Google Analytics Adds New Features

Google Analytics has become one of the most popular online analytics tools since opening its doors for anyone to make an account and track a multitude of sites. Yesterday Google announced that it had added a series of new features to the already stellar suite of offerings currently available. Here are some of the major upgrades:

Hourly reporting
Due to user complaints about the new interface it launched recently, Google Analytics has re-integrated a “View by: Daily/Hourly” switch that allows users to sort the data they’re viewing by day or hour.

Clickable URLs
Now you have the ability to click straight through to an external page from any link referenced in one of the reports. Simply click the icon next to any link listed in the “Referring Sites,” “Top Content,” “Top Landing Pages,” or “Top Exit Pages” report.

Cross Segmentation According to Network Location
Many users were upset with the fact that you couldn’t cross segment reports based on network location, but now that capability has been added.

More Rows of Data Per Page
The previous limit of viewable rows on a report page was 100, however now you have the option of upping the amount to 500.

Bounce Rate Color Changes
Previously increases in bounce rate (which is bad) were listed in green and decreases in bounce rate (which is good) were red. These colors have been switched.

Adwords Integration
Google has made it easier to integrate your Adwords account into your Google Analytics account.

Some other less notable additions include:
- recognition of aol.fr, club-internet.fr, voila.fr and mama.com search engines
- data from newly added reports to the dashboard is linked to more detailed versions
- help resources added to Email Reports interface
- more countries to choose from during the Account Activation process

All in all some nice upgrades. Keep up the good work Google!