Social Media Metrics For Dummies

Using Metrics and Search

One area (of many) where metrics will prove to be invaluable to you is in search. Whether you need to improve what you’re searching for to get better results or improve how you appear when folks search for you, your brand, or your brand’s topics — metrics data can help you.

To get a better idea of what I mean, take a look at one of Google’s most useful tools, the Google Insights tool.

First, look at Google Insights for Search (www.google.com/insights/ search), which allows you to compare search patterns, brands, and keywords across regions, time periods, categories, and properties (see Figure 2-6). By using your metrics data and this tool, you can get a good idea of the traction your brand has (or your competitor’s brand has — don’t forget this metrics stuff is a useful tool to evaluate your competitors as well).

Figure 2-6: Google Insights for Search.

Next, take a gander at Google’s real time Insight tool, Think With Google. It does exactly what it sounds like — gives you a snapshot of metrics for search in real time. To see what the Think With Google wheel looks like, just head to www.thinkwithgoogle.com/insights/tools/real-time-insights and choose your poison.

One of the most useful real time metrics on the Google wheel is the What Are People Looking ...