So I've been trying for a while to get Google Analytics to work on ActiveRain and it just doesn't. What DOES work however is Feedburner. Not only does it work, but it will also:
- Turn my blog into an email newsletter for anyone who wants it.
- AND it keeps track of my metrics on who has visited the site and when.
- AND it will add my blog to any RSS reader you'd like.
- AND it has all kinds of little fun widgets that I can use to promote my blog on my other sites.
- AND you can read how many readers I have (which was zero when I wrote this post since I think it's based on subscribers and I just added it, so clearly my AR subscribers don't count in this scenario).
So I don't know how I'm going to aggregate my info yet, but at least I'm now gathering it - and that's the first step.
Want to add Feedburner to your AR profile?
- First sign up for Feedburner on their site. You'll want to wander through all of the tabs and see the cool stuff they have to offer. (I even customized the look of my box so that it matched my company brand.)
- Then go into your Settings tab on your "My Home" page.
- Then copy the html code that they gave you into your "Blog Description" at the bottom of whatever is there now. (You may want to do what I did and add an empty line and a <p><center> tag so that you know where the Feedburner code starts in case you want to take it out or change it later.
- Hit the save button DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE BLOG DESCRIPTION SECTION (A.K.A. if you hit the button at the bottom of the page instead, it will dump your changes)
- Go check your blog to make sure it looks the way you want.
It's just that easy!
While you're at it, you could snag the SiteMeter code from them as well - you install it the same way you do Feedburner. I did that last night too - see? Cool new stuff on my sidebar! Of course this means that I'm going to obsessively check my site to see how long it takes for my numbers to go up. So if you want to make me happy, hit the subscribe button for me. Much like watching my score on AR go up, I get HUGE kicks out of watching my subscribers go up. (I know - I'm a total geek, but there is it.)
Big thanks to Brad Andersohn for the tips! Brad, as always, you rock!
Well, well, well. Such great information I bookmarked you! Thanks for the great tip. Now, if I can just implement it!
Kelle - love your photo! Heard about Feedburner a couple of other places but didn't realize it did so much. Bookmarking and adding to the "to do" list!
Kelle, thanks for reminding me just how cool Feedburner is for subscribing to a blog feed and the other tools it offers. I too, like the fact that it makes RSS easy and has the metrics and those widgets for my blogs as well.
I've bookmarked this for future reference. Take care! :-)
Ed
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I use google on my website site with no issues. I didn't know about Feedburner. Thank you for the information.
Whee! Three comments, three bookmarks! You can't see it, but I'm sitting in my house right now clapping my hands with glee. It makes me unreasonably happy when I can be useful. Thanks, guys!
Kelle, I've heard of Feedburner, but have checked it out yet. Your post makes it look worth a visit. Thanks for the link.
Michael and Mark- You are quite welcome!
@kelle: Nice tutorial. I just wanted to mention that Google Analytics support is coming very soon to ActiveRain. We're working on the final details now.
I have been looking for more info on this ... thank you for sharing.
Thanks Kelle - glad it's working out for you. As Mike said, you'll soon get the best of both worlds! :-)
If Brad recommends it I know it has to be good. I will bookmark this and thanks for reminding me about feedburner.
Mike and Brad - Woo and Hoo! I can't wait! It would be really nice to have intergrated metrics for all of my sites.
Julie and Carol - you're welcome!
Soungs Gr-r-r-eat! Thanks for the tip! I'm working on all this SEO stuff now. ~Pat
PAt - SEO is a good thing to work on - it's the cheapest, best advertising you can get on the web. While you're at it, don't forget that writing articles for online magazines is a good way to add to that SEO power.