This is the third post in a series that focuses on using the various tools located within the Google AdWords tools and analysis tab. The first post focused on the Google AdWords change history tool, in the second post we walked through the AdWords conversion tab, and in this post we’ll be looking at Google Analytics reporting within the AdWords interface:

Google Analytics guide features

Using Google Analytics Within the AdWords Interface

While Google AdWords has some robust reporting features, you can gain some additional insights by leveraging Google Analytics reporting within the AdWords interface. There are a few main areas where you can get access to information within the analytics that you can’t get within AdWords analytics alone. Before you start, make sure your AdWords is linked to Analytics.

Engagement Metrics

Sometimes it’s difficult to diagnose specific issues within your account using only clicks and conversion data – within the Google Analytics interface you can look at engagement metrics such as bounce rate, page views per visit, visit duration, etc. for different components of your AdWords campaigns:

Google Analytics user guide

Now you can see data for specific keywords that are bouncing quickly or driving long periods of time on your site or multiple page views.

Advanced Segments

By using advanced segments you can drill down to identify different analytics metrics for your paid search accounts and even for mobile or tablet traffic from paid search:

Google Analytics guide help

From there you can look at any of the data and reports in Google Analytics and have it applied just to your paid search traffic, even outside of the AdWords reporting section. There’s some data that you can find here for your paid search account that’s not as easily accessible (or not available at all) within AdWords, such as:

  • Site speed data
  • Demographics
  • Browser
  • Events (so that you can track key performance indicators that aren’t necessarily goals – such as views of a key page, video plays, etc.)
  • Google Analytics conversion data

Again, while the core metrics driving your campaigns (cost and conversions) are available in AdWords, these can all be very helpful in diagnosing specific issues.

Multi-Channel Funnels

Another type of data you can view within the Analytics section of the AdWords interface is in the analytics multi-channel funnel report:

Google Analytics guide report

The multi-channel funnel report helps you analyze conversion paths—conversions that are driven by multiple channels. For example if someone clicks a PPC ad, then later comes back through an organic visit. For more information on some specific ways to make use of this data, SEER Interactive had a great recent post on the topic, and the comments have some good additional discussion around using multi-channel reports to help tune your retargeting campaigns.

In the next installment in this series, we’ll cover Google’s Website Optimizer and offer some tips, tricks, and resources for getting the most of Google’s Website Optimizer tool in your AdWords campaigns. For more advanced tricks, hacks, and tips on measuring your web marketing efforts, visit our ultimate Google Analytics Guide.

Join 713K other marketers that receive our weekly newsletter!

Loading...
Meet The Author

Tom Demers

Tom Demers is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Measured SEM and Cornerstone Content.

Comments


Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.


Unlock your business potential

We offer innovative technology and unparalleled expertise to move your business forward.