Capturing Data On Your Website & What To Do With It – Part 1

When you are running a business, it is essential to collect data from your potential customers. This data can be used in a variety of ways to improve your marketing strategy and increase sales. In the next two blog posts, we will discuss how to capture this data and what you can do with it once you have it. We will also provide some tips on how to use the data to improve your website’s performance.

What data can your website collect?

Most of us know by now that websites track us and collect data, but do you know how you can collect this data and use it to your advantage? Websites can collect data such as;

• IP address – this determines a user’s location
• Information about how users interact with a website
• Information about the browser and device being used
• Browsing activity; interests, shopping habits etc

Tracking website users

There are first-party and third-party web tracking facilities. Which one you use will depend on your business needs.

First-party tracking is where a website uses its own cookies to track user behaviour on its site. This involves a user signing in or creating an account on your website. This data is then stored and can be used to monitor behaviour ONLY on your website. You could use this data to improve the user’s experience by providing them with more relevant content and ads. For example, if they visit your website and purchase an item, your website can automatically show them similar items that other customers have purchased.

Third-party tracking, on the other hand, is when a website uses cookies from another company to track user behaviour. This usually involves installing a plugin onto your WordPress website and can be used on many websites. Data collected by third-party cookies can be used by you AND the third-party to target ads and content to the user based on their interests. For example, if you visit a website that uses Google Ads, the data from your visit may be used to show you ads for similar products when you are browsing other websites. Equally, you can use the data to target customers that have searched for similar products or fall into certain categories.

What can you do with this data?

Now that you know how to collect data from your website visitors, what can you do with it? There are a few different ways you can use this data.

Understand your website’s performance?by using the data you collect. You can start to understand how visitors are using your website. How long are they staying on certain pages, if they are reading your blog etc. By using and analysing this information, you can start to improve the function of your website.

Targeted advertising?is a great way to reach customers that have previously expressed an interest in your website or products or those who have an interest in products similar to the ones you sell. By using the data you have collected, you can target ads specifically to them which are more likely to result in a sale.

Keep an eye out for part 2, which will go through how you can track users.

Are you thinking about getting a website for your small business? Or perhaps you are fed up with having to pay for minor changes on your website? Does your website just need a new look? Get started with us today! It’s as easy as 1,2,3. If you need help and assistance with a brand new website, then why not?schedule a 1-2-1 chat?with our Web Guy Jon? He can talk you through all the ways you can make your website work.

We hope that you got value from our blog post to help with your business. If you are looking to create a new website or your current site needs updating then contact our director of business development Gary at?[email protected]?to take your online presence to the next level.

We can help you to create a top-quality website that you can use to sell your products or services – we will help you to get your website up and running and advise you on how to really make the most of your website >>>?Get started today.