Start by watching at least the first 10 videos on YouTube from the Analytics Academy Google Analytics for Beginners < https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI5YfMzCfRtZU5Qwzx57HjmZyNE2o5YDN (Links to an external site.) >. These are short video clips, only a couple minutes each. This content will give you a solid introduction to this platform and how it functions. Next, read the article Top Ten Companies that use Google Analytics < http://www.gillsolutions.com/blog/top-ten-companies-that-use-google-analytics/ (Links to an external site.) >, and then read Privacy, Web Analytics, Google and Ketchup < https://brianclifton.com/blog/2012/10/04/privacy-web-analytics-google-and-ketchup/ (Links to an external site.) >. Once you have watched the videos and read the articles, follow the directions below to participate actively in this discussion. Discussion responses should be from the perspective of a web developer as well as a consultant on analytics.

Discussion Questions

Draft a response to the questions below, which will expand your knowledge of Google Analytics. Remember to use your textbook and other academic resources to justify your responses.

1. Now that you are familiar with some of the ways Google Analytics can be used, select a company with a strong online presence. Visit that company website and explore the mission, vision, and products that company offers. Think about how Google Analytics is likely being used for this company to help focus its products and services, and target current and future customers or clients. As you do this, craft your response to include the content here:
   • What company did you select? Provide the URL to the company site. Describe the company, its products, services, and customers.
   • How do you think this company is using Google Analytics to impact its current users or customers? Give at least three examples.
   • How do you think this company is using Google Analytics to reach new customers and clients? Give at least two examples of strategies that likely benefit from or originate from Google Analytics data.
   • Now imagine that the company you selected is not using Google Analytics at all, and not collecting any user data from its website. What is one idea you would pitch to this company to sell the company on the idea of setting up Google Analytics? Why do you think this one idea would appeal to the stakeholders of this company more than other ideas?

Imagine you are a web developer consultant. You are working with a client that is interested in setting up Google Analytics, but the client is concerned with customer privacy, and how using Google Analytics will expose its customers to privacy risks, and the owner to risk. The client owns a chain of dog grooming stores and is expanding into online dog grooming service scheduling and selling dog products on its website. Your team is meeting with the owner later today and your consulting team lead has asked everyone on the team to generate ideas on how consumer privacy concerns can be overcome, and should not deter the client from setting up Google Analytics.

• Do you think customer privacy is a legitimate concern for companies that use Google Analytics? Why or why not?
• For the dog grooming company, what is one customer privacy concern that the company might have? Is there anything that you would state to the client to lessen this concern?
• How do you think the dog grooming stores could benefit from Google Analytics? Give at least two examples of how the company will benefit from Google Analytics and explain how this benefit outweighs its privacy concerns.