Most people don't think about Google Analytics at all, even when they know they should (see more here about spending 30 minutes a month in Google Analytics), but even those that do think about Google Analytics only think about it related to their website's data. But what about mobile apps? Did you know how easy it is to ensure you have your downloads, active users, most popular screens, user / behavior flow and even custom event tracking set-up via Google Analytics? Check out how to download the Google Analytics SDK (Software Development Kit) for your mobile app to give to your custom software developer to make sure they properly install Google Analytics on your iOS / Android Application!

Get ready, you’ll need the following for this one: 1. A WordPress Website; 2. A Google Analytics Account; 3. A Google Tag Manager Account (don’t worry, it’s easy – you just go to google.com/tagmanager and log in with your existing Google Account or GSuite Account). What’s the point? Well, you want to make data driven marketing decisions, right? Like, you want to know NOT ONLY HOW MANY CLICKS you got on that key “Download Now” button on your homepage, but you want to know WHERE those link clicks came from, right? Like, how many came from your Google Adwords Campaigns, how many came from your Facebook Organic Posts, your Boosts, your Facebook Ads, your Instagram Profile, your LinkedIn posts – get it? Cool, listen to this audio and you’ll be on your way to setting up your very own digital business intelligence tracking dashboard. Thanks for listening, and have a great day! KEEP MARKETING!

I talk about it all the time. I live by it. My team now has fully bought in and sees the value. Clients are actually regurgitating my own words back to me in meetings. It's taken about 4-5 years, but it's all happening. Our Web Design and Digital Marketing Process is working for our clients, and for us. It's a total contradiction, simple but complex at the same time. Using data to drive design. Using data to drive action. Stop debating, start doing. Like any good digital agency, the proof is in the experience and the work, and the results. We're so in it, on a daily grind basis, that I've finally started to take some time to lift the hood and show our process. This video shows how we use Google Analytics to make real improvements to websites and marketing strategies that result in clear action items. Simple ones. Not expensive ones. Once these action items are implemented, then the engagement levels improve, and the leads and sales are generated. It doesn't happen overnight.

In this episode, you hear audio from Data Driven Daily Tip 172, where I break down the data that exists inside Google My Business and how it can help you from a marketing and operations standpoint. Specifically, I talk about how to download a report that shows search data, map analytics and even foot traffic if you have more than one local business location. When it comes down to it, I’ve basically made a career out of using free tools to build shit. 🙂 Seriously, Google Analytics and WordPress are the first two PERFECT examples. Could it be that Google My Business is next? There’s a TON of free data that can help your business within this platform. All you need is a verified listing. But if you’re a business with more than one listing, how do you get this data from your 2-300 locations (or more) in one cumulative report.

There seems to be a lot of confusion among business owners about which SEO tactics are the lowest hanging fruit for them to tackle. A number 1 is a verified Google My Business Listing. But even for those of you marketers (from CMOs to Small Business Owners) savvy enough to verify your listing and pay attention to the data and capabilities around it, you may have noticed that you get pinged with updates to your listing. Where do these come from? Well, a lot of the time they come from User Contributions. Yes, that's right, Google allows any user to make contributions to a Google My Business Listing (verified or not) and even rewards them for it. This episode breaks it down.

Are you in college and looking for a career path? Whether or not you like sports, or are interested in a career in professional or college sports, there are some solid learnings in here for you. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with three really solid current college students that have made a wise decision to do a summer internship with a professional sports league based out of Nashville, TN. I was invited to share my story of how I made a decision at age 19 to start my career. It was fun to share my experiences and my path with the Detroit Pistons, from cleaning out closets to being trusted to keep the official scorebook for the NBA. From 100 people in the 22k seat arena to the Malice at The Palace and it's impact on my career. Please listen and enjoy!

Small Businesses want to know how to generate web traffic. SEO and blogging are still extremely effective ways to get found, and convert visitors into customers. More than 65% of Web Traffic still comes in from Google Organic Search (Blogging and SEO). In this episode of my podcast, you hear real audio from a client call about the technical side of Organic Search (Search Engine Tiles, Meta Descriptions and Schema), as well as the Strategic Content Marketing side (Blogging, Partnership Creation, Link Building and Social Media). I use a fitness analogy to break down the concept that just like getting fit is accelerated by both eating well AND working out, getting found on Google is accelerated by both having technically sound SEO strategy, and creating relevant content for your target audience and distributing effectively on a consistent basis.

What Does General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Mean For Websites? So, GDPR, huh? :) I'm thinking that you either fall into one of two camps on this. Either you're familiar with this, or you're not. Regardless of what camp you fall into, and regardless of if you're a small business owner, marketer, web developer or whatever, this will be one of those things that EVERYBODY will ask you what you should be doing about it. Starting now. First of all, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a law that goes into effect today in the European Union, but it effects most businesses in the world because there's always a chance that an EU citizen or business could provide you their user data through your website. Having said that, some companies have done a better job than others at scrambling around to prepare for ensuring GDPR compliance on their digital presence. I'm trying to keep this simple. Here's my guide.

I was fortunate enough to attend VoiceCon in NYC, hosted by VaynerMedia. The conference focused on Digital Audio, Podcasting, Alexa Skills, Google Home Actions and more. Among the line-up of speakers were Justine Bloome (Chief Strategy Officer, VaynerMedia), Naomi Makofsky (Global Product Partnerships, Google Assistant, Google), Devin Nagy (Director, Technology and Emerging Platforms, Diageo), Mike Mignano (CEO, Anchor), Ryan MacInnis (Director of Marketing, Voysis) and Speakers: Avery Durnan (Vice President, Media Platforms, VaynerMedia), Susan Canavari (Chief Brand Officer, Chase), Gina Garrubbo (President and CEO, National Public Media), Ken Lagana (Head of Sales, Panoply). I was able to ask a couple important questions related to advertising on podcasts, and securing your brand name within a Google Home or Alexa Skill.

In 2006, my beautiful wife Kate (sorry, I always refer to her that way, but she is a beautiful person, so I can't NOT refer to her that way :) said that she wanted to run a marathon. It was on her "bucket list." I was totally out of shape - like 55+ pounds overweight. Seriously. I had no business training for a marathon. But I was only 25 years old, and definitely need to get off my ass and do something physical. I was a hard worker - at work for the Detroit Pistons - but long hours at the arena and traveling with the team were my excuse for eating buckets of Thai food, Pizza and totally letting myself go physically. I'd sleep in until sometimes 9 a.m. on workdays, again, because of the late nights at the arena. I rewarded myself with junk food for "working so hard" at my job, and let's be honest, it's fun having an "eating buddy," and I was definitely Kate's eating buddy. Here's how I went from a ridiculous 6 hour marathon time to breaking 4 hours 12 years later!