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How web analysts decide success or failure



Today's web users are demanding

As eCommerce continues to overtake high street sales, price comparison websites boom, mobile internet access starts to outstrip desktop access, web users become more focused on price plus service, and companies jostle for search ranking supremacy, website performance has become absolutely critical to online sales success.

At the heart of any thoughtful online marketing strategy is an ongoing investment in web analytics. Large retailers in particular recruit teams of web analysts to ensure that the complex customer journey through their website is as inviting and intuitive as possible.

Today’s web users are demanding. Short attention spans, high expectations, social-media savvy, price conscious and fully aware that there is always another retailer eager to earn their loyalty. In the strongest eCommerce teams, a range of web analytics tools are used to analyze and define the performance of design, digital analytics marketing, online advertising, customer communications, CRM, search engine optimization and the entire on-site user experience.


Web Analytics - It's all about the numbers

It all comes down to conversion: converting visits into sales, visitors into loyal customers. A sound web analytics strategy employs the latest web analytics tools – with Google Analytics, Omniture, Adobe Insight, SiteCatalyst and Webtrends among the most popular – to deliver deep insights into website performance and customer trends, with a view to attracting and retaining customers and increasing sales.

With so much at stake, it’s no surprise that the demand for good web analysts is growing. Typical salaries for a Web Analyst are $60k, rising to $80k for a Senior Web Analyst, $95k for a Web Analytics Manager and a Head of Web Analytics might earn around $125-$150k. Of course, for big campaigns, new website developments and rollouts, new web analytics tools may need implementing, which is where more contract web analysts are employed. These typically command a day rate of $400-$800 depending on the level of experience.

Such competitive salaries indicate just how important web analysis software is to online sales success. The more sophisticated the analytics tools and techniques, the more accurate the data and the better the customer behavior insight.


What will you be doing as a Web Analyst?

Truly comprehensive website strategies measure offsite and onsite web analytics.

Offsite web analytics tools measure and analyze the visibility of the website, its penetration of other websites and social media and the potential audience for the goods or services.

Onsite web analytics examines the visitor’s behavior on the website itself. From landing page performance to routes into and paths through the website from arrival to checkout – including friction points where a visit may be abandoned.

CRM analytics targets customer purchasing behavior, so that marketing teams can accurately analyze customer trends from location or route to website, to types and volume of product purchased. Done right, this means companies can promote particular products to particular customers and improve conversion rates.

We’re a very long way beyond the click counters that marked the earliest efforts to measure website performance. Today’s web analysts exploit a raft of advanced software tools to delve deep into the data and deliver the facts on everything from A/B and multivariate testing to the effectiveness of various calls to action.

Harnham blog & news

With over 10 years experience working solely in the Data & Analytics sector our consultants are able to offer detailed insights into the industry.

Visit our News & Blogs portal or check out our recent posts below.

Amped Up Analytics: Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics 4 has amped up data insights into the behaviors and preferences of your customers. Where once each touchpoint only tracked what had been clicked, GA4 is bringing it all together in a more wholistic approach to the customer journey. As the fourth quarter of 2020 dawned, Google upped its game. Crafting a compelling array of features with machine learning at its core, this new platform offers a more customer-centric approach to data-driven insights, rather than split data across platforms and devices.   Though still in its infancy, there are some dramatic new changes afoot. And while it’s not a good idea to get rid of the old Universal Analytics platform before ringing in the new one, it is a good idea to understand what’s available now and what may come to be over time. Four Advantages to Google Analytics 4.0 From our desktop to our laptop to our smartphone, we carry our office in our pocket or on our lap. So, what better way to integrate what was once called “App + Web properties” into a more cohesive trackable measurement of data. Add to this the privacy protocols in place to protect customers, and Google Analytics 4 offers flexibility for future cookieless tracking and permissions, and advantages are revealed. Combined Data and Reporting Rather than focusing on one property (web or app) at a time, this platform allows marketers to track a customer’s journey more holistically.  The platform’s premise is that there is a pattern everyone follows. From the moment a customer visits your website to clicks on a button subscribing to your newsletter or blog – Acquisition and Engagement. To the moment your customer makes a purchase, is happy with the product or sevice, and comes back again – Monetization and Retention.  Designed for marketers who want to track users across multiple formats, Google Analytics 4 hopes to solve with Data Streams. These Data Streams merge to paint a picture of the customer journey from website visit to purchase. A Focus on Anonymized Data This anonymization answers the call to Data Privacy and third-party data collection. Crafting a unified user journey centered around machine learning to fill in any gaps, marketers and businesses have a way to get the information they need without diving into personal data issues. This is a key change in that Google is moving away from client-side focus and using server-side and customer-centric capabilities. With GDPR and privacy laws in full swing, marketers face enhanced privacy regulations as cookies are phased out or blocked. Predictive Metrics and Audiences Using Machine Learning to predict future transactions is a game changer for the platform. These predictive metrics for e-commerce sites on Google properties allow for targeted ads to visitors who seem most likely to make a purchase within one week of visiting the site.  Though focused on e-commerce sites now and based on transactions and revenue, there is an opportunity for marketers to identify and convert based on such leads as video views or form submissions. Machine Learning-Driven Insights The launch announcement for GA4 explains it “has machine learning at its core to automatically surface helpful insights and gives you a complete understanding of your customers across devices and platforms.” Machine Learning-driven insights include details that elude human analysts.  What These Changes Mean on the Digital Frontier We’re all reaching for higher value and Google Analytics 4.0 brings it into one unified platform for the future. As we make the shift from traditional Google Analytics to its 4.0 version, there is opportunity to get more creative.   Wondering if you should upgrade? This article breaks down the pros and cons to help you decide.  If you’re interested in Big Data & Analytics, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Joshua Poore

Joshua Poore

08. April 2021

CRO: Getting Customers Past Your Digital Door

Conversion Rate Optimization. CRO. If you’re an established business just getting on the technology track to improve your business, these words and acronyms can sound difficult and confusing. So, let’s put things a little simpler. Your website is your digital doorway to your business. Your service is your digital handshake. When you’re able to meet with customers face-to-face, you can get a firmer grasp on their likes and dislikes. You get to know your customers over time, they get to know you, and you begin to learn what the want so you can improve your business. If you’re a startup, you’ve opened your business because perhaps you’ve been a customer and saw a need no one could fill but you.  Whichever type of business you are, when you make changes to your website to improve your customer experience, you’ve worked through conversion rate optimization, though you may not have realized at the time. What is Conversion Rate Optimization? It is the penultimate testing strategy to convert visitors into customers. Let’s assume your eCommerce business is bringing in leads, but no one is clicking the ‘buy now’ button. If you’re wondering why, this is your chance to test your CRO through A/B testing. This kind of testing examines your original version against a change in your wording or colors. Consider the number of times you’ve seen Amazon’s logo change over the years. Today, the name is no longer needed, only the smiling arrow. The simplest of tweaks to your call-to-action (CTA), logo, colors, wording, or even a well-read or reviewed article can drive more leads for your business. Simple testing with big consequences can be overwhelming to consider. But with a few key points to consider, you may have a better focus on what you need to do. This focus will help you identify your goals, your audience, and the best conversion touchpoints for your business. What Do You Want to Optimize? Conversion means many things to many people. While ultimately the goal is to convert visitors to customers, there are a variety of ways to get there. So, what do you want to do? Do you want to have more visitors call or fill out your contact form? Do you want new subscribers to your website? Or do you want your visitors to click ‘buy now’ or ‘add to cart’? Choose one goal and work from there. Data you may already have or can gather, can offer you insight into your customers to help you know the best way to move forward. Know Your Customer Digital and Web Analytics can help you navigate the Data gathered about your customers. For example, who’s already visiting your site? How did they find you? Age, gender, and location are additional demographics which may help your team make informed decisions about what to test, why, and how it will improve your conversion rate. Bringing Your CRO Team Together There are three main roles most often brought together for conversion rate optimization. Smart businesses make CRO a part of their Marketing Strategy. So, it’s only fitting Marketing is on the list.  Marketing - These are the professionals who understand people. They know the strategy behind every level of the sales funnel within the customer journey. And from these understandings, they can troubleshoot, if needed, with acquisition, qualification, or optimization. Acquisition – These are the professionals responsible for bringing in new business. New leads. New customers. It’s their experience which can help to identify what’s optimizing well and what isn’t whether from targeting the wrong data point or on-page issues. Web Developer or Designer – These professionals assist with the technical aspects of conversion rate optimization. Begin at Your Homepage If you’re wondering where to begin, it’s best to begin at the homepage. This is where prospective customers find you and determine whether they’d like to look around a little more or not. So, knowing this there are a few things to keep in mind. ABT – Always Be Testing. This is a circular exercise in keeping up with the Jones’s of business. The more you know about your site, your goals, and your customers needs, your improvements can help to generate leads and increase sales. OTE - Optimize the Experience. When setting your goals, you’ll want to consider three goal types and set one or more. The first is to ask yourself, what do you want to happen immediately? If you want more clicks or views, this is an immediate goal. If you have a finite amount of time to generate leads, say fourth quarter of a given year, you may wish to set a campaign goal. And if you want to project net revenue or lead quality, you’ll want to set a long-term goal. Ready to optimize your conversion rate in your job search? Harnham may have a role for you. If you’re interested in the Digital Analytics, Data & Technology, or Machine Learning just to name a few, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Joe Gibbs

Joe Gibbs

25. February 2021

Could Mobile Gaming Help Us Solve Real World Problems?

From Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar’s Twitch play Among Us to Fortnite helping kids get into college, the mobile gaming industry has leapt into the new decade with gusto. It doesn’t hurt to have a few well-known names behind it, too. But it’s what AOC and Oman accomplished -normalcy - that begs the question. Could mobile gaming help us solve real world problems?  A Cultural Beginning             Cultural institutions, such as museums, have had a rough go of it this year. But innovation, creativity, and collaboration have come together to offer opportunities to get a bird’s eye view of the art world. Whether you play Occupy White Walls to create your own gallery bring real art into your gaming world through the Getty Museum and Nintendo’s Animal Crossing collaboration. Just a few ways these could be jumping off points to discussion for problem-solving include: Opportunities abound to host audiences from around the world without a head count capA chat function to discuss what you see, what you like, what you don’t, and what you’d like to seeCultural institutions become more open allowing anyone and everyone into its virtual wallsPerhaps even simulations and to imagine what-if scenarios for the rest of usGames could host exhibitions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium of California who’s partnered with Animal Crossing and a fossil expert form the Field Museum in Chicago who hosts virtual tours through Twitch Games give us the opportunity to imagine what’s possible. And these games are bringing real life events and activities straight to your fingertips in mobile gaming. Ad-Tech and Analytics are In the Game Since social distancing has become the norm, gaming has exploded. Once all the numbers are in, mobile game downloads are expected to see a nearly 40% increase in 2020 from 2019. No business who sees the potential here is standing by, the least of which is advertising. If you remember cable TV or maybe still have one, the free channels were often supported by commercials. In some television shows, products were given strategic placement. Okay, so it’s probably still happening today, but now we’re used to it. Skip ahead a few generations. Hello, Ready Player One fans, and advertisers have a new platform. Or at least, they’re working on it. There are still a few kinks to work out. Some game developers are designing games to help allow advertisers to fit seamlessly into games.  The audience of one engagement of TV has moved to a community engagement of many in the gaming world. Over two and half billion people are gamers across demographics of age and location. Social media still has the highest ad buys from television, but gaming is quickly catching up. As advertisers and businesses get in the game, it’s estimated there will be a monumental shift in the collective. Games have always served as a device to teach. Chess and checkers teach strategy. Monopoly teaches business and banking. Life teaches us to follow different paths and see what happens (not so different from Second Life). So, what could games teach us now with its ever increasing role in bringing groups together for engagement, community, and discussion? What role will you play in the coming year? If you’re interested in Data & Analytics, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Joshua Poore

Joshua Poore

07. January 2021

How Digital Analytics & Marketing Help Shape E-Commerce

Since the days of store window displays, the shopping experience has been just that; an experience. So, what happens when you want to recreate the visceral and emotional experience of shopping from within the confines of a computer screen, smartphone, or tablet? Enter Digital and Marketing Analytics. According to a recent report by Adobe, e-commerce sales have seen a 77% jump year-over-year which at any other time in history should have taken 4 to 6 years. The COVID-19 pandemic has helped to escalate and drive these numbers leaving some businesses scrambling and others raking it in. So, what’s the difference? Data professionals. The Role of Data in E-Commerce Whether you buy online and pick up in store or have a product delivered to your door, the role of shopping has irrevocably changed. Ensuring consumers get the personalized experience they’re used to from the days of brick-and-mortar stores, retail stores have turned to Digital and Marketing Analytics to give their customers the shopping experience they’re used to within a different format. Professionals within the UI/UX Design vertical are particularly sought after. Buying habits are changing and competition is fierce. So, how does Data affect e-commerce? Here are 3 examples: Know Your Customer. No longer a lamented visage from yesteryear, knowing your customer is inherent to the survival of an online retailer.  Data professionals bring to life the customer through historical data, demographics, and creates products and services which elicit an emotional response to stop, look around, and buy. And if the cart gets abandoned, follow up email campaigns to jog the memory that you were here and were thinking about buying this or that item. Get Personal. Personalize shopping has evolved into the personal shopping experience. What made someone buy a product during their last visit? Dynamic presentation and emotion-driven verbiage can certainly contribute.  When an online retailer knows what the buyer wants or needs and presents it in a way that resonates. This is the personalization once the domain of sales clerks.  From the Data you enter at checkout to the social media platforms and search engines with information like what you’re looking for, where you’re located, your purchase history and more can sometimes leave the personalized experience out in the cold. Bridging the old personalization with the new is the key ingredient for successful online retailers. Sell Where Your Consumers are Buying. If your customers are on Facebook looking for a product or service, sell to them where they’re looking. Though reviews are still important, even more prevalent is the range of social influencers to help buyers make decisions. Enter social commerce. Layout, design, Data gathering, collecting, and analyzing all have a slightly different flavor within this construct.  Data Professionals in Demand Within the Digital Analytics and Marketing specialism are a variety of Data professionals in demand as retailers are forced online. Businesses need E-Commerce Analysts to help present the new normal for the online retailer. As buy online and pick up in store convenience increases as well as purchases made from devices such as your smartphone, there’s been a rise in demand for Web & Mobile Product Management as well. Digital Transformation is no longer at the doorstep of business, it has crossed the threshold. And rather than focus on one tool or another, the impetus is on the importance of having more than one tool at a candidate’s disposal. What candidates want has changed and evolved as well. Salary and bonuses have dwindled while the demand for experience and professional development have become rallying cries for finding and retaining top talent. For more information In our recently released 2020 Salary Guide we discuss each specialism. What’s working. What isn’t. And how businesses can hire and retain top talent to keep their projects on track and their businesses running smoothly. You can download your copy here.  If you’re interested in Data and Technology, Risk or Digital Analytics, Life Sciences Analytics, Advanced Analytics & Insight, Data Science, or Computer Vision, we invite you to check out our latest jobs. If you’d like to learn more, contact one of our expert consultants: For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.   For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Joshua Poore

Joshua Poore

13. August 2020

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