Comments on: Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:03:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Creating an Effective Google Analytics Dashboard | Analytics and Site Intelligence http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-454347 Creating an Effective Google Analytics Dashboard | Analytics and Site Intelligence Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:32:47 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-454347 [...] As inspiration, I’m digging through the archives and I’m sourcing a blog post from my favorite blog author, Avinash Kaushik, titled: “Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards“. (Note: he wrote this blog post 2 months before the current version of Google Analytics was released with its customizable dashboard and fancy AJAX-based functionality). [...] [...] As inspiration, I’m digging through the archives and I’m sourcing a blog post from my favorite blog author, Avinash Kaushik, titled: “Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards“. (Note: he wrote this blog post 2 months before the current version of Google Analytics was released with its customizable dashboard and fancy AJAX-based functionality). [...]

]]> By: Web Analytics Facts » Update Web Analytics berichten http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-69807 Web Analytics Facts » Update Web Analytics berichten Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:02:43 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-69807 [...] - Avinash geeft 5 regels voor uitgebreide WA Dashboards. Check it out. [...] [...] - Avinash geeft 5 regels voor uitgebreide WA Dashboards. Check it out. [...]

]]> By: Avinash Kaushik http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-66942 Avinash Kaushik Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:12:35 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-66942 Tim: A quote from one of my favorite radio personalities:     <strong>"Not enough gets said about the importance of abandoning crap."</strong>         — Ira Glass (Source: <a href="http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2007/03/ira_glasstips_o.html">Presentation Zen</a>.) This is not directly related to Web Analytics but I recommend this short video of Ira expressing his wonderful perspective on "telling great stories" - which to me is very much what a dashboard should do. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qmtwa1yZRM">YouTube Video - Ira Glass</a>. I find a lot of inspiration in that video for work that I do. In terms of specific examples of great dashboards (and crappy ones) I like this: http://dashboardspy.wordpress.com/ Hope this helps. -Avinash. Tim: A quote from one of my favorite radio personalities:

    “Not enough gets said about the importance of abandoning crap.”
        — Ira Glass

(Source: Presentation Zen.)

This is not directly related to Web Analytics but I recommend this short video of Ira expressing his wonderful perspective on “telling great stories” - which to me is very much what a dashboard should do. YouTube Video - Ira Glass. I find a lot of inspiration in that video for work that I do.

In terms of specific examples of great dashboards (and crappy ones) I like this:

http://dashboardspy.wordpress.com/

Hope this helps.

-Avinash.

]]> By: Tim Leighton-Boyce http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-66865 Tim Leighton-Boyce Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:39:23 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-66865 This post has prompted me to embark on a long-overdue project to simplify my current dashboard. At the moment it's all based around Eric Peterson's "Big Book of KPIs" spreadsheet. But it's grown and grown, when, in fact it clearly needs to be cut and cut. Are there any useful resources (the equivalent of Eric's books for example) on dashboards, I wonder? Although I suspect many of them would lead in the opposite direction from this post, by showing ways of cramming more in, I think it would be useful to mention any stand-out examples here. And if they do compress the maximum of 10 metrics then that will leave even more space for the vital insights section! This post has prompted me to embark on a long-overdue project to simplify my current dashboard. At the moment it’s all based around Eric Peterson’s “Big Book of KPIs” spreadsheet. But it’s grown and grown, when, in fact it clearly needs to be cut and cut.

Are there any useful resources (the equivalent of Eric’s books for example) on dashboards, I wonder?

Although I suspect many of them would lead in the opposite direction from this post, by showing ways of cramming more in, I think it would be useful to mention any stand-out examples here.

And if they do compress the maximum of 10 metrics then that will leave even more space for the vital insights section!

]]> By: Webanalyticsbook » Webanalytics week March 11-16th http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-60053 Webanalyticsbook » Webanalytics week March 11-16th Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:59:36 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-60053 [...] Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards via Kaushik.net Avinash’s rules about high-impact dashboards [...] [...]

Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards via Kaushik.net

Avinash’s rules about high-impact dashboards

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]]> By: Sivanesan http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-59182 Sivanesan Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:03:31 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-59182 Great tips, Avinash. Here is my suggestion/ addition to the tips. Dashboard should be Dynamic and flexible While I agree with the importance of the dashboard to be simple and presented neatly in a single page. But often there are different information needed by different actors/ stakeholders in the organization. Hence, it is vital for any web analytical tool/ Dashboard to be dynamic and flexible. What I mean by dynamic and flexible is providing option for the user to take complete control of the dashbaord without moving to different places/reports/pages for information. For example website owner should look at Page views, Visits and Visitors for the website as a whole, whereas the Business owner should be able to see the same metrics relevant to his business section/content group and an acquisition manager to see metrics like cost of campaign, leads/sale, cost per lead/sale. How about the same interface provide an option for the acquisiion manager to select all campaigns or specific campaigns? The power of flexibility to change options and dynamism to show relevant metric/data is very important for a dashboard. I personally like Dashboards created using Spreadsheet Pivot Tables or viewing it in a web interface than as multiple printouts. Great tips, Avinash. Here is my suggestion/ addition to the tips.

Dashboard should be Dynamic and flexible

While I agree with the importance of the dashboard to be simple and presented neatly in a single page. But often there are different information needed by different actors/ stakeholders in the organization. Hence, it is vital for any web analytical tool/ Dashboard to be dynamic and flexible. What I mean by dynamic and flexible is providing option for the user to take complete control of the dashbaord without moving to different places/reports/pages for information.

For example website owner should look at Page views, Visits and Visitors for the website as a whole, whereas the Business owner should be able to see the same metrics relevant to his business section/content group and an acquisition manager to see metrics like cost of campaign, leads/sale, cost per lead/sale. How about the same interface provide an option for the acquisiion manager to select all campaigns or specific campaigns?

The power of flexibility to change options and dynamism to show relevant metric/data is very important for a dashboard. I personally like Dashboards created using Spreadsheet Pivot Tables or viewing it in a web interface than as multiple printouts.

]]> By: Jeff Lawrence http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-58646 Jeff Lawrence Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:54:42 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-58646 I think it’s excellent advise Avinash. Trying to get executives or those in charge interested in web analytics beyond the initial "new" factor is quite challenging. Thank you for your insights. I think it’s excellent advise Avinash. Trying to get executives or those in charge interested in web analytics beyond the initial “new” factor is quite challenging. Thank you for your insights.

]]> By: Bruce McCarthy http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57906 Bruce McCarthy Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:52:10 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57906 Good outline. I especially agree with the notion of context. You don't know what the numbers mean to your business without them. "Sales today were $4 million," the report says. Is that good or bad? Depends on what sales were yesterday and what the boss expected them to be today. Revising your dashboard over time is also key. Your goals will change as will the drivers of your business. Good outline. I especially agree with the notion of context. You don’t know what the numbers mean to your business without them.

“Sales today were $4 million,” the report says. Is that good or bad? Depends on what sales were yesterday and what the boss expected them to be today.

Revising your dashboard over time is also key. Your goals will change as will the drivers of your business.

]]> By: Peer Wandiger http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57796 Peer Wandiger Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:06:57 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57796 Thanks for the tips. I am working on a SEO Dashboard at the moment and you article was help full. Thanks for the tips.

I am working on a SEO Dashboard at the moment and you article was help full.

]]> By: Kostis Panayotakis http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57588 Kostis Panayotakis Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:20:03 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57588 Simplicity & presentation quality is important for dashboards. Moreover, the proposal of a long list of metrics out of context, would probably introduce high overhead and limit their ability to justify their purpose. Metrics need to be classified to a smaller set for the senior management level & a broader more detailed & segmented set for line management. Thought provoking as usual ! Simplicity & presentation quality is important for dashboards.

Moreover, the proposal of a long list of metrics out of context, would probably introduce high overhead and limit their ability to justify their purpose.

Metrics need to be classified to a smaller set for the senior management level & a broader more detailed & segmented set for line management.

Thought provoking as usual !

]]> By: Around the Net 3/12/2007 | knupNET http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57505 Around the Net 3/12/2007 | knupNET Tue, 13 Mar 2007 05:40:59 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57505 [...] High impact web analytics [Occam’s Razor] [...] [...] High impact web analytics [Occam’s Razor] [...]

]]> By: Anil http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57204 Anil Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:10:12 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57204 This is certainly a great post,certainly isolation of key metric is the key which basically is the crux of analytic reporting. thanks again Anil Umachigi This is certainly a great post,certainly isolation of key metric is the key which basically is the crux of analytic reporting.

thanks again

Anil Umachigi

]]> By: Jonghee Jo http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57124 Jonghee Jo Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:53:25 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57124 What a great post. It's a valuable insight for my day-to-day executive reporting job regarding Web Analytics. Thank you very much Avinash! What a great post. It’s a valuable insight for my day-to-day executive reporting job regarding Web Analytics. Thank you very much Avinash!

]]> By: norman zyland http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57117 norman zyland Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:46:27 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57117 How about adding #6: sometimes your dashboard needs external data to measure the impact of your website. If products sales are happening at offline retail locations you might want to add a buyer tracking survey, e.g. 'When did you last visit xxx.com?' How about adding #6: sometimes your dashboard needs external data to measure the impact of your website. If products sales are happening at offline retail locations you might want to add a buyer tracking survey, e.g. ‘When did you last visit xxx.com?’

]]> By: Ned Kumar http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57027 Ned Kumar Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:58:18 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57027 Great tips on dashboard guidance. I agree with you that a "chunky" dashboard is not a dashboard. And if you have too many metrics, it is possible that you are trying to measure multiple goals in your dashboard. One of my dashboard 'objective' is always to have any dashboard "focused" on one thing -- I believe that you can have multiple dashboards (focusing on different things), but you shouldn't have a dashboard trying to keep track of too many goals. -- Ned Great tips on dashboard guidance. I agree with you that a “chunky” dashboard is not a dashboard. And if you have too many metrics, it is possible that you are trying to measure multiple goals in your dashboard. One of my dashboard ‘objective’ is always to have any dashboard “focused” on one thing — I believe that you can have multiple dashboards (focusing on different things), but you shouldn’t have a dashboard trying to keep track of too many goals.
– Ned

]]> By: Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57014 Five Rules for High Impact Web Analytics Dashboards Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:08:09 +0000 http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2007/03/five-rules-for-high-impact-web-analytics-dashboards.html#comment-57014 [...] Businesses change, people come and go, high-level priorities evolve, we become smarter (or we become dumber but acquire people who are smarter than us!), our competitors think of new and clever things, and so forth. … Original post by Avinash Kaushik [...] [...]

Businesses change, people come and go, high-level priorities evolve, we become smarter (or we become dumber but acquire people who are smarter than us!), our competitors think of new and clever things, and so forth. …

Original post by Avinash Kaushik

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