In my previous post I discussed how to Set Up Goals in Google Analytics. As some of you may know, a Google Analytics account only allows you to setup up 20 goals. Well what if you need to measure more than 20 goals? The answer is Sub Accounts, and the set up is quite simple. Google Analytics now allows you to have up to 100 sub accounts; meaning, you can now measure up to 2000 distinct goals using the original Google Analytics code that was installed on your site!

Steps to Setting Up Sub Accounts

1. Once logged into Google Analytics, navigate to the Add Website Profile Link.

2. Select the radio button labeled "Add a Profile for an existing domain."

3. If you have Google AdWords don't forget to select the box to "Apply Cost Data" as it will allow you to see what goals are being hit from your Google AdWords PPC Campaigns.

4. Name your new Sub Account. It helps to name the Sub Account for the type of goals you are measuring. Example ? E-Power Marketing Newsletter Signups

5. Check the status of your new Sub Account by clicking on the "Check Status Link"

You have now set up a sub account under your original domain allowing you to track up to 20 more goals! Now all you need to do is set up Google Analytics Goals.

Labels: Google Analytics

Google Webmaster Tools has begun reporting if your Sitemap file contains too many URLs that redirect. The error will be listed as a Warning with your XML file with the following message:

URLs not followed
When we tested a sample of the URLs from your Sitemap, we found that some URLs were not accessible to Googlebot because they contained too many redirects. Please change the URLs in your Sitemap that redirect and replace them with the destination URL (the redirect target). All valid URLs will still be submitted. Help

Google's help screen provides reasons and assistance on how to correct the errors and basically suggests that you change the URLs within your XML file to point to the destination URL instead of the redirected URL. The warning message appears to report both 301 and 302 type redirects.

Overall, keep your Sitemap / XML file up to date with the proper URLs minus any redirects. Remember, Google is watching!

Labels: Organic SEO