Our Blog

At Analytics Demystified we have been blogging and contributing to the global analytics community for nearly twenty years. We don’t write as much these days — mostly because we stay pretty busy with our clients — our analytics tell us that the content contained herein is still valuable.

  • Optimization Test Techniques – Part II of II

    In my previous post, I highlighted how it is important to understand what optimization techniques are available in the market today because by knowing the techniques, you are much better armed to apply additional strategy to your optimization efforts. This post is a continuation of my previous blog post in that I walk through the…

  • A Pragmatic Approach to "Test and Learn"

    “We’re going to use a ‘test and learn’ approach” has become as common a buzzphrase as, “We’re going to be data-driven,” and “We’re going to derive actionable insights.” I’m not a fan of buzzphrases. Buzzphrases tend to originate as statements of an aspirational goal that then quickly morph to be treated as accepted reality. When…

  • Fortune 500 CEOs Aren’t Social — Ummm…Thank You!

    A new report debuted last week on CEO.com from the creators of DOMO, which citied findings about the social participation of Fortune 500 CEO’s. The report showcased the fact that only 7.6% of big company CEO’s are on Facebook; only 1.8% actually use Twitter; and that 70% of global CEO’s have no social media presence…

  • eMetrics Chicago – Wrapup

    Before too much time passes during these dog days of summer, I thought that I’d offer a recap of the eMetrics Marketing Optimization Summit that took place in Chicago recently. First of all, Chicago really digs analytics. Despite a smallish eMetrics crowd of around ~100 or so people, there was lots of energy, young talent…

  • Smart Analytics (Sometimes) = Upset Consumers

    The recent media coverage of Orbitz’s OS-based content targeting was intriguing, if not surprising. The Wall Street Journal broke the story about how Mac users were presented with higher priced hotel options than PC users on Orbitz’s site. This was NOT, mind you, a case of any actual difference in prices, but, rather, simply pricier hotels…

  • Excel Tables — Overlooked, Yet Awesome

    Tables in Microsoft Excel are one of those features that you can be totally unaware of and get along without just fine. But, once you stumble across them, you wonder where they’ve been all of your R1C1 life! In a nutshell, they take some of the niftier aspects of named ranges and pivot tables and…

  • Imperfect Options: Social Media Impact for eCommerce Sites

    I’m now writing a monthly piece for Practical eCommerce, and the experience has been refreshing. At ACCELERATE in Chicago earlier this year, April Wilson‘s winning Super ACCELERATE session focused on digital analytics for smaller companies. Her point was that a lot of the online conversation about “#measure” (or “#msure”) focuses on multi-billion dollar companies and…

  • Klout Is a Tool — not an Imperfect Holy Grail

    Last week, I found my dander elevated as I read Harnessing the Power of Social Media with Mark Schaefer. Schaefer knows his stuff when it comes to “influence,” and he recognizes that it is a messy, nuanced, multi-faceted topic — so much to the point that he wrote a book on the subject. Unfortunately, Schaefer didn’t…

  • Site Search and Google Analytics = The Voice of the Customer

    Thanks in large part to co-worker and Web PieRat Jill Kocher, I’m now writing a monthly article for Practical eCommerce, a site dedicated to providing small and medium-sized businesses with advice and tips for maximizing the value of their eCommerce presences. I kicked off my relationship there with one of those oft-overlooked opportunities for customer insight:…

  • Make an Even BIGGER Difference

    (The following is a guest post from David Schuette, an active member of the Analysis Exchange. You can follow David on Twitter @TheCakeScraps or contact us if you’d like to reach David directly.) The Analysis Exchange is a wonderful organization that I’m proud to be a member of. I’m sure you’re similarly excited about it…