Website analytics involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data on user interactions with a site. This process enables website editors, communicators, and marketers to understand user behavior, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to enhance site performance and meet institutional goals.
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Why is page performance important?
The performance of a single page can greatly influence the overall health of a website, impacting user experience, search engine rankings, and outcomes. Here's a broader perspective:
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User Experience (UX)
If one page has poor performance (e.g., slow load times, confusing navigation), it can cause visitors to leave. This increases bounce rates, reduces engagement, and may discourage users from exploring the rest of our site. A well-optimized page keeps users on-site longer, improving the chances of prospective students, faculty, staff, current students and other key audiences applying, enrolling, and engaging with our content.
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SEO and Search Rankings
Search engines like Google evaluate the performance of individual pages when determining rankings. Slow or poorly optimized pages can lower our website’s ranking, making it harder for users to find not just that page, but potentially others on your site. High-performing pages, on the other hand, can improve overall search visibility.
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Brand Perception
Every page contributes to how users perceive Ohio University. A page that’s outdated or doesn’t function well reflects poorly on the entire website and our brand, potentially leading to a loss of trust.
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Interconnected Impact
Pages don’t exist in isolation. Poor performance on one page (like broken links or slow loading) can negatively impact other pages by breaking user journeys or reducing organic traffic flow to those sections, causing confusion for our key audience users like current students, faculty, staff, or prospective students.
Begin Exploring Website Analytics
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Get Access to the Website Data
Click the project request form below and navigate to Web < Web Analytics/Dashboard Support Request < Dashboard Access to request access to your College or Unit's Website Analytics Dashboard . This will enable comprehensive insights into website performance and user engagement metrics.
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Review the Looker Studio Dashboard Training Materials
To effectively utilize the Looker Studio Dashboard, reviewing the training materials is essential. These materials provide an overview of the dashboard's features and functionalities, equipping users with the knowledge needed to interpret and act on website analytics data.
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Meet with UCM for Consultation
Now that access has been granted and the training and data have been reviewed, any questions or requests for changes can be addressed through a consultation. To schedule a session, please click the project request form below and navigate to Web > Web Analytics/Dashboard Support Request > Meet for a General Analytics Consultation.