Google Analytics is one of the most critical tools in a Digital Marketer’s repertoire. Use GA to set goals, find your target audience, collect data, analyze it, and monitor campaign performance. Once you’ve decided to learn Google Analytics, the next important question is deciding how you plan to learn these skills. Most students find that they learn better when they receive guided training, and there is no shortage of available options for students to receive guidance in their Google Analytics training. To learn more about the different Google Analytics training options and what advantages and disadvantages they carry with them, read on.

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. Just install a tracking code onto each page of your website to collect information about visitors and what they do there. GA can tell you what’s working and what isn’t, and the best part is it’s free to use. 

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

What Can You Do with Google Analytics Skills?

Google Analytics is a highly customizable free tool that collects, stores, and reports on data to help marketers learn what strategies are working and what aren’t. It can help you make better business decisions and identify specific problems on your website. Use Google Analytics to measure the customer experience from when they enter your website or app to when they leave, 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.

Why Training Format Matters

When you think about learning a new skill, you probably imagine finding a training program and attending an in-person class. Or you could go on YouTube and start watching video tutorials. Several training formats are available when you want to learn Google Analytics, from in-person classes to live online to on-demand videos. Choose whichever learning format works best for you to ensure you can master Google Analytics.

Types of Training Formats

When you are ready to learn Google Analytics, you can choose between live in-person, live online, on-demand, and free courses. Everyone has a preference, so look at these training formats and select the one that works best for you.

Live In-Person Classes

The most familiar format is the live in-person class. In this option, there is an instructor in the class with students at desks or tables throughout the classroom. Many people are comfortable with this arrangement, but others are not. The most significant advantage of live in-person classes is asking the instructor questions and getting help when needed. Live in-person classes are also a good opportunity for networking, which can be helpful when you start looking for a job.

However, one of the disadvantages of the in-person format is traveling to class. You either need to drive, take public transportation, or hire a ride to get there. You may also need to find and pay for parking. Another downside to in-person instruction can be the cost. This type of training format costs more than the others because of the need to hire experienced instructors and maintain offices and classrooms. 

Live Online Classes

Live online classes have many of the same advantages as in-person training without traveling to another location. Because they run simultaneously as an in-person class, with some students in a classroom with the instructor and others attending through a video conferencing platform like Zoom, you can still ask questions and interact with others. But you can attend class from anywhere you want. Log in from your couch, your desk at the office, or your favorite cafe. With live online courses, you receive the same level of instruction as you would in person, except you don’t have to spend time and money traveling. 

One disadvantage to live online classes is that they meet at a set time and date. There may not be a class that meets your schedule, although most training programs offer many sessions and run courses frequently. Live online classes also cost about the same as an in-person session. You can choose on-demand lessons if your budget doesn’t permit in-person or live online training. 

On-Demand Classes

On-demand classes are prerecorded, and you can watch them whenever and wherever you want. You can also go back and watch sections or a whole class over again to review material you didn’t understand the first time through. The drawback to on-demand courses is that you don’t have a live instructor to interact with or other students to talk to. 

This kind of class most frequently requires a subscription on a platform where you must pay a membership fee to access the videos whenever you want. The monthly fee is usually around $30, although it varies. Most platforms give you a free trial period between a week and a month. You can get quite a few videos in before paying for the subscription.

Free Courses

If you have experience with technology and learn software tools quickly, you can teach yourself Google Analytics without spending any money. There are free tutorials and introductory videos that will get you started on learning GA, but this is a powerful tool that can be somewhat challenging to master.

While they are free, the disadvantage of free classes is that they are not interactive, and you can’t ask questions when you run into problems. Also, free tutorials can quickly become outdated because digital marketing evolves and changes rapidly.

Depth of Training Formats

Most people find signing up for some type of class the most efficient way to learn Google Analytics. Analyze your situation and decide what class type best suits your schedule, budget, and personality.

Introductory Courses

You can start learning Google Analytics with free courses like Noble Desktop’s Google Analytics: Improve & Maximize Website Results. This free seminar covers improving and maximizing website results by knowing your numbers, understanding your data, and gaining insights into website visitors' behavior. 

Training Bootcamps

Training bootcamps are comprehensive workshops that take a deep dive into a topic like Google Analytics. Noble offers a Google Analytics Bootcamp where you will learn to set up an account, find out what you should be tracking, and get an idea of what you can do with this powerful tool. The class also includes an introduction to GA4, the latest version of Google Analytics. Bootcamp courses usually last one or two days.

Certificate Programs

If you are learning Google Analytics to switch careers and become a Digital Marketer, a certificate program can get you there. Certificate programs are a more considerable commitment in cost and time than bootcamps, but these courses cover a multitude of topics that you will need. Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate includes sessions on Google Analytics, Google Ads, content marketing, SEO, and social media marketing. Noble’s certificate program also provides instruction on putting together a portfolio and helping with a job search.

Learn Google Analytics Skills with Noble Desktop

Sign up for Noble Desktop’s Google Analytics Bootcamp to learn how to set up an account, which metrics to track, and how to generate reports. The classes also cover the upcoming change from Google Analytics Universal to GA4 in July 2024. 

You can also prepare for a career as a Data Analyst with Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate. The course includes digital marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics bootcamps, plus Google Ads and classes on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter marketing, and content marketing with blogs.

Key Insights

• Google Analytics is a tool that collects and tracks user data.
• Digital Marketing Data Analysts use Google Analytics to track what users do on websites and apps.
• To learn Google Analytics, you can sign up for classes. Choose between these learning environments:
• Live in-person
• Live online
• On-demand
• Free classes
• Some classes go into greater depth than others. You can choose the level you need:
• Introductory classes
• Training bootcamps
• Certification programs
• Get comprehensive Google Analytics training through Noble Desktop, either in-person or online.