Jun 15 2007

What I Don’t Like About the New Google Analytics

Published by at 3:47 pm under Australia,Google Analytics

I’m really trying to get my head around the new analytics format. From the 18th of July the old interface will no longer be available. To be honest I haven’t spent a lot of time there for one main reason.

They’ve made some changes, which has improved the new interface somewhat. For me the ability to drill down hourly is of real benefit – to see how traffic responds to a particular ad on tv or radio is really vital.

What I don’t like, is that I can’t see what’s happening TODAY. If you’re doing an email blast, for example, it’s really handy to get the results as close to real time as possible.

So here it is at 3.30 pm on the 15th June, and when I sign in I get, by default, data to the 13th. My time zone is correctly set up, and yet the best that I can do is get yesterday’s (the 14th) traffic results.

Google maintain:

Every function currently available in Google Analytics should be available in the new interface. In fact, there will be more features and the new product will be even more powerful, including emailing reports and PDF download. Functionality of the product is not changing – only the interface, which will be more intuitive and navigable.

I’m assuming this affects countries other than just Australia – but because we’re 17 hours ahead of Pacific Time, it’s really noticeable.

Please Google, can you let us access today’s data – I know you’ve got it!

6 responses so far

6 Responses to “What I Don’t Like About the New Google Analytics”

  1. # garyon 15 Jun 2007 at 4:00 pm

    Sign up for a beta at http://reinvigorate.net I have one and it is much better for ‘now’ stats.

    Even has a little program called snoop which you can download and plays sounds when users buy something or create a new account (based on javascript parameters to their analytics javascript).

  2. # Megon 15 Jun 2007 at 4:06 pm

    Thanks Gary – will check it out.

  3. # Lukeon 16 Jun 2007 at 3:38 pm

    I also hate the fact that the data is a day behind. I wish they would change that for us Aussies. I also prefer the old interface and find it much more user friendly.

  4. # Megon 16 Jun 2007 at 3:41 pm

    Hi Luke

    Glad I’m not the only one! I’m sure there’ll be more noise when we’re forced to use it.

  5. # Sephyrothon 22 Jun 2007 at 5:06 am

    I only recently started using Analytics, so I didn’t have any experience with the “old” version, but I agree totally that the not being able to see today’s activity isn’t the greatest. However, there is a way around it.

    In the upper right corner, you’ll see the dates that you’re looking at (e.g. for mine it’s currently May 21, 2007 – June 20, 2007). If you click that, a calendar will appear, and you can then click the starting date you want, then click on today’s date. Click Apply Range, and you’ll see today’s activity show up. :)

    Hopefully they’ll make it easier to do it, but for now, it’s a good work-around

    Sephyroth
    http://sephyroth.blogspot.com

  6. # Megon 22 Jun 2007 at 9:27 am

    Hi Sephyroth

    Unfortunately that only works for our “today” after 5.00 pm (which is when it becomes “today” in Pacific Time). If you log on before 5 pm, you’re still stuck with yesterday’s data :(