Conversion Tracking with Weebly Site

Here's How to See Conversion Tracking with a Website You Created

First, go to www.weebly.com and build your website. There are help tools that weebly offers, but creating a site is relatively easy. It doesn't have to be perfect when you are using this to test Google Analytics. 

Then, you have to create a Contact Page and a Thank You Page that they will be directed to once they fill out the information. Connect Google Analytics so that it will track the number of people who got to the Thank You page by filling out the Contact Form.

To do this you have to create an account in Google Analytics. You'll enter the website and URL and copy and past the Tracking ID code into the SEO part of the Weebly Site.

Then ask some friends to fill out your contact form, and begin tracking with Google Analytics. You can use your Dashboard to see how many visits and conversions your website has.

How to Get the Google Analytics Certification

Steps to Getting Google Analytics Certified

First begin by going to the Google Partners website: https://www.google.com/partners/. You will need to be signed in with your Gmail account.

Then, on the left-hand side, click Analytics under certifications.

Before you begin the test, you will want to use the materials provided to study. Go through the four different video courses and take advantage of the videos and the review questions throughout each section. The assessments will help as well. Try to focus more on Digital Analytics Fundamentals and Google Analytics Platform Principles. These are important essentials to knowing Google Analytics.

Another helpful tip is to follow along with creating a test analytics account to do each step and see how Google Analytics actually works. 

Then when you feel confident, begin the test. 

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete  70 questions. Keep in mind that you cannot save the test and come back. You also cannot go back to any questions. Once you hit next that question is submitted.

To pass, you need to get 80% or higher. If you don't pass right away, it's ok! You can take it as many times as it takes. You do have to wait a week before taking it again, but this gives you time to study more for it.

Getting Google Analytics Certified has many benefits. Employers will be impressed and you will have more knowledge about how Google Analytics works.

Dashboards in Google Analytics

Dashboards

You can create dashboards in Google Analytics to show you relevant information in one glance. The dashboard contains important information about the site you are tracking in Google Analytics.

So when you are in Google Analytics, there is a tab at the top that says "Reporting". Then is says "Dashboards" and you can select "New Dashboard". This will create a new Dashboard that you can customize.

At this point, you can label or name the Dashboard and set a date range that is relevant to what you are tracking.

You can also export and schedule reports. Dashboards can always be modified to track the data you want. It's an easy way to monitor the website and see how much traffic the site is getting over a period of time.

Kelsey, Todd. "Chapter 4: Reviewing Performance of Campaigns." Casa Marketing Intro to Google Analytics. RGB, 2015. 65-69. Print.

The Importance of Thank-You Notes

Write Thank-You Notes

Image Source: Google Images

Most job-hunters ignore the advice to write thank-you notes after they interview with a company. This advice to write thank-you notes will help to set you apart when it comes down to an employer choosing someone to hire.

Writing a thank-you note will help you to stand out from the other applicants for the position. You should write a thank-you note to everyone you met when you interviewed. 

When you are in the interview, you can ask for their business card so that you have their contact information.

Here's six reasons that should convince you that writing a thank-you note is key: 

1. It shows that you have good people skills and manners.

2. It will help them remember you specifically.

3. If more than the person who initially interviewed you has to decide on whether or not to hire you, that person can show them the thank-you note.

4. If the interview went well, you can say that you look forward to speaking again.

5. If you forgot to tell them anything important in the interview, you can tell them in the thank-you note.

6. If the interview didn't go as well as you wanted or you decided you don't want to work there, the thank-you note can be a goodbye opportunity. You can thank them for taking the time to interview you.

How to Write Your Resume

Writing Your Resume

Image Source: Google Images

Before you begin, think of all the skills and experience you have. Start jotting down ideas on paper. Then create sections for your resume to talk about your experiences and skills.

Volunteer Work

This section is where you put any unpaid volunteer work you have done for the community, an organization, or a church you belong to.

Education

Your highest level of education completed should be listed first. You can include GPA if you want, degree, major, and any achievements.

Experience

List your previous jobs from most recent or present to past jobs. List skills used in each job and tasks accomplished.

Skills

A separate section for skills may be necessary to include any skills you think are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Published or Presented Work

In this section, you can talk about any projects you have completed or anything you have worked on that you believe will make you stand out.


Have someone look over your resume for any grammar errors or format errors before you send it to potential employers. Most employers will not look at a resume with any errors.

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 2 Google Is Your New Resume." What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 21-43. Print. 

How the Job Market Has Changed Since 2008

What Has Changed in the Job Market Since the 2008 Recession?

Image Source: Google Images

1. Employers Changed, Job-Hunters Didn't

Job-hunters always rely on their resumes, agencies, and ads. On the other hand, employers don't always stay the same. If the times are good, employers will have a harder time filling all the vacancies in their company so they will look at resumes and seek out the job-hunters. When their is a recession, there will no longer be vacancies posted, and job-hunters will have to work harder to find a job.

2. Many Employers are Holding Out for a Mythical Dream Employee

Employers know that there are many people searching for jobs since 2008 so they are able to be selective and find the best employee for the position.

3. The Length of the Average Job-Hunt Has Increased Dramatically

Many more people are having a harder time finding a job. Sometimes it takes over a year to find a position.

4. The Length of Time the Average Job Lasts Has Decreased Dramatically

More people are finding part-time jobs over full-time jobs since 2008. This is because employers are trying to cut costs and hire only when they need to.

5. Finding a Job That Pays a Middle-Class Salary is Getting More and More Difficult

Less people are earning a middle-class income today. Education is increasingly important to secure a job that pays a middle-class salary.

6. Job-Hunting is Increasingly Becoming a Repetitive Activity in the Lives of Many of Us

Everyone should know how to search for a job because jobs don't last as long as they used to.

7. Job-Hunting has Moved More and More Online Since 2008

You can now search for jobs online on job boards, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

8. Increasingly Job-Hunters and Employers Speak Two Different Languages

You have to learn about the employer's customs before you interview. Skills means experience not just what you are good at. 

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 1 It's a Whole New World for Job-Hunters." What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 1-13. Print. 

How to Start a New Business on Your Own

Deciding What Type of Business to Start

When deciding what career would be the best fit for you, there are four different brainstorming steps you can follow.

1. Write

Image Source: Google Images

Find out who you are. Start brainstorming ideas about possible business opportunities and jot them down. Write out or update your resume to see if you get any ideas based on your experience or your skills. Do some research about types of jobs online. O*NET (www.onetonline.org) is a great website with information you can discover about careers.

2. Read

Image Source: Google Images

Come up with a few ideas for your new start up business. Then research anything and everything about starting your own business. The internet has many sources that are helpful. 

3. Explore

Image Source: Google Images

A lot of new businesses don't survive in the long run. To make sure your new business takes off, you should interview people who have started their own companies and are successful. Find out the skills and knowledge you will need, and see if those skills match the ones you have. Find out what you need to work on and improve those skills or you can find someone who has the skills needed and hire them to work for you.

4. Get Feedback

Image Source: Google Images

Ask close friends and family what they think of your ideas. Ask someone who knows you well and who will be honest with you.

Then determine if you should move forward with your goal of starting a new business. There's a lot of work in launching your own company, but the payoff and rewards are numerous. All that success will be yours if your company takes off.

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 11 How to Start Your Own Business." What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 249-262. Print. 

Five Ways to Choose Your Career

Five Ways to Choose the Best Possible Career for You

1.) The Internet

The internet is a great way to search for a new career. O*Net Online is a great source to utilize. Go to www.onetonline.org/find or www.onetonline.org/search to begin to find information about careers.

2.) Tests

Image Source: Google Images

Take tests or assessments to determine what type of career you are best suited for. Find out what skills you have to offer and what jobs best use those skills.

3.) Using the Flower Exercise

The Flower Exercise can be found in the book, "What Color is Your Parachute?" This exercise allows you to explore who you are and find a dream career.

4.) Changing a Career in Two Steps

There are two parts to a job. Job title and the field you are in. The easiest way to change a career is only by changing one of those parts. This allows you to claim prior experience that is relevant to the new job you are seeking. You can of course try to find a completely different job, but it may be a slightly harder process.

5.) Finding Out What the Job-Market Will Need

If the above options for finding a career don't work, then try to find out what the job-market will need in upcoming years. Do a Google search for "hot jobs" or "job projections". Do a little research on what jobs are becoming more relevant in the job market.

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 10 The Five Ways to Choose/Change Careers." What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 233-244. Print.

Wondering What Employer's Tend to Be Prejudiced About?

Top Employer Prejudices

1. Someone who is out of work for an extended period of time.

Even being out of work for one year can be too long for some employers to consider you for a job position. Not all employers have this prejudice though.

2. Someone's age

The older you are, the harder it is to find a job. Once again, not every employer only hires young and middle aged people. Some will hire older people who can't retire yet.

3. If you are a returning veteran

Image Source: Google Images

Some employers don't hire veterans because they are concerned about the veterans suffering from PTSD. This does not apply to all employers.

4. If you are an ex-offender/ex-convict

A lot of employers don't usually want to hire ex-offenders/ex-convicts. There are books and helpful resources for these people to help them find a job.

5. If you are a former mental or psychiatric patient

Some employers may be concerned about people who have been former patients.

6. Others

Just about everyone faces prejudice of some kind from potential employers.

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 9 How to Deal with Any Handicaps You Have." What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 218-223. Print. 

Five Things to Do When You are Looking for a Job

Five Things You Must Do in Your Job Search

Image Source: Google Images

1. Find out what jobs you would be passionate about.

Find out what skills you possess and like the most, and look for jobs that will use your skills.

2. Try out a few careers before deciding which one suits you best.

Put in some time exploring different careers especially if you are undecided, and see which ones better suit your personality.

3. Find out what organizations have the jobs that would suit you and your personality.

Think about all the different places you could possibly get hired and see if the options are what you are looking for.

4. Find out specific names of the businesses that fit your ideal job.

Do some research and searches online to find businesses that are in your area that have the qualifications and description of job position that you are looking for.

5. Do your research on the businesses you want to apply to before you reach out to them.

Make sure you know everything you can about the company before you decide to apply there. Be informed about the company ahead of time and apply because you feel it will be a good fit for you.

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 8 You Get to Choose Where You Work." What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 191-209. Print. 

Some Inspiration to Get Certified in Google Analytics

Google Analytics Certification 

In 2013 top skills that got people hired included Digital and Online Marketing and Business Intelligence. Both of these skills include web analytics.

Being Google Analytics certified can help you become more knowledgeable and can also help the business you work for. You should include the certification on your resume and your LinkedIn profile.

Before you begin the test to get certified. You should prepare by looking at the qualification for Google Analytics at www.google.com/intl/en/analytics/learn/. 

Be sure to check out videos on YouTube about Google Analytics and the Analytics Academy. 

These sources will be extremely helpful to give you the knowledge you need to learn about analytics and pass the exam.

Being Google Analytics certified will truly help you out in the job market. You will have extra skills that are some of the top skills that got people hired just two years ago. These skills are becoming increasingly important in the business world and especially marketing.

Kelsey, Todd. "Chapter 8: Exploring Google Analytics Certification." Casa Marketing Intro to Google Analytics. RGB, 2015. 161-178. Print.

Image is a screenshot of my Google Partners Page.

Get a Better Idea of Who You Are

Understanding Yourself Makes It Easier to Find a Job

There are seven ways that prove that this works well.

Image Source: Google Images

1. If you find out what you like you can learn to describe yourself in new ways, and you can find the skills that you have that will work for different job-markets.

2. When you look into who you are and what skills you have you can then give a detailed description of what you are looking for. This includes what type of job you want and what work setting you want to work in.

3. Once you have a detailed idea of what you want to do, you will be more enthusiastic and the job search won't seem like a job.

4. You won't have to wait till companies have job openings. You can approach them because you know you have the skills they want.

5. Among other job applicants for the same position, you will stand out because you can more accurately describe your skills.

6. After gaining a better understanding of yourself, you will be able to better see what career will fit you especially if you are considering a completely different career.

7. Being unemployed is an opportunity to take the free time you have to explore who you are and understand your skills better.

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 7 You Need to Understand More Fully Who You Are." What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 111-114. Print. 

Learning Analytics Easily with Gumroad- a Free Tool

eCommerce Analytics with Gumroad

Gumroad is a free platform that allows you to easily link Google Analytics to an eCommerce site. It's important to be able to directly see the conversion tracking so that you can see how effective your ad was or how effective keywords you selected were.

This can all be very useful in a business where they are tracking conversions to see how they can increase traffic to their website and increase ROI.

When you use Gumroad, this tool can help you see how many visitors your site had and how many visitors actually purchased your product. When you use this tool, you can see how effective your campaign is and you can improve aspects of it over time.

Create a Free Gumroad Account

In order to use Gumroad, you will need to create a free account by going to gumroad.com. You'll create a name for your store, and choose a username that will then become part of the link.

Then you can connect Google Analytics.

You'll use the link for gumroad, and you'll need to create a new property in Google Analytics. Once you have that set up, you will paste the link to your gumroad account into Google Analytics.

Then select "Get Tracking ID" and copy the ID and paste it into Gumroad under Advanced Settings. Once all this is set up, you will ad your product.

Review the Analytics

In order to review analytics in Gumroad, you do need to have had some traffic and at least one purchase. But once you have this traffic, you can begin to track the analytics and get a conversion rate.

Kelsey, Todd. "Chapter 7: Fun with ECommerce Analytics - Gumroad." Casa Marketing Intro to Google Analytics. RGB, 2015. 133-160. Print.

Image is a screenshot of gumroad.com.

The Importance of Adwords

Adwords and eCommerce

Google Adwords is used to advertise sites and track the conversion of the site. This means that when you combine Adwords with an eCommerce site, you can track everything from how they saw your ad to the purchases consumers make.

This blog post assumes that you have previously created the Shopify account, and that you will be using that site and combining it with Adwords.

The first step is to create an Adwords account. You can easily do this by going to http://www.google.com/adwords.

Then go to Tools > Conversions and click on "Conversions". You will have to enter a conversion name. If you click "The value of the conversion may vary", you will be able to set different prices. Set the conversion category to Purchase/Sale. Be sure that the markup language is HTML.

You can choose if you want to make changes to the code or not. This code is basically instructions to connect Shopify and Adwords.

How to Connect Adwords to Shopify

In your Shopify account, go to settings and click "Checkout". Paste the code from Adwords into the spot where it says, "Additional content and scripts". 

Then Make an Adwords Campaign

This is how you will create an ad that you can track conversions for. 

The first step is to login to your Adwords account and click "Campaign". Then you'll want to select "Search Network" only and you'll name your campaign. You'll then be able to set a budget, and this can be as little or as much as you want. 

Once you complete those steps, enter your landing page. This is the page of your site that you would like people to go to after they click on your ad.

Copy the Shopify link into Adwords, and you can then come up with keywords that you think people will search that are relevant to your product that you are advertising.

Review Your Campaign

You'll want to check the time frame of your campaign to make sure there is an end date so you won't continuously be charged anytime anyone clicks on your ad.

You should now be able to track conversions from your Shopify account with Adwords in place.

Kelsey, Todd. "Chapter 6: Fun with ECommerce Analytics Part II: Adwords." Casa Marketing Intro to Google Analytics. RGB, 2015. 105-132. Print.

Pictures are screenshots of Google Adwords.

Twelve Ways to Look for a Job

Twelve Ways to Help with Your Job Search

1. You can look on the internet to see if there are job postings.

Websites such as Monster, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, Career Bliss, TweetMyJobs, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are all places you can search for jobs online. 

2. Send out your resume online or by mailing to employers.

This usually lands people interviews that can lead to a potential job offer.

3. Search the newspaper for jobs.

Use your Sunday Newspaper to search for "Help Wanted Ads".

Image Source: Google Images

4. Find an employment agency that can help you find a job.

Search the Yellow Pages for these agencies. 

5. Find an ad in a trade journal and apply.

Journals can be found at www.planningshop.com/tradeassociations.asp

6. Look into "Job Clubs".

"Job Clubs" tend to be support groups for people looking for jobs. They usually meet once or twice a week. 

7. Go to your state or federal employment office to look for a job.

You can go to the website for your local federal/state unemployment service office at www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm

8. Find a place where employer's pick up workers.

Union hiring halls are usually a good place to look for jobs.

9. Ask someone for a job-lead.

Use networking to help you find job openings. 

10. Got to the physical location of where you want to apply and ask if they are hiring.

You can go to the place you want to work and see if they are hiring and if you can give them your resume. Directly talking to employers sometimes helps.

11. Search the Yellow Pages.

Find companies that may be of interest to you. Send out your resume to those companies.

12. Use this Parachute Approach.

If you are following along with the book "What Color is Your Parachute" then continue using these tips and eventually it will land you a job.

Bolles, Richard. "Chapter 6 What to Do When Your Job-Hunt Just Isn't Working." What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 102-109. Print. 

How to Negotiate Your Salary

There are Six Secrets to Negotiating Your Salary at the End of an Interview

Did you know that you should make sure to find out the salary before you accept the job offer? It is important for you to find out before excepting a position. This can be intimidating to bring up in an interview or discuss with a potential employer. So here are six secrets that will help you feel more confident in negotiating a salary.

1. Wait until the end of the interview to discuss the salary. They should have clearly told you that they want to hire you.

You want this negotiation to happen at the end of the interview so that the employer has a chance to get to know you. This could be more favorable for you, as the employer may decide to offer you a higher salary than what they were thinking of for the position based on how well they like you as you are being interviewed. 

2. Use the negotiation to find out the highest salary the employer is willing to pay you. 

Employers usually have a salary figure in mind. It is your job to find out what that is and come up with a range to ask for that is close to that figure. 

Image Source: Google Images

3. Don't be the one to bring up the salary first.

Let the employer ask you what you want to be paid, or let them mention what the pay is. Studies have shown that whoever starts this conversation usually loses in the negotiation. 

4. Do some research on salary figures in your field area. 

Go to a job interview prepared knowing what the salary figures are for a person in the position the job interview is for. If you are educated, there is a chance you can get a higher salary than what the employer is willing to pay you. You will be able to ask for a higher salary.

5. Gather research on the range an employer is willing to pay, and come up with your own range.

You can ask other people or employees. Find out the pay of anyone above and below you, and you can base your range off of their salaries.

Image Source: Google Images

6. Make sure you discuss everything about salaries and benefits before taking the position.

See what benefits they are willing to offer you on top of the salary. Make sure the benefits that are important to you are covered. It is best to get your agreement in writing at this point so you can refer back to it if needed. They may honestly forget all that they promised you in the interview.

"Chapter 5 The Six Secrets of Salary Negotiation." What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 82-97. Print. 

How to Track Your Business' ROI with Google Analytics

Track Your ROI with Google Analytics

Shopify is a Google recommended ecommerce site. When you set an account up, you can begin to track the data and see how much money you are making based on what you are spending. This can be very helpful for a business.

Here's How to Easily Set Up a Shopify Account

Image Source: Google Images

1. Begin by going to www.shopify.com and click on "Get Started"
2. You can choose to sign up for a free trial or you can pay $29.95 a month. To do the conversion tracking, you have to pay.
3. Type in your email address, a password, and a store name and then create your account.
4. Choose the online store and set up your account by adding your name and address.
5. Once you do that, you can add the digital product such as an E-Book that you can download. 
6. You can select an image to appear and can even customize how your online store looks.
7. You have to enter you bank account information to set up the account.
8. Set the price for downloads of your digital product.

If you are using this to test Google Analytics, then try to get friends and family to make a purchase so you can track the ROI. That will be discussed more in the next blog post. 

There is more information and step by step explanations of how to set up the Shopify Account in the book CASA Marketing by Todd Kelsey. 

Kelsey, Todd. "Chapter 5: Fun with ECommerce Analytics Part I: Shopify." CASA Marketing Intro to Google Analytics. 2015. 71-104. Print. 

16 Job Interview Tips

Tips to Consider When You Have a Job Interview

There are 16 tips that are important to consider before each and every job interview. These 16 tips are discussed thoroughly in the book, What Color is Your Parachute by Richard N. Bolles. This blog post will just highlight the importance of each tip. 

Image Source: Google Images

1. There is no such things as "employers."

Just because one company doesn't hire you, doesn't mean that every company out there won't. Each employer is different and with each "No" you will get closer to a "Yes". 

2. An interview should be prepared for, before you ever go in.

Make sure you find out as much about the company as you can before you go in. Be prepared to show them that you know about them.

3. Honor agreements. 

Set a time limit for how long the interview will be if you are asking the employer for their time. Don't over stay. Let them know that you are aware of how much time you told them you would take for your interview, and make sure the interview lasts that long.

4. An interview for a job is a lot like dating.

It's a two-way conversation to ask questions to find out if you both like each other and if you would be a good fit to work there.

5. Questions to expect from them, then questions to ask.

"Tell me about yourself" is the main thing that they will ask you. They want to see how you will answer that question. You should tell the employer about your experience, skills, and knowledge that you have that are relevant to that job.

6. During the interview, determine to observe "the 50-50 rule."

Speak half the time of the interview to show them you are interested in the job, but allow the employer to speak the other half of the time.

7. In answering the employer's questions, observe "the twenty-second to two-minute rule."

Answer questions in anywhere from 20 seconds to two minutes.

8. The employer is primarily concerned about risk.

They want to make sure you are going to be a good fit and worth their time and money. They are anxious about hiring the right person for the job.

9. It's the small things that are the killers, in a job interview.

Things like your appearance, habits, nervous mannerisms, lack of confidence, consideration toward other people, and your values all matter.

10. Be aware of the skills most employers are looking for, these days, regardless of the position you are seeking.

Some important skills are: being punctual, being dependable, having a good attitude, being driven, wanting more than a paycheck, being self-disciplined, being well-organized, social, knowing how to use a computer, knowing how to work well with teams, being flexible, able to learn, being creative, having integrity, and being loyal.

11. Try to think of some way to bring evidence of your skills, to the hiring interview.

If you have a physical thing you can show the employer about some accomplishment you have had you should bring it to the interview.

12. Do not bad-mouth your previous employer(s) during the interview, even if they were terrible people.

Try to say something nice about previous employers if you can.

13. Throughout the interview, keep in mind: employers don't really care about your past; they only ask about it, in order to try to predict your future (behavior) with them, if they decide to hire you.

Try to show them that you would be a good employee in the future.

14. As the interview proceeds, you want to quietly notice the time-frame of the questions the employer is asking. 

If the questions move quickly from the past to the future, you can be pretty sure that the interview is going well for you.

15. Before you leave the (final) interview, assuming you have decided that you like them and maybe they like you, there are five questions you should always ask: 

1. "Can you offer me this job?"
2. "When may I expect to hear from you?"
3. "Might I ask what would be the latest I can expect to hear from you?"
4. "May I contact you after that date, if for any reason you haven't gotten back to me by that time?"
5. "Can you think of anyone else who might be interested in my skills and experience?"

Image Source: Google Images

16. Thank-you notes must be sent after every interview by every job-hunter. 

This will help you to stand out from others who are being interviewed for the same position. 

Bolles, Richard N. "Chapter 4 Sixteen Tips About Interviewing for a Job." What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 2016 ed. Ten Speed, 2015. 53-81. Print.

Campaign Performance

See How Your Campaign is Going

Google Analytics

You can log into your Google Analytics account to see how your campaign is going. You can check how many clicks your website has received. 

First you'll click on the globe icon next to your website, and then you'll click the overview tab on the left hand side of the screen. 

You can see how long someone was on your website, and you can see if they went to any other pages within your website. If they left right away and didn't visit any other pages, that refers to the term bounce rate.

You can also tell where the visits were from. The visits could be from all over the world.

Google Analytics collects data  for you about your website to see how current performance is going and then to help you make goals for the future.

Trends

Trending is another way to see how things perform over a measure of time. 

The longer your blog has been around the more you may be able to see a trend. If you continuously add content and update your blog, it may help increase the amount of traffic to your blog. 

Dashboards

Dashboards can help make it easier to see the performance of certain aspects of your campaign. Click on Reporting at the top and then New Dashboard. Select Starter Dashboard and you can name it whatever you want. You can then set a date range to see data from an amount of time.

The dashboard will organize all important data that Google Analytics collects about your website for a nice overview  about your website.

This is a screenshot of the Dashboard for my marketing blog.

Did You Know That There are Over 8 Million Job Openings Each Month?

There are millions of Job Openings Every Month

When you are searching for a job, know that you aren't as powerless as you may think you are. The job hunt goes both ways. You have the power to ask questions as much as the employer does.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts out two reports each month in the United States about the job market. These two reports give conflicting information. One report is hopeful about the current job market, and the other report is depressing.

Image Source: Google Images

The media tends to always report the depressing statistics and withhold the hopeful information. This gives us as job hunters the wrong impression of the current job market. 

When you are looking for a job, here are a few things you should know:

1. Job hunting is not a science; it's an art. You have to find creative ways to set yourself apart.
2. Job hunting is always mysterious. You never know what will work!
3. There is no "always wrong" way to hunt for a job or to change careers.
4. There is no "always right" way to hunt for a job or to change careers.
5. Job hunting is, or should be, a full-time job.

How to Get More Traffic to Test Analytics

Different Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Blog

Social Media

You can share your blog link on social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Visuals help to increase clicks so include a picture of your blog in your post. When you post to social media explain that you are trying to increase traffic and generate data. This will help increase the chances of people clicking on your link.

Promote Your Post on Social Media

You can promote your post on social media, but you have to pay Facebook. Once you do, it will become sponsored and will reach more than just your connections.

Create an Ad on Facebook

An ad campaign can also be a way to increase traffic to your blog. The first step is to go to http://www.facebook.com/ads/. 

Choose the "Clicks to Website" option, and then paste the link to your blog. The next step is to choose an image to use for your blog. Once you have the image, create a headline with a call-to-action for the ad.

You can then select your audience- who you want to click on the ad. This can be done by choosing geographic locations and selecting interests. The interests are keywords about who you are targeting your ad to. So for instance if you use your blog as the ad you are promoting, you will type in what your blog is about.

A screenshot of this step is featured below.

Then, choose how long you want your ad campaign to run and how much you want to spend.
Finally, make the payment and place the order.

To see if there is any traffic from the ad, you can check this website: https://www.facebook.com/ads/manage.

The Importance of Using Google as Your New and Improved Resume

Google is the New and Improved Resume

Today, while employers are still using the paper resume to sort out potential job candidates, they are beginning to rely on a simple Google search of the selected applicant.

The search results can give employers a lot more access to information about you. Anything you have ever posted on the internet may be there for companies to see. Things like your Facebook page, Twitter account, LinkedIn, YouTube channel, Pinterest, Instagram, Blog, and Website can all be listed in the search results.

It's important to make sure that all information you post about yourself is information you would want a prospective boss to see. If your posts and accounts are not professional, there's still time to edit what's available for people to see.

Let's focus on LinkedIn because it is an important tool that companies use when they are looking to hire you.

Image Source: Google Images

To make your LinkedIn profile really stand out among other people with similar experiences and careers, here are a few tips: 

1. Have a photo of yourself on your profile. It's a turnoff to employers if you don't have a photo present. Plus you will get more profile views if you have a photo. Make sure it looks professional.

2. The Job Title is important. Put your current job title in this spot and if your position has other names then put a slash and the other names after the slash. If you are looking for a change in your current job use a slash after your position and indicate what new position you are looking for. This will help provide keywords when employers are looking for someone who fits their position they are looking to fill.

3. Past Jobs or Experience need to be more than a list of jobs or achievements. Tell a story, and talk about your experience. Summarize major achievements in this section. When listing your skills, be sure to list as many as you have because this increases the likelihood your profile will be looked at.

4. In the Summary section, list whatever sets you apart from the other people in your field.

5. In the spot for Specialties, this is where you can list keywords that will lead a search engine to find the jobs you want.

6. List the hobbies, interests, education, training, community service, and associations you belong to. 

7. Share links to your website, blog or anything relevant to your field.

8. Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your field, and post regularly, but not too often. You want to appear as an expert on your career.

9. Describe projects that you were a part of. There are even places to share a portfolio of your work.

A Simple Way to Start Using Google Analytics

It's Easy to Get Started Using Google Analytics

An easy way to begin to see how Google Analytics works and all the tools that are offered is to create a Google account. This can be done at http://mail.google.com or by using an already created Google account.

First Step: Creating a Blog

You can start a blog by going to http://www.blogger.com.

Click where it says New Blog. You can name it whatever you want, and you can choose the address you want it to have. Once you have created the address, make a note because you will need the link when you create the Google Analytics account.

Choose a template that you would like for your blog. This is the visual element that will appear on all your posts. Once you have completed these steps, click the button that says Create blog!

Now you can begin blogging about whatever topic you like. Once your blog is published you'll want to find ways to get your content seen. Try posting your blog link to Facebook or email the link to your contacts. 

Second Step: Creating a Google Analytics Account

Create the Google Analytics account by going to http://www.google.com/analytics/ 

There will be a button in the top right hand corner that says "Access Google Analytics" if you are already signed into your Google account. If you aren't signed in, then there will be a button that says "Sign in" and you can use your Google account information.

Once your are signed in, you will be directed to a page that allows you to sign up for the Google Analytics account. Then you will be prompted to do 5 things: 

1. Type in an account name. This could be your name, the name of your organization, or a title. 
2. Set up a property. This is a place where your new site or blog is added for Google Analytics to track. Paste the address of your blog in this spot. 
3. Then get your Tracking ID. This is a code that Google gives you so that you can paste it in your blog to connect Google Analytics with your blog. 
4. Accept the Agreement
5. Google Analytics will open a page with the name you gave your site or blog, and you can find the Tracking ID and copy it.

Third Step: Connecting the Blog Post with Google Analytics

Go back to your blog, and find the blog settings. Click "Settings" and then click "Other" Then find where it says "Google Analytics". This is where you will paste the Tracking ID from the Google Analytics page. 

It may take up to 24 hours to connect the two, but once they are connected, you can begin to track the analytics by clicking on the globe icon. This will show you web analytics that will give you an insight on your blog's performance. This means it will tell you how many visits you have and what the behavior is like on your site. You can also set a date range to show data daily, weekly, or monthly. This allows you to look back into past data and analyze trends you may see. 

Finally...

Once it's all set up, try to get more traffic to your blog by posting the link on Facebook and regularly blogging about relevant content.

How to Successfully Find a Job in Today's Economy

18 Key Ideas to Keep in Mind When Looking for a Job

The book, What Color is Your Parachute, by Richard N. Bolles is a helpful tool for people seeking a job. It can be a tough process, but here are 18 things to keep in mind that will hopefully make the process easier and will help you stand out among your competition for jobs.

1. You are the Given.

You can choose to go the traditional route where you try to fit yourself into the job position or the creative route where you look for a job that best suits you.

2. Make time for a self-inventory.

Do a little research on yourself before beginning the job search.

3. Search for the answers to What? Where? and How? 

What skills do you love to use?

Where do you want to use those skills?

How do you find the right jobs to apply for and the right people to talk to?

4. Look for something you love, not only what you can do. 

Finding something that seeks the skills you love will help you to be passionate about your job which helps employers hire you over someone who lacks passion.

5. Treat every possible opportunity as a career change. 

Use past jobs to help find a new job you would love.

6. Prioritize your skills. 

Your list of skills and accomplishments is only helpful if it is prioritized.

7. Go after anything that interests you. 

Even if a company that you want to apply to doesn't have an opening, apply before they open a spot and you have competition for a job you really would like. 

8. Small companies are ideal. 

Small companies are the best to apply to.

9. Avoid the human resources department, if you can. 

People who work in the human resources department are the ones who eliminate the first round of applicants. If you want to have a better chance at getting an interview, find out who the person is who will actually be doing the hiring and try to contact them. 

10. Do more than a typical resume. 

Resumes are overlooked most of the time because of the amount companies receive. There are four alternative methods to applying for a job: 1) Self-inventory 2) Join a job-club 3) Use the Yellow Pages 4) Go to the physical location and apply

11. Network. See who you know who can help you find a job opportunity. 

Find someone who can recommend you as a good employee and get you a connection to the job you want.

12. Use different types of interviews when looking for a job. 

There are 3 types of interviews that can help this process. 

1) The Practice Field Survey- stress free, interviewing others on interests 

2) Informational Interviewing- interview someone who is in a field or position you think interests you

3) Interviewing for Hire- interview with employers to see if you want to work at their company and if they want you to work for them

13. There are 5 questions that should be answered in an interview. 

1) Why are you here? 

2) What can you do for us?

3) What kind of person are you?

4) What distinguishes you from the other people we are interviewing for this job?

5) Can we afford you?

14. Time is important in an interview. 

Talk half of the time of the interview. Limit responses to questions from 20 seconds to 2 minutes. Be able to answer questions about the past, present, and future.

15. Ask for the job after every interview. 

"Considering all that we have discussed here, can you offer me this job?"

16. Send a thank-you note the same day of the interview. 

Send a handwritten or digital thank-you note to everyone you talked to.

17. Job-Hunting is a long process of rejection. 

There will be rejection when searching for a job. Each "No" is closer to a "Yes". 

18. Have alternative options. 

Don't rely on one job. Apply to multiple jobs that you think would be a good fit for you.

Analytics Can Help Your Career and Your Business

The Importance of Analytics

In 2013, some of the top skills companies were looking for when hiring people were social media marketing, digital and online marketing, and business intelligence.

Top 3 Skills to Have:

1. Social Media Marketing- helps marketers to understand the performance of campaigns.

2. Digital and Online Marketing- uses web analytics to see how many people are visiting or purchasing things on your website.

3. Business Intelligence- includes web analytics and uses competitive intelligence like financial trends or tools that look at competitors.

Web Analytics Tools

The Google Analytics Tool is a free resource for companies to use. Gaining the Google Analytics Certification can make your resume stand out and show your credibility to future employers.

Image Source: Google Images

Adobe Analytics - Omiture is an expensive program, but having this knowledge can lead to a higher salary. Not a lot of people have this skill.

Open Source Analytics helps people control their own data.

Social Analytics is included in different social media platforms such as Facebook and Youtube where users can track how many people commented and visited their site.

SEO Blog Post "New Requirements for High Search Engine Rankings"

These New Requirements Are: 

Good Content- Post penguin update is good content. The penguin update fights SPAM constantly. The key to ranking high on a search engine is good content. The site also needs to show signs of growth.

Image source: Google images

Social Proof- An important role in rankings of a site. The content should be engaging and should be shared across all social media sites.

Author Rank- This carries heavy weight in ranking algorithms for a site. The author rank shows if a person is an authority on a certain subject. The sites where there is authority get ranked higher than sites with similar content that do not have authority.

Internal Links- Link Spam is not an effective way to boost rankings anymore. Over optimization of keywords and meta-descriptions aren't good for rankings either. Internal links need to point to other pages equally rich in content.

HTTPS As a New Ranking Factor- This is the newest ranking signal in Google's algorithm. There is an increased focus on security. This implemented secure searches.

SEO Blog Post "Google Panda"

Google Panda

Google Panda is a series of incremental changes to the algorithm used by Google to sort search result rankings.

It was first released in February 2011. An update was designed to give sites that were original and had high quality priority over sites that had low quality or duplicate content.

Increased rankings of sites that had dynamic and high quality content such as news sites and social media sites.

Thousands of sites were affected by this update.

What is Google Panda?

It's basically a design phase of the algorithm Google uses to rank sites. Google hired hundreds of humans to rate websites with specific markers in mind: the loading speed of the site, design and layout, and quality of the content.

These humans who tested the sites also had to say if they would visit the site again or not.

These human data results were then gathered and used to create the algorithm for Panda.

Image source: Google images

How does Google Panda Work? 

It uses an algorithm called PageRank which uses data from analyzing back links to rank sites. Pages can be penalized for having similar content. In order to get rid of similar content, you have to delete duplicate content or rewrite it.
Content is important. You have to make sure it's relevant and up to date.

SEO Blog Post "Social Media Optimization"

Social Media
Social Media is a huge part of online marketing. To optimize the Facebook news feed, you have to have a strong fan base. Networking is what helps social media sites grow. Creating a page with relevant content that engages users and gives them a place to make comments is important to the success of the page.

Reaching people with the content will help gain a following and more people will participate in the conversation threads. The default settings will have the top news feed over the most recent news feed.

Image source: Google images

Goal of Social Media 
The goal is to have your page in the top news feed for as long as you can. This will happen when users keep "liking" your page and making comments on it.

The content has to encourage the user to take action. This will help the page be ranked higher on the Facebook news feed.

Image source: Google images

Formula for Social Media
There is a formula to keep users engaged with their favorite pages on social media. This formula consists of the affinity score, the weight of the page, and the time decay.

Affinity Score- records how often the user comments, likes, or visits the page.

Weight- taking into consideratinn the number of actions taken on a particular post on social media.

Time Decay- how long a post has been on the Facebook page. Activity has to constantly be happening to make the most of the content.