When Google Analytics Disappears

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When Google Analytics Disappears

Believe it or not, Google isn’t infallible. Neither are humans. I recently lost a significant amount of data in Google Analytics – a real tragedy that had me crying for an entire day and still confounds me. I was adding a new profile onto my account. I revisited it a few days later and the other, main profile was missing.

Apparently, I am not the first person to whom this has happened. The Google Analytics forums are full of people who have lost profiles and years of data. Either an employee deletes it when she quits, out of spite, or one user deletes it from their screen and that deletes the entire profile for all three users. Or, as in my case, and which seems shockingly common, it just disappears.

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Blog Action Day 2010: WATER

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Blog Action Day 2010: WATER

Since my mid-teens, I’ve been a volunteer and activist. I’ve worked on all kinds of issues and in all kinds of communities, from senior citizens to youth, from hunger and poverty to symphonies, from politics and gay rights to education and inner transformation.

In recent years, I’ve struggled with where I should put my time, energy and money, in order to have the largest impact possible. The more I take apart every issue and dig deeper and deeper, the more I realize: it all comes down to water.

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Website Analytics 101

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Website Analytics 101

[NOTE: This website analytics post was published in 2010, which was a very, very long time ago in computer years. I’ve left this post live, both for fun and because some of it is still relevant. If you need help with your website or Google Analytics, please feel free to contact me for help or new info.]

Web analytics is becoming a normal and necessary practice, but I think many non-profits and artists are still working with websites that don’t provide them the info they need to grow, flourish, or even function well. So this entry will be an overview of web analytics, as well as a plea to install or become familiar with your website data (instructions on that further below).

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Your Website is Just a First Date

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Your Website is Just a First Date

What do you bring on a first date? Tax forms, divorce/custody paperwork from a previous marriage, diary entries, and three letters of reference, right? Of course not!

On a first date, you bring a big smile, your charming personality, and some witty conversation. Combine that with wearing clean clothes and doing something interesting and you have the makings of a great first date.

Now, let me clarify: I’m not in the business of matchmaking or relationship advice. I’m actually talking websites here.

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Book Review: Robin Hood Marketing by Katya Andresen

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Book Review: Robin Hood Marketing by Katya Andresen

Have you read Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing Corporate Savy to Sell Just Causes by Katya Andresen? You should.

Andresen wrote a book to really kick-start your forward-thinking, new approach to cause marketing. She so clearly points out that our passion for our causes doesn’t always translate to the average citizen taking (or not taking) action. Then she proceeds to instruct how to make this transition.

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How Small Non-Profits Can Find A Celebrity Spokesperson

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How Small Non-Profits Can Find A Celebrity Spokesperson

Fast Company magazine suggests enlisting a celebrity spokesperson for your charitable cause. The article offers valuable and interesting advice…if you have a multi-million dollar budget and friends in high places. That isn’t to say small non-profits don’t have friends in high places, but if you’re feeling awfully far from Hollywood, consider local celebrities.

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Marketing Basics: Simplify and Segment

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Marketing Basics: Simplify and Segment

I’m still totally enjoying the STAMATS SIMTech Conference. Day Two was jam packed with excellent speakers and valuable information.

First thing this morning, I had a one-on-one consultation with Julie Staggs, a STAMATS Senior Client Consultant. I was relieved to hear that my Goddard College colleagues and I are on the right track with our Communications Plan. We even included some components of communications that most colleges forget, so that was encouraging! Julie then helped me identify our next steps.

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