Which Google Analytics Training Format Is Right for Me?

Google Analytics is the most used web analytics tool in the world. You can use GA to collect data on users who visit your website and use that information to increase sales, so learning Google Analytics can put you on the road to a solid career. When comparing types of Google Analytics training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the proper training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to learn more about the different formats of Google Analytics training, how they compare, and how to determine which is best for you.

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.

Training Formats for Google Analytics

When you decide to learn Google Analytics, you can choose from in-person classes, live online sessions, or on-demand tutorials. Each of these formats has benefits and drawbacks.

In-Person Google Analytics Training

Taking a class can be a big help when you try to learn new information, especially a technical subject like Google Analytics. With a class, many people prefer to have a teacher to interact with and answer questions, but in-person offerings can be limited.

Noble Desktop has an in-person Google Analytics Bootcamp in New York City. This two-day bootcamp takes a deep dive into Google Analytics and its many applications. Learn how to set up an account and understand what you should be tracking. This class will give you a solid understanding of the tool and how to optimize its wealth of data to your advantage. The class also covers GA4, the latest version of Google Analytics, to help you get on a path to success once GA4 is ready for full adoption. You also have the option to take a class through Google Academy or ONLC Training Centers. Ledet Training also offers a Google Analytics 101 class.

You can find in-person Google Analytics classes near you on Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me page.

Live Online Google Analytics Training

You can also take live online classes to learn Google Analytics. These classes run at the same time as an in-person class, and you can attend from your location just by logging in. You can ask questions and get help from the instructor if you have a computer and a stable internet connection. With permission, the instructor can take over your screen to demonstrate examples. Live online classes are just like being in the classroom, except you can attend class from anywhere, and there is no commute.

Noble Desktop’s Google Analytics Bootcamp in New York City is available live online. The instructor and in-person students are in a classroom in New York, but you can follow along on your computer. You get the same content in-class students do, except it is much more convenient. Other schools offer live online Google Analytics training classes, too. Certstaffix also offers a three-day GA class, and Ziggourat Formation has a two-day class. You can find additional live online Google Analytics classes on Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me page.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you are not quite ready to commit the time and funds to a bootcamp or certificate course, there are free tutorials and online courses available to learn Google Analytics. These tend to be overviews and introductions, but there is enough information to help you decide if you want to go further.

Noble Desktop offers an Intro to Google Analytics to introduce you to the powerful tool. This class walks you through opening a Google account and placing tracking codes so you can collect website data. Learn to understand where website traffic is coming from, identify your top-performing channels and gain insight into the behavior of website visitors. Google offers free classes on GA for beginners and advanced students, plus a class on building reports and using Google Tag Manager. Simplilearn and Great Learning also offer free introductory classes.

Read about more free Google Analytics videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

You can learn Google Analytics in a number of ways. The choice is yours, from free video tutorials like Noble Desktop’s Intro to Google Analytics, to in-person, live online, or on-demand classes. You can also sign up for asynchronous online classes that fit your schedule. You can watch the videos from anywhere and go at your own pace. Skillshare offers many Google Analytics courses, as does Udemy. Of course, you can also try Google Academy. One advantage to asynchronous video classes is that you can go back and watch the material as often as you need to. If a multi-day class feels like too much right now, you can try Noble’s Google Analytics in a Day and move on to a Google Analytics Bootcamp later.

Read the full guide on how to learn Google Analytics.

Comparison of Google Analytics Training Formats

You can decide the best way for you to learn Google Analytics. It’s best to consider your personal learning style and the learning environment you prefer when approaching new material. If you are learning Google Analytics to change careers, choose a class setting you feel comfortable with so you can do your best work. Taking a course is an investment, so give some thought to your learning style and the type of classroom environment you prefer.

Different Learning Styles

We all have different learning styles, but they can be grouped into categories. The VARK Model is one way to describe the preferred ways that people learn. VARK stands for Visual, Auditory, Reading and Writing, and Kinesthetic. The most important thing is to find a class that allows you to learn the way you are most comfortable with.

• Visual Learners - Visual learners prefer graphics and charts when learning new material.

• Auditory Learners - Auditory learners are listeners. They prefer a lecture format and sometimes like to be able to go back and listen to the material again.

• Readers and Writers - These people learn best by reading text and taking notes that they can review later.

• Kinesthetic Learners - Kinesthetic learners prefer lessons that engage all of their senses. They prefer to try things for themselves to understand concepts.

In-Person Classes

When we think of training, the in-person class with a teacher at the front and students at desks around the room comes most readily to mind. You may prefer in-person learning because you feel more connected to your teacher and classmates and enjoy meeting new people. When you learn Google Analytics in person, the teacher is available to answer questions and help you with class assignments.

There are some disadvantages to In-person classes, too. Sometimes you can’t find an in-person class near you or one that is scheduled for a convenient time. It also takes time to travel there and back, and you will probably need to find a place to park. You don’t have to commute to online classes.

Online Classes

You can attend online classes from anywhere and choose a time that is convenient for you. There are two types of online classes, asynchronous and synchronous.

You can watch asynchronous classes at any time, whenever and wherever you want, and you can repeat lessons if necessary. One drawback is that you can’t ask the instructor a question or get extra help if you need it.

In synchronous classes, an instructor presents the information in real time, and you can ask questions and get help with exercises. You can’t watch the material whenever you want, but some training programs let you repeat classes for free and send copies of the slides from the instructor’s presentation.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Google Analytics?

Yes, it is possible to teach yourself Google Analytics, but there is a steep learning curve. You can watch free video tutorials like Noble Desktop’s Intro to Google Analytics to get an introduction, but afterward, the best plan is to sign up for a class. You can take in-person classes or choose live online instruction. There are often in-person classes available, depending upon where you live, but a live online class runs in much the same way and is a good option.

On-demand classes are popular, and one of their big advantages is that many of them are free. These classes are pre-recorded, so you can watch them whenever and wherever you want. You can find hours and hours of on-demand classes on Google Analytics on YouTube. The biggest problem with most on-demand classes is that you can’t contact the instructor, ask questions, or get help if needed.

Live online classes are one of the best ways to learn Google Analytics. They'll blend the best aspects of in-person classes with the convenience of online instruction. A real-time live instructor is available, you don’t have to commute, and you can take the class from anywhere with internet access. Live online classes run in conjunction with an in-person class and cost the same.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Google Analytics

It is up to you to decide the best way for you to learn Google Analytics. You can take classes that meet in person or live online. You can choose courses that work best for your schedule, and if you already know something about Google Analytics, you can choose a more advanced level.

Suppose you are just getting started with Google Analytics. In that case, choose a general overview of the key features of Google Analytics first, such as how to sign up for a Google Account, how to decide what to track and install tracking codes, and more. Many free introductory seminars, like Intro to Google Analytics from Noble Desktop, offer helpful information on Google Analytics for beginners.

Once you understand the fundamentals of Google Analytics, you might want to learn more about how to collect the information you want, what information you should choose, and how to access reports. You can sign up for a bootcamp course that covers Google Analytics in-depth, or take Noble Desktop’s Google Analytics One or Two. These classes deliver targeted instruction on Google Analytics and how to use it.

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.
• You can choose to learn Google Analytics through in-person, live online, or on-demand classes. Choose the learning format that you are most comfortable with.
• There are free GA video tutorials available to help you get started learning Google Analytics.
• .You can receive comprehensive Google Analytics training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.