Another Excellent Web Analytics Gurus You Must Read: Eric Peterson

People who know me know that I am research and information junkie.  This includes not only information on the Internet but also books.   A big problem in my office is the lack of bookshelf space and my family does not let enter bookstores in their presence. 

It may be one reason why I love the documentary approach to screencasting - an excuse to add to my book collection.   In the screencast wiki, I have a list of books and articles I used for the research as well as links to more comprehensive lists.  I could make an entire screencast examining the excellent resources and gurus out there on the topic. 

I'd like to introduce my nonprofit readers to one of them:

 

Eric T Peterson is the founder of a company called, Web Analytics Demystified. He is also an author of three books on the topic:  Web Analytics Demystified, Web Site Measurement Hacks and The Big Book of Key Performance Indicators.   

His company is built around a series of fundamental principles that he calls The Truth About Web Analytics. 

1. Web analytics is not easy for most organizations.
2. Technology cannot replace the need for talented professionals.
3. Web analytics is actually a series of identifiable business processes.
4. People, technology, and process are all required to create repeatable successes.
5. All companies can be very successful provided they're committed to understanding the process of "doing" web analytics.

I just added a copy of The Big Book of Key Performance Indicators to my collection (it's an electronic book and comes with an excel spreadsheet of a worksheet).   Peterson defines them as "numbers designed to succinctly convey as much information as possible. Good key performance indicators are well defined, well presented, create expectations and drive actions."    When I was researching this topic, I wanted to go deeper into this area - but with limited time and wanted a primer - did not.  Now .. I'm interested in the best practices around using KPI and Peterson's book is a fantastic resource.  I thinking about what is translatable to nonprofits and organizations that have smaller budgets than Fortune 500 Companies.

I'm really fascinated by this whole Web Analytics field (and it looks like Web Analysts are in hot demand)  --  and I am especially interested in the whole conversation around analytics and social media.  It speaks to my inner research geek.

Well, must get back to researching for the next screencast which is on SalesForce and upcoming July training workshops which are on the topic of Fundraising 2.0.   

Comments

[John]

Thank you for the nice post.