subject: Importance Of Data In Web Development [print this page] Importance Of Data In Web Development Importance Of Data In Web Development
One can consider the process of web development to be the driving force behind a successful on-line venture. While many on-line business owners focus a lot of their development time on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), most fail to realize how important analytical data could be in terms of solid development and advancement. Taking some time to review data and to implement a management plan based on the information can help transform a company by increasing conversion rates.
Take a minute to consider just what information is provided with analytic data. This data, which is generally provided by the hosting company, though there are extra programs or add-ons that could be utilized also, is an effective score card of web performance. More than just a simple visitor count, a robust analytical system can provide the end user with information such as how visitors arrived at a website and what they did once they arrived at the site. This information is helpful for managing both optimization and web content. As a part of a larger web development program, reviewing analytical data is the very best way to measure what's working and what isn't.
Consider a practical application of analytical data: keyword analysis. By taking the time to evaluate WHERE viewers arrived from, its usually possible to further refine the keywords on which your SEO and content management programs are based. For example, you may notice that very few of your visitors come from a Google search engine results page. This should indicate a requirement to further explore Google rankings with a focus on their keyword rankings. Once a change has been made, analytical data should be further reviewed as an essential part of the web development process to check the performance of said changes.
This same concept works for other pieces of information gleaned from a review of analytical data. You may notice that a certain link on your home page isn't as active as others, prompting you to make some modifications. By cautiously reviewing each piece of information provided by your analytical data package, tweaking and changing a web-site for performance becomes a much more intuitive process.
Analytical data should be reviewed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to have the best impact. It should be a major part of any website maintenance program. Whether you review this information yourself or have your development team handle it for you, it should never be overlooked.