How to Grow Your Business With Marketing Analytics: The Ultimate Guide Here's your guide to using marketing analytics tools and finding the right marketing strategy for your business.
By Piyanka Jain Edited by Chelsea Brown
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how to succeed in marketing analytics, as the field is constantly evolving, and the best practices for success are always changing. However, some essential tips can help you get started on the right foot and set you up for success in this exciting and ever-changing field. In this ultimate guide, we'll define marketing analytics, review the different types of marketing analytics, discuss how to use marketing analytics to improve your business, explain what data/tools you need to succeed, and ultimately, learn how to use marketing analytics effectively.
So, what is marketing analytics? The process consists of measuring, managing and analyzing marketing performance to optimize marketing campaigns and improve ROI. Marketing analytics can track any marketing metric, including brand awareness, website traffic, conversion rates, lead generation and sales. To succeed in marketing analytics, you must have a strong understanding of data analysis and interpretation. You also need to be able to use data-driven insights to improve your marketing strategy.
Related: 5 of the Easiest Ways to Make Data an Integral Part of Your Business' Digital Marketing
The different types of marketing analytics
There are many different types of marketing analytics, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Here is a brief overview of some of the most commonly used types:
Descriptive analytics: This type of analytics focuses on understanding what has happened in the past. It can be used to identify trends and patterns and to understand why certain events occurred. However, it cannot be used to predict future events.
Predictive analytics: This type of analytics uses past data to predict future events. It can identify potential risks and opportunities and decide where to allocate resources.
Prescriptive analytics: This type of analytics goes beyond prediction and prescribes actions that should be taken to achieve specific goals. It can be used to optimize marketing campaigns and automate decision-making processes.
Social media analytics: This type of analytics analyzes social media data to understand customer sentiment and behavior. It can be used to improve customer service and to create targeted marketing campaigns.
Web analytics: This type of analytics analyzes website data to understand how users interact. It can be used to improve website design and to identify which marketing campaigns are most effective.
How to use marketing analytics to improve your business
Marketing analytics can help you understand how your customers respond to your marketing campaigns and identify areas where you need to adjust your strategy. It can also help you track the progress of your marketing efforts over time to see whether they're achieving their goals. There are a few things that you need to take into account when using marketing analytics:
It's best to understand your customers' needs and wants clearly.
You need to know what kind of message will most likely reach them and why.
You'll want to track which elements of your campaign are working best and which ones aren't.
You need to determine what changes (if any) you should make to improve results.
You need to be able to act on the findings promptly so that you don't lose momentum or hit a plateau in your campaign.
Overall, marketing analytics is essential for any business looking to improve its performance. Using this information, you can better target your marketing campaigns and boost sales figures accordingly.
Related: 5 Analytics Tools to Supercharge Your Marketing Strategy
Types of data you need to track in order to succeed with marketing analytics
Before you can start tracking your marketing data, you need to know what kind of data you need to collect. There are a few different types of data that are essential for effective marketing analytics:
Demographic data: This includes information about your customers' age, sex, income, etc. Understanding your target audience and creating tailored campaigns that appeal to them is essential.
Qualitative data: Qualitative research captures user feedback and opinion to better understand customer attitudes and preferences. This information is especially useful in creating new products or services.
Quantitative data: Quantitative research measures the performance of your campaigns using numerical measurements like clicks or conversions. This information can improve your campaigns and help you make informed decisions about the best ones.
You can track this data in several ways, but the most reliable method is using a tool like Google Analytics or Mixpanel. These tools allow you to easily collect and store all your data in one place to access it whenever you need it.
The tools and software that can help you achieve your goals with marketing analytics
If you're new to marketing analytics, the first step is to determine your needs. Are you looking for insights into how your campaigns are performing? Do you want to track customer behavior over time? Are you looking for ways to optimize your content or advertising? Once you know what you need, the next step is to find the right tool or software for the job. There are several different options available, and choosing the one that will fit your specific needs is essential.
Some popular marketing analytics tools include reporting tools like Google Analytics and ClickStream, web tracking tools like CrazyEgg, social media analysis platforms like Mixpanel and email tracking tools like GetResponse. There's also a wealth of software specifically designed for marketing professionals, such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud and HubSpot CRM. However, it's important to note that not all of these programs are perfect for every business; testing out different options is essential to see which one suits your needs best.
Related: To Better Understand Your Users, Learn About These 4 Categories of Marketing Analytics Tools
Tips for using marketing analytics effectively
Here are a few tips for using marketing analytics effectively:
Measure everything: Start by measuring the most important things to you, and then add more metrics as you realize how valuable they are. By tracking multiple channels and data points, you'll get a complete picture of how your campaigns are performing.
Use data visualization tools: Seeing data in a way that's easy to understand will help you make better decisions about where to focus your efforts. Some popular data visualization tools include Tableau Public and Google Sheets.
Compare and contrast results: Once you've gathered some data, it's essential to compare it against previous versions of the same campaign or product. This will help you identify any changes or improvements you may have made and areas where further improvement is needed.
Don't be afraid to experiment: If a marketing strategy isn't working as intended, don't be scared to try something new. However, ensure that you test the new approach in a limited way to monitor its performance closely.
Marketing is one of the most important aspects of running a business, and if done right, can lead to exponential growth for your business. Once you better understand the field and its needs, you can put your best foot forward and optimize marketing campaigns to boost ROI.
