The Questionable Value of Real-Time Web Analytics

Yesterday, Google announced the availability of real-time data in Google Analytics. Hooray. Finally, we have it! Oh, wait. What do we have exactly? Real-time analytics is an attractive feature, but the value is questionable. What actionable insights can you make based on real-time data? (They do exist but are few and far between.) Google’s announcement prompted me to revisit a classic blog post by Avinash Kaushik, author of Web Analytics 2.0, … [Read more...]

Live Content on a Low Budget

If there's one thing common to college campuses, it's events. We all have speakers, performances, panel discussions, cultural showcases, exhibits and other happenings scheduled weekly. We also have the events you can’t predict, whether it’s an unannounced visit by a local politician, a group discussion convened in reaction to a breaking news story or a spontaneous student gathering. While there are lots of ways we can report on an event, how … [Read more...]

Refresh Your Commencement Coverage with Compelling Content

It’s that time of year when flat hats and long robes are the height of fashion. That’s right, commencement is just around the corner. If you’re like me and coming up on your seventh straight commencement, it can be tempting to fall back on the conventional, tried-and-true approach. But this year, why not try something new? After all, commencement is a milestone that engages a majority of our audiences in one way or another, evoking pride, … [Read more...]