Have you ever thought about getting Google Analytics certification? If you have, do you know where to start? Google Analytics is currently offering a free certification program through its Google Academy. With Google Analytics, you can improve the metrics of your website. In other words, you can make your website more successful. Do want to learn more about the Google Analytics training program? This article will walk you through the process of getting a Google Analytics certification.
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What is Google Analytics?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a free website analysis service. A website analysis service is a tool that allows you to measure the metrics of your website. Google Analytics, despite being free, tracks website activity such as session duration, bounce rate, and visitor demographics. For any newcomer who has created an online business for the first time, Google Analytics is a great place to start. Moreover, Google Analytics is still beneficial to business owners with prior website analysis experience. However, Google offers a premium analytics service called Google Analytics 360. It has a wider range of services and operates on a tier-based pricing system. We recommend this service to those who can afford it and have more ambiguous marketing plans.
Google Academy
Google Academy, more commonly known as Skillshop, is a Google training platform. Skillshop offers various programs such as Google Ad Manager, Google My Business, and Analytics Academy. As with all Google Academy programs, you can complete the Google Analytics training at your own pace. Equally important, it only takes about five hours to complete a course. Another key point is you can get certified in Google Analytics more than once. Google offers a Google Analytics for Beginners certification as well as an Advanced Google Analytics certification.
Google Analytics for Beginners
For those who are new to web analytics, the Google Analytics for Beginners certification will be a great introduction. The course consists of videos, additional readings, and multiple-choice tests after each unit. Moreover, there are interactive lessons that will walk you through certain processes. For example, this course will teach you how to set up a Google Analytics account, provide a demo of an actual account so you can experiment with settings, and give guided tours on how to use certain metrics.
Units for Beginners
Currently, there are four units: Introducing Google Analytics, The Google Analytics Interface, Basic Reports, and Basic Conversion Tracking. Each unit has an average of four separate sections that expand on Google Analytics. The exam is free and is made up of 70 randomized multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need to score an 80% or better. The certificate is valid for 12 months, but it’s not necessary to have to be able to use Google Analytics.
Advanced Google Analytics
Advanced Google Analytics operates under a similar educational structure to Google Analytics for Beginners. The course consists of videos, additional readings, interactive lessons, and multiple-choice tests. There are four units: Data Collection and Processing, Setting Up Data Collection and Configuration, Advanced Analysis Tools and Techniques, and Advanced Marketing Tools. Each unit has an average of four separate sections. Similar to Google Analytics for Beginners, you’ll need at least an 80% to pass the exam. There are 70 questions on the test and the certificate is valid for 12 months; however, you don’t need to have an up-to-date certification to use the advanced version of Google Analytics. Advanced Google Analytics focuses on data collection. Unlike the beginner’s course, you’ll learn how to utilize advanced visitor tracking filters, metrics, and settings. This course would be ideal for individuals who want greater control of their website’s analytic management.
Other Google Academy Courses
Google’s Analytics Academy offers classes that go beyond basic web analytics. Currently, there are six classes to choose from in total; however, four of the classes are supplementary. To clarify, you should have a profound understanding of Google Analytics or have a Google Analytics certificate to take the other four courses.
Google Analytics for Power Users
The Analytics Academy recommends that you complete Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics before you start this course. Google Analytics for Power Users focuses on conversions. In website analytics, a conversion occurs when a web visitor completes a desired action. For example, a visitor subscribing to a mailing list or buying a product will count as a conversion. There are four units in this course: Understand Users, Attract High-Value Traffic, Improve Site Engagement, and Improve Product Performance. This course will be ideal for those who want to have a better understanding of their audience. Moreover, this course will help you increase your website’s conversion rate as well as improve its e-commerce performance.
Getting Started with Google Analytics 360
Similar to Google Analytics for Power Users, the Analytics Academy recommends that you complete Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics first. This course covers topics such as Roll-Up Reporting, Unsampled Reports, Custom Tables, Google Ad Manager, and Custom Funnels. To clarify, Google Analytics 360 will teach you how to improve your website’s performance. However, unlike the previous courses, this course is longer and more complicated. We recommend this course to those who already have experience with Google Analytics. There are seven units in this course: Introducing Google Analytics 360, BigQuery/GA360 Integration, Google Marketing Platform/GA360 Integrations, Campaign Manager/GA360 Integration, Display & Video 360/GA360 Integration, Search Ads 360/GA360 Integration, and Google Ad Manager/GA360 Integration.
Introduction to Data Studio
Unlike Google Analytics for Power Users and Google Analytics 360, you don’t have to take the previous Google Analytics courses. Nonetheless, we recommend that you have some experience or knowledge with web analytics beforehand. Data Studio concentrates on data connection, report creation, and team collaboration. We recommend this course to business owners, data analysts, and marketers. There are four units in this course: Welcome to Data Studio, Navigate Data Studio, Build Your First Report, and Format and Design Reports.
Google Tag Manager Fundamentals
Google Tag Manager doesn’t require that you take the previous Google Analytics courses. However, you should have some prior experience or knowledge of web analytics before starting the course. This course will teach you the importance of tags and how to improve your tagging system. There are four units in this course: Starting Out with Google Tag Manager, Setting Up Google Tag Manager, Collecting Data Using the Data Layer, and Using Additional Tags.
How to Enroll
To get started with your certification in Google Analytics, visit Google’s Analytics Academy homepage. Next, you’ll be given six different course options to choose from. For example, let’s say you decide to click on the Google Analytics for Beginners tab. Once the page loads, you’ll be met with an introductory video. Afterward, you’ll be able to click through the different units and lessons. However, it’s important to note that you must complete all the units to be eligible to take the certification exam.
Why You Should Get Certified
While a certification in Google Analytics isn’t required to use Google Analytics, we still recommend that you take advantage of this service. The best way to make the most out of your website is to understand your audience. Furthermore, if you understand your audience, you can create content that appeals to them. For instance, if you have an e-commerce website, you can implement a web design that caters to their shopping needs.
Cost
All Analytics Academy courses are free. A Google Analytics certificate is valid for 12 months; not to mention, you can retake the certification exam as many times as you’d like. With a certificate in Google Analytics, you can track your audience’s behavior and get to know their internet habits. Finding the time to complete the course to earn the certificate is beneficial to you and your website.
Opportunity
Google Analytics allows you to understand your audience’s internet behavior. If you know how your website is fairing with your target demographic, it’ll be easier for you to improve your conversion rate and expand your internet audience. For example, with Google Analytics, you can measure the bounce rate on certain pages. If you learn that you have a high bounce rate on your blog landing page, you know you need to reevaluate its user accessibility. Moreover, if you have more unique visitors on the blog portion of your website, you know writing more articles is a great way to get more visitors.
Worthwhile Investment
The certificate is a physical representation of your knowledge of website analytics. If you know how to use Google Analytics, you won’t have to hire a third party to manage your website for you. To enumerate, you can save money and be more involved in the happenings of your digital marketing plan. Furthermore, having a certificate can be beneficial to your job prospects. Since you would have official training in Google Analytics, an employer will have a better understanding of your skillset. Additionally, being proficient in more than one website analytic platform will make you more desirable to employers. Taking advantage of Google Analytics ’ certificate program is an efficient way to accomplish this.
Do you want to learn more about Google Analytics and managing the results of your website or digital marketing campaign? SEO Design Chicago offers various services in web design, marketing, and SEO that can benefit you and your business. Schedule a consultation with us today!
FAQs
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