Web Analyst as Problem Solver
Posted on | August 27, 2010 | No Comments
Here I am, finally returning to the topic I intended to write months ago. I am eager to delve into my experiences with problem solving, for me the true purpose of web analytics and how I measure my professional success. Ideally as a web analyst the client comes to me with a problem and wants my help to solve it. There are several requirement gathering steps I go through initially whether the problem is large or small. If I am familiar with the client than this step can be brief but if I’m working with a new or complex enterprise level client with more complicated problems, requirement gathering can take on nearly a life of its own.
Web analytics covers the data generated by traffic to and through the website. Clients’ come to me wanting to understand their visitor better so they can successfully meet their needs. This is the most common requirement. As a non-commerce site the client must determine what success means to them and how they intend to measure it. Success can be derived from as many avenues as there are events on the site.
A very common success indicator for an average non-commerce site is the downloading of a whitepaper. Through requirement gathering I consider all the touch points involved or possibly involved with that event. Each event has a stakeholder and understanding their perspective and needs is crucial. The size of the problem and the stakeholder’s requirements will determine the commitment necessary from the organization to support the process. My minimum requirements include a blessing on the project from the executive level. Without an executive level commitment for the problem solving activity there is no point to the exercise. The point of problem solving is to find the solution that will best meet the requirements of the problem, what then? Following through with the solution, obviously and that takes executive level commitment, all too often an impediment if not dealt with at the beginning of the problem solving process.
Tags: Problem Solving > Requirement Gathering > Web Analytics
Development Woes
Posted on | February 8, 2009 | Comments Off
My entire site and blog has disappeared so I appear to be starting yet again. Instead of popping in and writing the blog I felt inspired to write I am pondering what next.
Actually my topic was “The Analyst as the Problem Solver“. This is a sure case of why problem solving is the key role of an analyst. I’ll post another blog and write it, letting this one go. I’ll dig up my former blog content and redisplay it if so inspired. For now, here is my original post information.
Welcome to my world. I thought I would take this opportunity to share how to connect with me.
You can find me on Twitter as @paynt
You can find me on LinkedIn Debra Paynter
I have just started building my iPaynting.com site out as well as this blog and hopefully it won’t take long to get up and running. My skills run towards content rather than design. My passion is help all sizes of businesses find success on the web. I am particularly fond of assisting small business so expect to see more content devoted to small business.
I hope you will use the RSS feed so you are alerted when there is an update on this sight. Feel free to send me an email at this URL direct towards Debra. I’m interested in new opportunities so don’t hesitate, email me now with your idea or request.
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