overall user experience. By examining the
interface holistically and considering the interactions between different
elements, evaluators can identify underlying patterns or design flaws that
may hinder usability.
7. Informing Design Improvements: The findings and recommendations
from heuristic evaluations provide valuable insights for design
improvements. They serve as a guide for refining the interface, addressing
usability issues, and enhancing the overall user experience.
8. Enhancing Usability Awareness: Heuristic evaluations help raise
awareness of usability principles and best practices among the design team
and stakeholders. By focusing on specific heuristics, evaluators and other

74 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

team members gain a better understanding of usability considerations,


which can inform future design decisions.
9. Iterative Design Process: Heuristic evaluations can be conducted
iteratively throughout the design and development process. The evaluation
results from one iteration can inform subsequent design iterations,
allowing for continuous improvement and refinement of the interface.
10.Complementary Method to User Testing: Heuristic evaluations can
complement other usability evaluation techniques like user testing. While
user testing provides valuable insights from real users, heuristic
evaluations can uncover usability issues that may not be immediately
apparent or may require expert evaluation.

Site Visits, Conducting a Site visit, Benefits of Site visits:

Conducting a site visit is an essential part of gathering first-hand information and


understanding the context of a physical location, facility, or organization. Site
visits provide an opportunity to observe, interact, and collect data directly from
the site, enabling a deeper understanding of the environment, processes, and
people involved.
1. Planning and Preparation: Before conducting a site visit, it is important
to plan and prepare adequately. This involves defining the purpose and
objectives of the visit, determining the specific areas or aspects to focus
on, and scheduling the visit in coordination with the site’s management or
relevant personnel. It may also involve obtaining necessary permissions or
clearances, ensuring the availability of required resources, and organizing
any necessary logistics.
2. Familiarization with the Site: Upon arrival at the site, it is crucial to take
some time to familiarize oneself with the surroundings. This includes
understanding the layout, infrastructure, facilities, and any relevant safety
or security protocols. By getting acquainted with the site, researchers or
visitors can navigate the premises more effectively and identify key areas
or points of interest for their observations or data collection.
3. Observations and Data Collection: One of the primary purposes of a site
visit is to make firsthand observations and collect relevant data. This can
involve various methods such as visual observation, interviews with site
personnel or stakeholders, surveys, photography, or video documentation.
The specific data collection methods will depend on the objectives of the
visit and the nature of the site. For example, in a manufacturing facility,
observations may focus on production processes, equipment usage, and
worker interactions, while in a retail store, attention may be given to
customer behavior, product placement, and staff-customer interactions.
4. Interactions and Interviews: Site visits offer a unique opportunity to
engage in direct interactions with site personnel, stakeholders, or visitors.

75 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

These interactions can provide valuable insights into the daily operations,
challenges, and successes of the site. Conducting interviews allows
researchers or visitors to gather qualitative data, gain deeper
understanding, and capture perspectives that may not be evident through
mere observations. Engaging in conversations can also help establish
rapport and build relationships with the people involved, which can further
facilitate data collection and information sharing.
5. Contextual Understanding: By physically being present at the site,
researchers or visitors can gain a contextual understanding that goes
beyond what can be learned from secondary sources or remote
observations. The ambiance, atmosphere, and physical surroundings of the
site contribute to a holistic understanding of the environment. This
contextual understanding helps researchers or visitors to better interpret
and analyze the data collected, as they can consider the physical and social
factors that may influence the observed phenomena.
6. Verification of Information: Site visits allow for the verification of
information obtained from other sources, such as documents, reports, or
online data. By directly observing and collecting data from the site,
researchers or visitors can confirm the accuracy and reliability of the
information they have gathered. This verification process helps ensure the
integrity of the data and enhances the validity of any conclusions or
findings derived from the site visit.
7. Identification of Challenges and Opportunities: During a site visit,
researchers or visitors often encounter challenges or obstacles that may not
have been apparent from remote observations or secondary information.
These challenges can include logistical issues, operational inefficiencies,
or unforeseen environmental factors. Identifying such challenges provides
an opportunity to propose recommendations or interventions that can
improve the site’s functioning. Conversely, site visits may also reveal
untapped opportunities or innovative practices that can be shared and
replicated in other contexts.
8. Rich and Contextual Data: The data collected during a site visit is
typically rich and contextual. It captures the nuances, complexities, and
real-life situations experienced at the site. This type of data provides a more
comprehensive understanding of the phenomena under study and allows
researchers or visitors to generate more accurate and meaningful insights.
The richness and contextual nature of the data obtained from a site visit
often make it highly valuable in research, planning, or decision-making
processes.
9. Enhanced Collaboration and Communication: Site visits can facilitate
collaboration and communication among stakeholders involved in the site
or project. By being physically present and engaging in direct interactions,
researchers, managers, or policymakers can establish stronger connections

76 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

with site personnel or stakeholders. This enhanced collaboration and


communication foster a sense of partnership and mutual understanding,
leading to more effective problem-solving, decision-making, and
implementation of initiatives.
10.Practical and Actionable Recommendations: Based on the data
collected and observations made during a site visit, researchers or visitors
can provide practical and actionable recommendations. These
recommendations are grounded in firsthand experiences and insights
gained from being on-site. They are often specific, relevant, and tailored to
the unique characteristics and challenges of the site. By offering practical
recommendations, site visits contribute to the development of effective
strategies, interventions, or improvements that can drive positive change
and enhance the performance of the site or organization.
Conducting a site visit offers numerous benefits in understanding the physical
environment, processes, and people involved in a specific location or
organization. Site visits provide opportunities for firsthand observations, data
collection, interactions, and contextual understanding. They contribute to the
generation of rich and contextual data, verification of information, identification
of challenges and opportunities, and the development of practical
recommendations. By leveraging the benefits of site visits, researchers,
managers, or policymakers can make informed decisions, improve processes, and
drive positive change in various domains.

Website Surveys, Post-visit Surveys, Creating and Running a Survey,


Benefits of Surveys:

Website surveys are a valuable tool for gathering feedback and insights from
website visitors. They involve presenting users with a series of questions or
prompts, typically in the form of pop-up or embedded survey forms, to collect
their opinions, preferences, and suggestions regarding the website’s content,
design, functionality, or overall user experience.
Website surveys provide website owners with direct insights from their visitors,
helping them make data-driven decisions and improve the overall user
experience. By implementing well-designed surveys, analyzing the collected
data, and taking action based on the feedback received, websites can enhance
their performance, increase user satisfaction, and drive business growth.
1. Purpose: The primary purpose of website surveys is to gather user
feedback and understand their needs and preferences. Surveys can help
website owners or managers identify areas of improvement, uncover
usability issues, gather customer insights, measure customer satisfaction,
or gauge the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

77 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

2. Types of Surveys: There are various types of website surveys that can be
implemented, depending on the specific objectives and target audience.
These include customer satisfaction surveys, usability surveys, post-
purchase surveys, exit surveys, net promoter score (NPS) surveys, and
more. Each type of survey focuses on different aspects of the user
experience and provides specific insights.
3. Survey Design: Effective survey design is crucial for maximizing
participation and obtaining meaningful responses. Surveys should be
concise, clear, and easy to understand. They should use a mix of question
types, including multiple-choice, rating scales, open-ended questions, and
demographic questions. Visual elements such as branding, colors, and
images can also be incorporated to enhance the survey experience and align
with the website’s design.
4. Timing and Placement: The timing and placement of website surveys are
important considerations. Surveys can be triggered upon specific user
actions, such as after a purchase, at the end of a browsing session, or upon
exit intent. Pop-up surveys should be strategically placed to avoid
interrupting the user’s flow or causing annoyance. Alternatively,
embedded surveys can be placed within specific website pages or sections
to gather feedback related to the content or functionality of those areas.
5. Data Analysis: Once survey responses are collected, data analysis is
required to make sense of the feedback. This involves aggregating and
organizing the responses, conducting quantitative analysis of rating scales
or multiple-choice questions, and performing qualitative analysis of open-
ended responses. Data analysis can help identify trends, patterns, and
common themes, allowing website owners to draw meaningful conclusions
and make informed decisions for website improvements.
6. Continuous Improvement: Website surveys are not a one-time endeavor.
To maximize their effectiveness, it is important to establish a feedback loop
and use the insights gained to drive continuous improvement. Regularly
reviewing survey results, identifying key areas for enhancement, and
implementing changes based on user feedback will help create a user-
centered website experience.
7. Privacy and Consent: It is essential to consider user privacy and obtain
proper consent when conducting website surveys. Ensure compliance with
applicable data protection regulations and clearly communicate how the
collected data will be used. Offer users the option to provide anonymous
feedback if desired, and provide a privacy policy that outlines data
handling practices.

Post-visit surveys
Post-visit surveys are a valuable tool for gathering feedback from website visitors
after they have interacted with a website or completed a specific action. These

78 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

surveys aim to capture users’ impressions, experiences, and satisfaction levels


immediately following their visit. Here are some key points to understand about
post-visit surveys:
1. Purpose: The primary purpose of post-visit surveys is to gather feedback
and insights about users’ experiences on the website. These surveys help
website owners or managers understand how visitors perceive the
website’s usability, content, design, and overall user experience. They can
also provide insights into specific actions taken by users, such as
completing a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or submitting a form.
2. Timing and Delivery: Post-visit surveys are typically triggered
immediately after the user completes a specific action or leaves the
website. This ensures that the user’s experience is fresh in their mind,
leading to more accurate and detailed responses. Surveys can be delivered
through various channels, including pop-up windows, email invitations, or
embedded survey forms within the website.
3. Survey Design: Effective survey design is crucial for maximizing
response rates and obtaining valuable feedback. Post-visit surveys should
be concise, engaging, and user-friendly. They should include a mix of
question types, such as multiple-choice, rating scales, and open-ended
questions, to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. It is important
to strike a balance between the length of the survey and the time it takes
for users to complete it, to encourage participation.
4. Key Questions: Post-visit surveys should focus on key aspects of the user
experience, such as website navigation, content relevance, ease of
completing tasks, and overall satisfaction. Key questions may include
rating scales to measure satisfaction levels, yes/no questions to gauge
specific actions taken, and open-ended questions to capture detailed
feedback or suggestions for improvement. It is important to prioritize
questions based on the website’s goals and objectives.
5. Data Analysis: Once the post-visit survey responses are collected, data
analysis is required to derive insights and actionable recommendations.
Data analysis may involve aggregating and summarizing the quantitative
responses, identifying trends or patterns, and conducting qualitative
analysis of the open-ended feedback. Analyzing the survey data helps
identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, enabling
website owners to make informed decisions.
6. Continuous Improvement: Post-visit surveys should be part of an
iterative process for continuous improvement. By regularly reviewing
survey results, identifying recurring issues or pain points, and
implementing changes based on user feedback, website owners can
enhance the user experience and optimize website performance over time.
7. Incentives and Participation: To encourage participation in post-visit
surveys, offering incentives such as discounts, giveaways, or exclusive

79 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

content can be considered. Additionally, ensuring that the survey process


is seamless, mobile-friendly, and easily accessible will contribute to higher
response rates.

Creating and Running a Survey


Creating and running a survey involves several key steps to ensure that the survey
is effective in gathering the desired information. Here’s a step-by-step guide on
how to create and run a survey:
1. Define the Objective: Start by clearly defining the objective of your
survey. Determine what specific information you want to gather and how
it will be used to inform decision-making or gain insights.
2. Identify the Target Audience: Identify the specific group of individuals
or participants who will be the focus of your survey. Consider factors such
as demographics, behavior, or specific characteristics that align with your
objective.
3. Select a Survey Tool: Choose a survey tool or platform that suits your
needs. There are many options available, both free and paid, such as
Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Typeform, or Qualtrics. Consider features
like question types, survey logic, customization options, and data analysis
capabilities.
4. Design the Survey: Create the survey questionnaire by carefully crafting
each question. Use a mix of question types such as multiple-choice, rating
scales, open-ended, or Likert scales to gather quantitative and qualitative
data. Ensure that the questions are clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Pay attention to the flow and order of the questions to maintain a logical
sequence.
5. Test the Survey: Before launching the survey, conduct a test run to
identify any issues or errors. Invite a small group of individuals who
represent your target audience to test the survey and provide feedback on
the clarity of questions, survey length, and overall user experience. Make
necessary revisions based on their feedback.
6. Determine the Sample Size: Determine the desired sample size for your
survey. This will depend on factors such as the population size, level of
confidence required, and margin of error acceptable. Use sample size
calculators or consult statistical resources to determine the appropriate
sample size for your survey.
7. Distribute the Survey: Choose the most appropriate distribution method
to reach your target audience. This could include email invitations, social
media promotion, embedding the survey on your website, or using other
communication channels. Ensure that the survey link is easily accessible
and convenient for participants to complete.
8. Monitor and Track Responses: Keep track of the responses as they come
in. Most survey tools provide real- time reporting and analytics dashboards

80 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

that allow you to monitor the progress of the survey and track response
rates. Regularly check for incomplete or partial responses and follow up if
necessary.
9. Analyze the Data: Once the survey has concluded, analyze the collected
data to extract meaningful insights. Use appropriate statistical techniques
and data visualization tools to identify trends, patterns, correlations, and
any significant findings. Consider using tools like Excel, SPSS, or
dedicated survey platforms’ built-in analysis features.
10.Interpret and Act on Findings: Interpret the survey results in the context
of your objective and research question. Identify key findings, draw
conclusions, and consider the implications for decision-making or future
actions. Use the survey findings to inform strategies, improve products or
services, or address any identified issues.
11.Maintain Confidentiality and Privacy: Ensure that survey responses and
participant information are handled with strict confidentiality and comply
with data protection regulations. Clearly communicate the purpose of data
collection, how the data will be used, and provide an option for participants
to withdraw their consent if needed.
12.Communicate Results: Share the survey results with relevant
stakeholders, such as team members, executives, or clients. Prepare a
comprehensive report or presentation highlighting the key findings, trends,
and actionable recommendations. Use visual aids and storytelling
techniques to effectively communicate the insights.

Benefits of Surveys
Surveys offer numerous benefits for individuals, organizations, and researchers.
Here are some key benefits of conducting surveys:
1. Gather Insights: Surveys provide a systematic and efficient way to collect
information and gather insights from a specific target audience. They allow
you to explore opinions, attitudes, preferences, behaviors, and other
relevant data that can inform decision-making and strategy development.
2. Measure Satisfaction and Feedback: Surveys are valuable tools for
measuring customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, or gathering
feedback on products, services, or experiences. They help organizations
understand the strengths and weaknesses of their offerings and identify
areas for improvement.
3. Make Data-Driven Decisions: Surveys provide quantitative and
qualitative data that can be analyzed to generate meaningful insights. These
insights, in turn, support evidence-based decision-making. Surveys allow
you to identify trends, patterns, and correlations that can guide strategies,
policies, and resource allocation.
4. Assess Needs and Preferences: Surveys enable you to assess the needs,
preferences, and expectations of your target audience. By understanding

81 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

their preferences and requirements, you can tailor your offerings to better
meet their needs and enhance customer satisfaction.
5. Test Concepts and Ideas: Surveys can be used to test new concepts, ideas,
or prototypes before launching them in the market. By soliciting feedback
through surveys, organizations can gauge the potential acceptance or
viability of new products, services, or initiatives.
6. Track Changes over Time: Surveys conducted at regular intervals allow
you to track changes and trends over time. This longitudinal data can
provide valuable insights into shifts in customer behavior, market
dynamics, or employee satisfaction levels.
7. Identify Customer Segments: Surveys help identify different customer
segments based on demographic, psychographic, or behavioral
characteristics. This segmentation allows for targeted marketing strategies,
personalized communication, and improved customer relationship
management.
8. Validate Hypotheses: Surveys are useful for testing hypotheses or
assumptions about customer behavior, preferences, or market trends. They
allow researchers to gather empirical evidence and validate or refine their
hypotheses based on the survey results.
9. Benchmark Performance: Surveys can be used to benchmark
performance against industry standards or competitors. By comparing
survey results with industry averages or key competitors, organizations can
gain insights into their relative performance and identify areas where they
can excel or improve.
10.Enhance Communication and Engagement: Surveys provide an
opportunity to engage with customers, employees, or stakeholders and
foster a sense of involvement. By soliciting their opinions and feedback,
organizations demonstrate that they value their input and are committed to
continuous improvement.
11.Generate New Ideas: Surveys can be designed to include open-ended
questions that encourage participants to share their ideas, suggestions, or
innovative solutions. This can lead to the generation of new ideas and
insights that may not have been considered otherwise.
12.Measure ROI: Surveys can be used to measure the return on investment
(ROI) of marketing campaigns, training programs, or other initiatives. By
collecting data on key metrics before and after the intervention,
organizations can assess the impact and effectiveness of their efforts.

Web analytics 1.0 & its Limitations:

Web Analytics 1.0 refers to the early stage of web analytics, primarily focused
on tracking website metrics such as
page views, unique visitors, and click-through rates.

82 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

It’s important to note that Web Analytics 1.0 served as a foundation for the
evolution of more advanced analytics approaches, such as Web Analytics 2.0 and
beyond. These newer versions address many of the limitations of Web Analytics
1.0 by providing more sophisticated data collection methods, advanced analytics
techniques, and a focus on user-centric insights.
While Web Analytics 1.0 provided valuable insights into website performance, it
had several limitations:
1. Limited Data Depth: Web Analytics 1.0 primarily focused on basic
metrics that provided a surface-level understanding of website
performance. It lacked the ability to provide deeper insights into user
behavior, preferences, and interactions.
2. Lack of Contextual Information: Web Analytics 1.0 often failed to
provide contextual information about user actions and motivations. It
didn’t capture the full customer journey or provide insights into the reasons
behind specific user behaviors.
3. Siloed Data: In Web Analytics 1.0, data was typically stored in separate,
disconnected systems. This made it challenging to integrate data from
multiple sources and obtain a holistic view of user behavior across different
channels and touchpoints.
4. Lack of Real-Time Insights: Web Analytics 1.0 operated on a batch
processing model, with data updates occurring at intervals. This meant that
real-time insights into user behavior and website performance were limited
or unavailable.
5. Incomplete Attribution: Web Analytics 1.0 struggled to accurately
attribute conversions and outcomes to specific marketing channels or
touchpoints. It often relied on last-click attribution, failing to account for
the entire customer journey and the influence of multiple interactions.
6. Focus on Vanity Metrics: Web Analytics 1.0 tended to prioritize vanity
metrics, such as page views and visitor counts, which didn’t always align
with meaningful business outcomes. This led to a limited understanding of
the true impact of website performance on business success.
7. Limited Customization: Web Analytics 1.0 provided limited
customization options, making it challenging for businesses to tailor the
analytics to their specific needs and goals. The lack of flexibility restricted
the ability to gain meaningful insights and measure relevant metrics.
8. Lack of User-Centric Approach: Web Analytics 1.0 focused primarily
on website-centric metrics and didn’t place enough emphasis on
understanding the needs, preferences, and behaviors of individual users.
This limited the ability to personalize experiences and optimize for user
satisfaction.
9. Privacy Concerns: Web Analytics 1.0 faced increasing privacy concerns,
particularly with the use of cookies and the tracking of personally

83 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

identifiable information. This resulted in challenges around data collection


and user consent.

Introduction to WA 2.0:

Web Analytics 2.0 goes beyond traditional website-centric metrics and focuses
on understanding the behavior, preferences, and needs of individual users. It
emphasizes the importance of context, real-time insights, and a holistic view of
the customer journey. With Web Analytics 2.0, businesses can gain a deeper
understanding of user interactions, optimize their online presence, and drive
meaningful outcomes.

Features of Web Analytics 2.0:

User-Centric Focus: Web Analytics 2.0 shifts the focus from tracking aggregate
data to understanding individual users. It emphasizes the importance of
personalization, segmentation, and targeting to provide relevant and tailored
experiences.

Multichannel Tracking: Web Analytics 2.0 acknowledges that user interactions


happen across multiple channels and touchpoints. It enables businesses to track
and analyze user behavior across websites, social media, mobile apps, email
campaigns, and other digital channels.

Real-Time Insights: Web Analytics 2.0 leverages real-time data processing and
visualization techniques to provide up-to-date insights into user behavior. This
enables businesses to respond quickly to changes, identify trends, and make data-
driven decisions in real-time.

Advanced Analytics Techniques: Web Analytics 2.0 embraces advanced


analytics techniques such as predictive analytics, machine learning, and artificial
intelligence. These techniques allow for sophisticated analysis, pattern
recognition, and predictive modeling to uncover hidden insights and trends.
Attribution Modeling: Web Analytics 2.0 takes a more comprehensive approach
to attribution by considering multiple touchpoints along the customer journey. It
enables businesses to understand the impact of various marketing channels and
interactions on conversions and outcomes.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) Analysis: Web Analytics 2.0 recognizes the
importance of customer retention and long-term value. It enables businesses to
measure and analyze customer lifetime value, identify high-value segments, and
tailor marketing efforts to maximize customer engagement and loyalty.

84 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Methods and Tools in Web Analytics 2.0:


Data Collection: Web Analytics 2.0 utilizes various methods to collect data,
including cookies, tags, pixels, APIs, and data integrations. These methods
capture user interactions, demographics, interests, and other relevant data points
to create a comprehensive user profile.

Data Integration: Web Analytics 2.0 integrates data from multiple sources, such
as websites, social media platforms, CRM systems, and third-party data
providers. This integration enables a unified view of user behavior across
channels and facilitates deeper analysis.

Advanced Segmentation: Web Analytics 2.0 employs advanced segmentation


techniques to categorize users based on various attributes, such as demographics,
behavior, interests, and engagement. This allows businesses to target specific
segments with personalized content and marketing campaigns.

A/B Testing and Experimentation: Web Analytics 2.0 emphasizes the use of
A/B testing and experimentation to optimize website design, content, and user
experience. It enables businesses to test different variations and measure the
impact on user behavior and conversions.

Data Visualization: Web Analytics 2.0 leverages data visualization tools and
techniques to present data in a meaningful and actionable format. Visualizations
such as dashboards, charts, and heatmaps help businesses understand complex
data patterns and communicate insights effectively.
Benefits of Web Analytics 2.0:

Deeper User Insights: Web Analytics 2.0 provides a deeper understanding of


user behavior, preferences, and needs. This enables businesses to tailor their
offerings, personalize experiences, and improve customer satisfaction.

Enhanced Marketing Effectiveness: Web Analytics 2.0 allows businesses to


measure the impact of their marketing efforts across different channels. It enables
them to optimize campaigns, allocate resources effectively, and improve ROI.

Improved Conversion Rates: With Web Analytics 2.0, businesses can identify
bottlenecks in the conversion funnel and make data-driven optimizations to
improve conversion rates. They can understand the factors influencing
conversions and take action to address them.

Real-Time Decision Making: Web Analytics 2.0 provides real-time insights,


enabling businesses to make timely and informed decisions. They can respond

85 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

quickly to changing trends, adjust marketing strategies, and seize opportunities


as they arise.

Better Customer Retention: Web Analytics 2.0 helps businesses identify and
understand their most valuable customers. By analyzing customer lifetime value
and engagement metrics, businesses can implement targeted retention strategies
and build long-term customer relationships.

Competitive Advantage: Adopting Web Analytics 2.0 gives businesses a


competitive edge. By harnessing the power of advanced analytics and user-
centric insights, businesses can outperform their competitors, innovate more
effectively, and stay ahead in the market.

Limitations and Challenges of Web Analytics 2.0:

Data Privacy and Ethics: Web Analytics 2.0 raises concerns about data privacy
and the ethical use of user data. Businesses must comply with regulations, obtain
proper consent, and ensure the security of user information.

Data Accuracy and Quality: Web Analytics 2.0 relies on accurate and high-
quality data for meaningful insights. However, data discrepancies, data silos, and
incomplete data can affect the accuracy and reliability of analysis.

Technical Infrastructure: Implementing Web Analytics 2.0 requires robust


technical infrastructure, including data storage, processing capabilities, and
integration with various data sources. Organizations need to invest in the right
technology and resources to support advanced analytics.

Skill Set and Expertise: Web Analytics 2.0 requires a skilled team with expertise
in data analysis, statistics, and advanced analytics techniques. Businesses need to
invest in training and hiring talent to leverage the full potential of Web Analytics
2.0.

Competitive Intelligence Analysis and Data Sources:

Competitive intelligence analysis is the process of gathering, analyzing, and


interpreting data about competitors to gain insights and make informed business
decisions. It involves collecting information about competitors’ strategies,
products, pricing, marketing campaigns, and market positioning. By conducting
thorough competitive intelligence analysis, businesses can identify opportunities,
assess market trends, and stay ahead of the competition. In this article, we will
explore the importance of competitive intelligence analysis and discuss various
data sources used in the process.

86 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

Importance of Competitive Intelligence Analysis:


Competitive intelligence analysis provides several key benefits for businesses:
1. Market Understanding: Competitive intelligence analysis helps
businesses gain a comprehensive understanding of their market landscape.
By analyzing competitors’ activities, businesses can identify market
trends, customer preferences, and potential gaps in the market.
2. Strategic Planning: By studying competitors’ strategies and market
positioning, businesses can formulate effective strategies to differentiate
themselves and gain a competitive edge. Competitive intelligence analysis
informs strategic decision-making and enables businesses to align their
actions with market dynamics.
3. Product Development: By analyzing competitors’ products and
innovations, businesses can identify opportunities for product
improvement and development. Competitive intelligence analysis helps
businesses stay up-to-date with industry trends and consumer demands.
4. Pricing and Positioning: Understanding competitors’ pricing strategies
and market positioning allows businesses to make informed decisions
about their own pricing and positioning. Competitive intelligence analysis
helps businesses set competitive prices and differentiate their products
effectively.
5. Marketing Campaigns: By analyzing competitors’ marketing campaigns
and messaging, businesses can identify successful tactics and avoid
potential pitfalls. Competitive intelligence analysis helps businesses create
more effective marketing campaigns and reach their target audience.
6. Risk Mitigation: Competitive intelligence analysis enables businesses to
anticipate competitive threats and risks. By understanding competitors’
strengths and weaknesses, businesses can proactively mitigate risks and
develop contingency plans.

Data Sources for Competitive Intelligence Analysis:


To conduct a comprehensive competitive intelligence analysis, businesses rely on
a variety of data sources. These sources provide valuable insights into
competitors’ activities, market trends, and industry dynamics. Here are some
common data sources used in competitive intelligence analysis:

1. Publicly Available Information: Publicly available information includes


sources such as competitor websites, press releases, news articles, industry
reports, and regulatory filings. These sources provide information about
competitors’ products, services, financial performance, and market
developments.
2. Social Media Monitoring: Monitoring competitors’ social media
accounts allows businesses to gain insights into their marketing campaigns,
customer interactions, and brand reputation. Social media platforms

87 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

provide a wealth of real-time data that can be analyzed for competitive


intelligence purposes.
3. Customer Feedback and Reviews: Analyzing customer feedback,
reviews, and ratings of competitors’ products or services can provide
valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses. Online platforms like
review websites, forums, and social media platforms are excellent sources
for gathering customer sentiment data.
4. Trade Shows and Conferences: Attending industry-specific trade shows
and conferences provides an opportunity to gather information about
competitors’ latest products, technologies, and marketing strategies.
Observing competitors’ presentations, booth designs, and interactions with
customers can offer valuable insights.
5. Supplier and Partner Networks: Building relationships with suppliers
and partners in the industry can provide access to valuable information
about competitors. Suppliers and partners may have insights into
competitors’ purchasing patterns, production processes, and market
strategies.
6. Primary Research: Primary research involves conducting surveys,
interviews, or focus groups with industry experts, customers, and
stakeholders. This firsthand information can provide unique insights into
competitors’ strategies, customer preferences, and market dynamics.
7. Web Analytics: Web analytics tools provide data on competitors’ website
traffic, visitor behavior, and conversion rates. By analyzing this data,
businesses can gain insights into competitors’ online presence, user
experience, and digital marketing strategies.
8. Industry Associations and Trade Publications: Industry associations
and trade publications often publish reports, studies, and industry insights
that can be valuable sources of competitive intelligence. These sources
provide industry-specific data, market trends, and expert opinions.

Limitations and Challenges:


While competitive intelligence analysis offers numerous benefits, it also comes
with some limitations and challenges:
1. Data Accuracy and Reliability: Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of
the data sources used in competitive intelligence analysis can be
challenging. Information obtained from various sources may be outdated,
biased, or incomplete. Validating and cross-referencing data is essential to
ensure its accuracy.
2. Data Overload: The abundance of data available for competitive
intelligence analysis can lead to information overload. It is crucial to have
efficient data management and analysis processes in place to extract
meaningful insights from the vast amount of data collected.

88 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

3. Ethical Considerations: Competitive intelligence analysis should be


conducted ethically and within legal boundaries. Gathering information
through unethical means, such as hacking or illegal surveillance, is strictly
prohibited. It is important to adhere to ethical guidelines and respect
competitors’ rights.
4. Competitive Reaction: Competitors may become aware of the efforts to
gather competitive intelligence and take defensive measures. They may
alter their strategies or intentionally mislead competitors, making it
challenging to obtain accurate information.
5. Rapidly Changing Landscape: Industries and markets are constantly
evolving, and competitors’ strategies can change rapidly. It is essential to
regularly update competitive intelligence data to stay up-to-date with the
latest developments.

Website Traffic Analysis, Traffic trends, Site overlap and Opportunities:

Website traffic analysis is the process of examining and understanding the traffic
patterns and behavior of visitors on a website. It involves gathering and analyzing
data to gain insights into the performance of a website, understand visitor
preferences, and identify opportunities for improvement. In this article, we will
explore traffic trends, site overlap, and opportunities in website traffic analysis.

Traffic Trends:
Analyzing traffic trends helps businesses understand how their website is
performing over a specific period. By examining patterns and changes in traffic,
businesses can identify growth opportunities and make informed decisions. Here
are some key aspects of traffic trends analysis:
1. Overall Traffic Volume: Monitoring the total number of visits or sessions on
a website provides an overview of its popularity and reach. Tracking the overall
traffic volume helps businesses assess the effectiveness of their marketing efforts
and evaluate the impact of promotional campaigns.
2. Traffic Sources: Analyzing the sources of website traffic is essential for
understanding how visitors find and access the site. This includes organic search
traffic, direct traffic, referral traffic, and paid traffic. By evaluating traffic
sources, businesses can optimize their marketing strategies and allocate resources
effectively.
3. Seasonal and Cyclical Patterns: Many websites experience seasonal or
cyclical fluctuations in traffic. Understanding these patterns helps businesses plan
and adjust their marketing activities accordingly. For example, an e-commerce
site may experience increased traffic during holiday seasons, and a travel website
may see higher traffic during vacation periods.
4. Traffic by Device: Analyzing traffic by device (desktop, mobile, tablet)
provides insights into the preferences and behaviors of visitors. Businesses can

89 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

optimize their website design and user experience based on the predominant
device used by their target audience.

Site Overlap:
Site overlap analysis involves comparing the traffic of multiple websites to
identify common visitors and understand the competitive landscape. It helps
businesses gain insights into their market position, identify potential partnerships
or collaborations, and benchmark their performance against competitors. Here are
some aspects of site overlap analysis:
1. Competitor Analysis: By analyzing site overlap with competitors, businesses
can understand their market share and identify opportunities for growth.
Comparing traffic patterns, audience demographics, and engagement metrics
helps businesses assess their competitive position and refine their strategies.
2. Audience Insights: Site overlap analysis provides valuable audience insights
by identifying websites that attract a similar audience. By understanding the
websites that share a significant number of visitors, businesses can target their
marketing efforts more effectively and identify potential partnership
opportunities.
3. Content and Keyword Analysis: Analyzing the content and keywords that
overlap between websites helps businesses identify popular topics, keywords, and
trends in their industry. This information can be used to develop content
strategies, improve search engine optimization (SEO), and attract a larger share
of the target audience.

Opportunities:
Website traffic analysis also helps businesses identify opportunities for
improvement and growth. By examining visitor behavior, engagement metrics,
and conversion rates, businesses can optimize their website and marketing
strategies. Here are some key opportunities to consider:
1. User Experience Optimization: Analyzing visitor behavior, such as bounce
rates, time spent on site, and page views per session, helps identify areas for
improving the user experience. Businesses can enhance website navigation, page
load times, and content relevance to increase visitor engagement and reduce
bounce rates.
2. Conversion Rate Optimization: Analyzing conversion rates and identifying
bottlenecks in the conversion funnel helps businesses improve their website’s
ability to convert visitors into customers. By identifying barriers or friction
points, businesses can implement targeted strategies to increase conversion rates
and drive revenue growth.
3. Content Strategy Enhancement: By analyzing the performance of different
content types, businesses can refine their content strategy. Identifying high-
performing content helps businesses focus on creating more engaging and
valuable content that resonates with their target audience.

90 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha


Social Media and Web Analytics

4. Audience Segmentation: Analyzing visitor demographics, interests, and


behavior helps businesses segment their audience and personalize their marketing
efforts. By tailoring content, offers, and promotions to specific audience
segments, businesses can improve engagement and conversion rates.

91 Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha

You might also like