7 Time-Saving Google Analytics Custom Reports

Google Analytics Custom Reports can be incredible time savers if you have the right reports. Instead of spending time digging around for important metrics, you can find what you need separated neatly into columns for some analysis that will lead to some actionable insight.

1. Content Efficiency Analysis Report

This report is from none other than the master of Google Analytics, Avinash Kaushik. Brands all over the world are starting to double down on content so it's important to answer questions such as:

What types of content (text, videos, pictures, etc.) perform best?What content delivers the most business value?What content is the most engaging?

The Content Efficiency Analysis Report comes in handy by putting all the key content metrics into one spot.

Here are the columns that the report will pull in:

Page titleEntrancesUnique VisitorsBouncesPageviewsAvg. Time on PagePer Visit Goal ValueGoal CompletionsClick Here To Get the Content Efficiency Analysis Report!2. Keyword Analysis Report

If you're doing SEO, you want to make sure that your optimization efforts are working as intended. Is the right keyword pointing to the right page?

This first tab of this report, Targeting, will break things down by placing the title and keyword side-by-side. The four metrics you'll see are:

Unique VisitorsGoal CompletionsGoal Conversion RateAvg. Page Load Time (sec)

Using the 4 metrics above, you'll be able to judge whether you need to make adjustments to your campaign or not.

The second tab, Engagement, will tell you how effective each page is by looking at the following six metrics:

Unique PageviewsPages/VisitAvg. Time on PageBounce RatePercentage ExitGoal Conversion Rate

The third and final tab, Revenue, will tell you how much money a keyword is bringing you based on 3 metrics:

RevenuePer Visit ValueEcommerce Conversion RateClick Here To Get the Keyword Analysis Report!3. Link Analysis Report

What websites are sending you the best traffic? If you're link building, what links are worth going back for more? Link building isn't all about rankings, it's about increasing traffic and conversions as well. If you find a few gems, it's worth looking into them more.

Here are the columns you'll see with the report:

SourceLanding PageVisitsGoal CompletionsPages/VisitBounce RatePercentage New VisitsClick Here to Get The Link Analysis Report!4. PPC Keywords Report

If you're paying for search traffic, you obviously want to discover high performing keywords. You can then take this data and use it for future SEO campaigns.

Here are the metrics in this report:

VisitsCPCGoal CompletionsCost per Conversion

By breaking things down easily, you'll be able to hone in one which keywords you need to put on hold and which ones you need to pour more cash into.

Get the PPC Keywords Report Here!5. Social Media Report

Ah yes, a report that tells you how different social media channels are performing for you. This is a simple way to figure out where you should consider investing more time into socially.

The social media report looks at:

VisitsSocial ActionsGoal CompletionsGoal Conversion RateGoal ValueGet the Social Media Report Here!6. E-commerce Traffic Report

If you run an e-commerce site, it's important to break down your different traffic channels to see which one performs best. Why is one channel performing better than the other? Is it worth it to invest more in a campaign that is trending upwards? Is your investment with paid advertising effective?

This report answers some of your e-commerce questions by looking at the following metrics:

VisitsPercentage New VisitsBounce RatePages/VisitRevenueAverage ValuePer Visit Value

Get the Ecommerce Traffic Report!

7. Browser Report

This report will tell you how different browsers are performing for your site. You'll immediately see which browsers are your winners and which ones might have problems.

For example, if Chrome and Firefox seem to be doing OK but if Internet Explorer has extremely high bounce rates, you might want to look into Internet Explorer more. After all, Internet Explorer has x percent of the browser share. (research market share for internet explorer)

Get the Browser Report Here!Bonus: Custom Reporting in Google Analytics

Jaime from SEOmoz created a wonderful realtime Google Analytics report. Here's what it looks like:

Image Credit: SEOmoz

This spreadsheet allows you to compare different metrics of your choice with different start and end dates as well. You can easily see how your campaigns are performing from a high level all in the comfort of a clean Google Doc.

Get the Google Analytics Custom Reporting Spreadsheet Here!

Want even more custom reports? Make sure to read Greg Habermann’s top five most used Google Analytics Custom Reports to learn about and get custom reports for Unique Visitors by Page; Conversion by Time of Day; Customer Behavior; Top Converting Landing Pages; and Long Tail Converters.

Conclusion

Google Custom Reports ultimately save you a lot of time and help you make actionable decisions that will help your bottom line. Take a few minutes to set these reports up and explore them. You won't regret it.

What are some useful Google Analytics Custom Reports that you use?

Editor's note: This column originally was published on May 16, 2012, and comes in at No. 5 on our countdown of the 10 most popular Search Engine Watch columns of 2012. As the clock ticks down to 2013, we're celebrating the Best of 2012 by revisiting our most popular columns, as determined by our readers. Enjoy and keep checking back!

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