Google has released Google Analytics Real-Time, which will allow users to monitor activity on their sites as it happens.
Prior to the development of the real-time analytics tool, Google Analytics has provided comprehensive reports that analyse past activity on a given Web site. The time lag on Google Analytics had a typical delay window of three or more hours.
While the previous structure of the Google Analytics reports will remain the same, real-time will add a new layer to the data by providing a real-time report.
The update will bring Google up to date with paid-for services such as Chartbeat and Woopra, and a number of other real-time data tools. The Google service will still be free.
John Jersin, of the Google Analytics team, says: “The Web is getting faster, and not just the speed of the pages, but also the speed of change.
“We need to be constantly on the lookout for problems and opportunities.”
According to Jersin, the new real-time data can help measure the immediate impact of social media.
“Whenever we put out a new blog post, we also send out a tweet. With Real-Time, I can see the immediate impact to my site traffic.”
“We could also see when we stopped receiving visits from the tweet, which helps know when to reengage,” says Jersin.
The new version of Google Analytics is available as an upgrade for current users via the “New Version” link on the top right of Google Analytics. Google says the new version will be rolled out over the next few weeks.
Go big
Google Analytics has also announced a “premium” product designed specifically for larger customers.
The Google Analytics Premium package is said to provide extra processing power, more data collection and more custom variables, advanced analysis and support services.
“We learned from some of our largest customers that they have some specific needs that the current version of Google Analytics can't meet in their entirety,” says Google.
The new offering has reportedly been in pilot testing phase with some of Google's largest clients, such as Gucci, Travelocity and TransUnion.
Google Analytics Premium is currently only available for an unspecified fixed fee in the US, Canada and the UK.
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