18 most popular Web Analytics blog posts of 2007

Summary:
The 3 most popular blog posts from the 6 most influential Web Analytics bloggers around – All in all the 18 most popular Web Analytics post of 2007!

I am jam-packed on Muffins, Marzipan and Scandinavian Glogg. Nonetheless, I managed to stumble into the living room - in my new Santa underwear - Barely able to turn on my Laptop, I decided to do my general 2007 Web Analytics status using Avinash’s Top Ten Web Analytics Blogs: July 2007 as a foundation (Since most of them happen to be friends of mine anyway) and ask them to provide me with their 3 most popular posts of the year. Find the result below; which is simply a minimum MUST READ list – if you are working in the Web Analytics industry.


Occam’s Razor
by Avinash Kaushik

1. I Got No Ecommerce. How Do I Measure Success?
2. Rethink Web Analytics: Introducing Web Analytics 2.0
3. Excellent Analytics Tip #10: How Thick is Your Head and How Long is Your Tail?

Web Analytics Demystified
by Eric T. Peterson

1. Damn you Steve Jobs, damn you, damn you, damn you
2. EXCLUSIVE Microsoft Gatineau presentation and screen shots
3. Is Google Analytics the Killer App? No.

Visual Revenue
by Dennis R. Mortensen

1. What and how to measure Social Networking websites
2. The Long Tail ... and how to calculate missing Revenue
3. Tracking RSS subscribers via the IMG tag - a quick Web Analytics HACK

Web Analytics World
by Manoj Jasra

1. Ultimate Web Analytics Comparison Resources
2. 21 Reasons Why You Do NOT Need Web Analytics
3. Web Analytics Implementation: Items Overlooked

Increasing Your Website’s Conversion Rate
by Robbin Steif

1. Criticize Google Analytics. Win Prizes
2. How to Set Up the new GA Site Search
3. Answers to your Top 10 Google Analytics Questions

Web Metrics Guru
by Marshall Sponder

1. Cloverfield Trailer - JJ Abrams Buzz - Cloverfield Movie, updated (talks about tracking Viral Marketing using Web Analytics)
2. 1 18 08 Online and Google Analytics traffic stats on Cloverfield Movie Trailer
3. Locational Buzz using Google HotTrends - Donda West's passing
   
   

My intensions was actually to include the following blogs and their most popular posts into the list as well:


Extras:

GrokDotCom
By Bryan Eisenberg and co.

1. Web Marketing and Analytics: Process, Talent & Tools
2. Measuring Visitor Engagement: Tools + Tips
3. Web Analytics is Like Eating an Artichoke…
   (Update: added top 3 on 31st December)

WebAnalytics.be Blog
by Aurelie Pols and co.

1. Interactive Agencies and Web Analytics
2. Google Analytics, Microsoft Gatineau & OX2’s Web Analytics Code of Ethics
3. Web Analytics Day Brussels: a European shock therapy in Web Analytics
   (Update: added top 3 on 31st December)

Analytics Talk
by Justin Cutroni

Lies, Damned Lies…
by Ian Thomas

1. Microsoft 'Gatineau' sneak peek
2. The rumors are true: Microsoft 'Gatineau' exists
3. It's here
   (Update: added top 3 on 6th January)

Advanced Web Metrics
by Brian Clifton

But I did not get a reply before posting this (it is Christmas). So Ian, Justin, Brian, Bryan and Aurelie – do send me your top 3 – and I will append it to the post.

Cheers.. and Happy New Year
Dennis :-)

Top 10 Web Analytics Blogs – July 2007

I set of on my blog journey back at the end of February 2007 (exactly 4 months ago today) – and was really cheerful to see that after 2 months (mid April), that I made it onto the Avinash - Top 10 Web Analytics blogs (as a personal recommendation). The new new list is out and it goes like this; and you will notice that I am once again on his recommended list – Juuuhuu AGAIN, thank you very much Avinash!


Avinash’s Personal Web Analytics Blogs Recommendations:

1. Coremark Analytics by Wendi Malley
2. Web Analytics Demystified by Judah Phillips
3. Visual Revenue by Dennis R. Mortensen

Overall Top Ranked Web Analytics Blogs:

1. Occam’s Razor by Avinash Kaushik
2. Google Analytics Blog by Jeff Gills
3. Web Metrics Guru by Marshall Sponder
4. Web Analytics World by Manoj Jasra
5. WebAnalytics.be Blog by Aurélie Pols
6. Analytics Talk by Justin Cutroni
7. Unofficial Google Analytics Blog by Shawn Purtell
8. Lies, Damned Lies… by Ian Thomas
9. Increasing Your Website’s Conversion Rate by Robbin Steif
10. The Commerce360 Blog by Craig Danuloff
    

BUT a more exciting notion, beyond nurturing my ego :-), is that Avinash introduced a new ranking system (which you should go and have a look at, as the regression analysis thought behind it, is super for other matters of analysis as well.

Where E4 are your FeedBurner subscribers and F4 is your Technorati ranking. I am at about 35 (using todays Feedburner and Technorati numbers) according to Avinash new proprietary ranking system – so watch out Craig! (who is at 44) :-)

N.B.
Is the data (in particular Technorati) used for the list flawed/polluted as suggested by Mr. Peterson – I am absolutely sure it is. However; it is still a fun list that encourage volunteers like myself to continue.

Web Analytics educational opportunities (...and prophetic blogs)

John Lovett from Aberdeen recently (July 2007) produced a review of the educational opportunities (Analytics University: Part I and Part II ) that companies, analytics practitioners and aspiring web analysts can take to further their knowledge of web analytics. He split this into four different avenues as of today:

• Vendor Sponsored Programs
• Analytics Consultants, Blogs and Guru Sessions
• Community Forums & Industry Associations
• Academic Programs

The Reports are (6 and 9 pages), free and well worth a read - the only thing I am missing here are the European vendors, whether that be IndexTools or Nedstat. I am sure Lars Johansson would agree with me here? :-)

John included the following comment under his, Have You Been Blogging Today - section : “A sampling of prophetic blogs and bloggers includes:”

• Lies, Damned Lies… (Ian Thomas)
• Occam’s Razor (Avinash Kaushik)
• WebAnalytics.be Blog (Aurelie Pols)
• Web Analysis, Behavioral Targeting and Advertising (Anil Batra)
• VisualRevenue - Web Analytics & Affiliate Marketing blog (Dennis R. Mortensen)
• Web Analytics Demystified Weblogs (Eric T. Peterson & Judah Phillips)
• Web Metrics Guru (Marshall Sponder).
  

“Each of these sites can provide hours of education and are likely to rock your notions of web analytics while maintaining the ability to teach you something you didn’t know.”


This is of course flattering and I am happy to see that he noticed the blogs that matters to me as well - I ofcourse have an additional 1x on my list as well :-)

Other Links:
Aberdeen on Web Analytics Education – By Jim Novo

Top 10 Web Analytics Blogs

Avinash did an April update to his super Top 10 Web Analytics Blogs – which is the one I use for reference, making sure I read the ones I am supposed to read :-)

The list goes like this and you will notice that I am on his recommended list – Juuuhuu, thank you very much Avinash!

# 1: Occam’s Razor by Avinash Kaushik
# 2: Web Metrics Guru by Marshall Sponder
# 3: Google Analytics Blog by Jeff Gills
# 4: Web Analytics World by Manoj Jasara
# 5: Eric T. Peterson’s Analytics Weblog by Eric Peterson
# 6: Increasing your website’s conversion rate by Robbin Steif
# 7: Unofficial Google Analytics Blog by Michael Harrison
# 8: Lies, Damned Lies… by Ian Thomas
# 9: WebAnalytics.be Blog by Aurélie Pols
# 10: Web Analysis, Behavioral Targeting and Advertising by Anil Batra

Avinash’s Personal Recommendations:
# 1 Web Analytics & Affiliate Marketing blog by Dennis R. Mortensen
# 2 Visioactive by Ian S. Houston

I read every single one of them and if I should add anything to it, that would be that you read Gary Angel’s blog as well.

...And now on to a real post after three softer ones. ..Titled: "Beyond basic Cost Per Action (CPA) measurement – looking at CPnA" - more about this later.