Track Popular Articles with Google Analytics

Understanding Website Traffic with Google Analytics

Note: This article pertains to a previous iteration of Analytics.

Google Analytics represents a valuable, freely available resource for webmasters seeking to monitor website statistics. However, certain common procedures can appear surprisingly complex, or are concealed within a layered menu structure featuring unconventional terminology.

Identifying Popular Articles

When managing a website with a substantial volume of articles, determining which pieces have garnered the most attention over a given period can be challenging. Recognizing spikes in page views allows you to quickly pinpoint content resonating with your audience.

Performing this analysis within Analytics is a straightforward process. Once the most visited articles are identified, further investigation can reveal the specific keywords driving traffic to those pages.

Begin by selecting your desired date range using the calendar located in the lower-left corner of the interface. Then, navigate to All Reports > Content Optimization > Content Performance > Content By Titles.

A graphical representation of the most popular content will be displayed, accompanied by a detailed table listing the articles below.

It is often insightful to observe which articles are performing well, and subsequently, to understand the reasons behind their popularity.

Analyzing Contributing Keywords

To discover the keywords attracting visitors to a specific article, select the red circular arrow labeled "Cross Segment Performance," and then choose "Keyword."

This action will reveal the keywords associated with traffic to the selected page. You may notice that a significant number of entries display "(no data)."

This indicates that visitors arrived via referral links rather than through organic search results.

The data presented can provide valuable insights into how users are discovering your content.

Regular Monitoring for Content Strategy

Conducting these comparative analyses on a monthly basis is beneficial. It allows you to track changes in your content's performance and overall traffic patterns over time.

Staying informed about these trends enables you to refine your content strategy and optimize for continued growth.

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