Chapter 8. Must-Have Profiles
There are some filters and profiles that you should be using regardless of how you have configured Google Analytics. Each additional profile can help create segmented sets of data that can aid in analysis. Remember, you cannot create a new profile and reprocess historical data, so it’s best to create these profiles during the initial setup, even if you don’t need them right away. As you use Google Analytics, you will become a better analyst, your data needs will change, and these profiles will become useful.
Profile Roles
You should create several different profiles to perform different functions, such as protecting your data and controlling access.
Raw Data Profile
The raw data profile should have no configuration. It should be an unmodified set of data that you can use if other profiles fail. Hopefully you will never need to use it!
Master Profile
The master profile should not be altered or changed. You should initially refine the data within this profile as much as possible using filters and profile settings, and once the data is considered accurate, you should not change the profile unless absolutely necessary. If you must make any changes to a master profile, test them first using a test profile.
Test Profile
I recommend you create at least one test profile within your Google Analytics account. Use this profile to test goal settings, profile settings, and filters before you apply them to a master profile. Remember, an incorrect profile setting will forever ...
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