How Difficult is it to Learn Google Analytics?

Are you curious about learning Google Analytics but worried it might be too hard? Of course, the difficulty that comes with learning a new skill is somewhat subjective. The challenges of learning Google Analytics depend on factors likehow much you like to read and process new information, how comfortable you feel working with numbers and data, how much time you have to devote to study and practice, and how persistent you are.

No matter your current schedule or comfort level with Google Analytics, plenty of tools are available to help make learning more manageable than you might think.

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics (or GA) is a tool within the Google Marketing Platform that collects and tracks user data, compiles it into reports, and helps you develop strategies to improve your website or app’s performance. To use GA, you will install a tracking code onto each page of your website. Google collects information about the visitors to your website and what they do there. Google Analytics can help you understand what’s working and what isn’t when it comes to digital marketing strategy, and the best part is that it is free to use.

Google Analytics can be useful simply for yourself if you’re a business owner, or you can use it as part of a marketing team within a larger company. Google Analytics allows you to tailor the data you choose to track depending on your goals. Because digital marketing depends upon identifying a highly targeted audience, GA is the foundation of a successful digital marketing campaign.

Read more about what Google Analytics is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a highly customizable, in-depth tool that offers insights to help your business thrive, and you can use it for free. Although it can initially feel overwhelming and complicated, the information GA provides is worth the effort.

The data that GA collects, stores, and reports on can help marketers learn what strategies are working and what aren’t. It can measure marketing efforts, both on and offline. It can help you make better, more savvy business decisions. The information Google Analytics provides can also identify specific problems or shortcomings on your website. The data you’ll get is specific, targeted information.

You can use Google Analytics to measure the customer experience from when they enter your website or app to when they leave. You can track valuable information such as how they found your site, who purchased something, what pages your visitors looked at, how they moved through the site, and so much more. And while it’s important to know where your website and business are thriving, it’s also critical to understand where you’re falling short and losing customers. Using Google Analytics can help with that, too.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Google Analytics?

Google Analytics can be challenging to learn and takes time, effort, and persistence. If you are just starting out and know nothing about web analytics, you can expect to feel a bit overwhelmed at the beginning, especially if you are trying to learn Google Analytics on your own. However, it is essential to keep trying.

One of the challenging things about learning Google Analytics is working with large amounts of data. Unless you already have a math or statistics background, this can initially feel a bit overwhelming. Like anything you are learning, it is a good idea to break the material down into smaller steps, but this can be difficult to do if you are not familiar with the subject. This is where taking a class on Google Analytics can be helpful.

A significant advantage of taking classes, especially in-person or live online, is that you will have an instructor who is already familiar with GA and can steer you in the right direction. It can be challenging to navigate on-demand classes on GA and figure out the best way to do things when you are just starting out. Having an expert to help you saves a lot of time.

How Does Learning Google Analytics Compare to Other Applications?

A comparable subject to Google Analytics would be search engine optimization. Like data analytics, SEO involves working with computers and understanding how to collect data and what you can do with it. Website Optimization Specialists also need to learn how to use data analytics tools and interpret the data they collect. Most people find Google Analytics more challenging to learn than SEO.

Another field comparable to data analytics might be web development. Web Developers work with the code that builds websites and need to learn languages like CSS and HTML for front end development and JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and others for the back end. Web Developers must understand the best way to put websites together, which also affects data analytics. Some people move from analytics into web development, and the two fields are equally complex, with front end development being somewhat less challenging than the back end.

Other Factors

Other factors affect how long it can take to learn Google Analytics. The time you have to study, how easily you pick up on new information, your feelings about numbers, whether you can take a class, and your persistence also impact how long it will take to learn GA.

Amount of Study Time

When you are learning something new, it helps to devote as much time to it as you can. If you only have a few hours a week to spend, it will take longer to learn Google Analytics, but if you can spend a couple of hours a day, you will learn GA much faster. Try to find spots in your schedule to slip in some study time.

Learning Curve

We each have our own learning curve; some of us pick things up quickly, and others need to work harder at it. This will affect how long it takes you to learn Google Analytics. Signing up for a class can make the process easier and quicker.

Math Phobia

How quickly you pick up math concepts also affects how long it will take to learn Google Analytics. If you like working with numbers and data, your learning time will be shorter. If you would like some help with this somewhat complicated subject, it’s definitely a good idea to take a class.

On Your Own or Take a Class

You can learn Google Analytics on your own. You can watch free tutorials and use other resources like podcasts and books. Some people have managed to teach themselves Google Analytics, but most people find it easier to learn new material by taking a class. You have an instructor who can steer you toward the most important information, and you can ask questions when you need to.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Mastering a tool like Google Analytics takes a lot of practice. In addition to instruction, practice using GA will help the concepts stick. It’s one thing to read how to do it, but setting up a website and actually practicing the principles and techniques of GA will teach you much more.

Learn Google Analytics with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you want to change careers and become a Digital Marketing Data Analyst, you can sign up for Google Analytics Bootcamp. This two-part class will teach you how to set up an account, know which metrics to track, and understand the Google Analytics reports. The classes also cover upcoming changes to Google Analytics when GA4 replaces GA Universal in July 2024.

Another way to prepare for a career as a Data Analyst is a digital marketing certificate course. Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate includes the digital marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics bootcamps, plus Google Ads and classes on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter marketing, as well as content marketing with blogs.

Key Insights

• Google Analytics (GA) is a powerful free tool that collects data and offers insights into how to improve your online business. It can also help you see what your competition is doing right and wrong so that you can alter your strategy.
• One of the challenging things about learning Google Analytics is working with large amounts of data, so classes are helpful.
• You can study GA in-person, live online, or in on-demand classes. There are free GA training classes available, too.
• It can take four to six months to learn to use Google Analytics well.
• Other fields comparable to Google Analytics are search engine optimization and web development.
• You can receive comprehensive Google Analytics training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.