13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Google Analytics vs. Paid Tracking Software

by Sinistar
10 replies
Can someone tell me the differences between using GA for a paid marketing campaign (Facebook, LinkedIn) vs using a paid tracking system like Voluum, Thrive, etc?

What do I get with the paid solutions that I don't get with GA?
#analytics #google #paid #software #tracking
  • Profile picture of the author extrememan
    You should be asking yourself what can I track with a paid tracking service? Use both google analytics for my blog and free traffic methods and a paid tracking service for paid advertising to track my ROI% (return of investment) campaigns.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9899500].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sinistar
      Originally Posted by extrememan View Post

      You should be asking yourself what can I track with a paid tracking service? Use both google analytics for my blog and free traffic methods and a paid tracking service for paid advertising to track my ROI% (return of investment) campaigns.
      GA doesn't offer an ROI metric?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9900101].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TrackingDesk
    GA and tracking software are very different products and are meant to help you achieve different things.

    Roughly, GA provides you insights on how your site is responding to your traffic. Bounce rate, time spent on site, what the users are doing on your site. You can configure your GA in a way that it will let you compare a few traffic sources and how each affect your site.

    A tracking software such as voluum, thrive or trackingdesk will let you define specific funnels, call to actions and send traffic to your site and see what ROI it will generate, what click through rate etc..

    There are obviously some overlaps between the two, but certain features that you will find only in GA and others that you will find only in a tracking software.

    I tend to think that saying that the tracking function in the "tracking software" is just one feature and that it would be more appropriate to call them: traffic management platform.

    Having said that, it is difficult to to show you the difference between the two without understanding your site/business setup.

    Hope it helps.
    Signature

    Laurent
    CEO
    Trackingdesk.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9900614].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ethanalvin
    What are you trying to achieve?

    GA is only applicable if you're tracking your own site.

    If you're looking to track affiliate/external links, then you'd need a tracking software.

    As an affiliate marketer myself, I'm doing clickbanking (not the marketplace), which involves trading of clicks with other partners. I use a free tool called ClickMeter to help me track my conversions, unique clicks and countries.

    There are other tools such as Prosper202, which I don't have good experience with.
    Alternatively, you could explore Bit.ly or goo.gl but they do not have a comprehensive & robust tracking system.
    Signature
    Marketing with Alvin
    Learn Actionable Digital Marketing Tips: Social, Wordpress, Email & Content Marketing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9908302].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sinistar
      Originally Posted by ethanalvin View Post

      What are you trying to achieve?

      GA is only applicable if you're tracking your own site.

      If you're looking to track affiliate/external links, then you'd need a tracking software.

      As an affiliate marketer myself, I'm doing clickbanking (not the marketplace), which involves trading of clicks with other partners. I use a free tool called ClickMeter to help me track my conversions, unique clicks and countries.

      There are other tools such as Prosper202, which I don't have good experience with.
      Alternatively, you could explore Bit.ly or goo.gl but they do not have a comprehensive & robust tracking system.
      We are sending traffic from paid ads to our e-commerce store (using deep links to products)

      Now what do you recommend? Just GA, both GA and a paid solution to get ROI, day parting data, etc?

      And if I used both, would I use the Google URL builder and put that link in my paid tracking solution to get the Destination URL?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9950065].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Sinistar
        Does anyone have an answer for my last question?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9950814].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author TrackingDesk
          In that case, you need to implement a solution that is more suitable for your needs - something like kissmetrics will probably answer all your questions.
          Remember: Google Analytics (and other anlaytics software) tell you what people do on your site, while tracking platform tell you what they do on your affiliate program's sites (conversions/sales/revenues).
          There is a short article about the difference between analytics and trackingdesk (and other tracking platform)
          Google Analytics vs TrackingDesk
          Signature

          Laurent
          CEO
          Trackingdesk.com

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9956305].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TrackingDesk
    ethanalvin is right. I might also add that a tracking software has features that google analytics dont.
    i.e. campaign management, advertiser management, traffic source management.
    If you buy traffic for your own website, then you will want to use google analytics to analyize the flow of traffic within your site. But once your users click one of the affiliate links that you posted on your site, you will need a tracking platform to monitor the conversions.
    Signature

    Laurent
    CEO
    Trackingdesk.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9909471].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    ^ Yup, google analytics is a good tool, and it's free, but paid software does have some extra features. You just need to figure out what you need and then decide if it's worth paying for tracking software.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9909522].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Leo Swift
      You have to figure out for yourself is Google Analytics' features are enough for you. Once you decide that it's not enough, wait a 1 or 2 months and think again. If you still see that you really need additional functions, then go for paid software.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9909619].message }}

Trending Topics