A version of this article appeared originally on the blog of Bluetrain, Inc., founded by Bryan Smith. Smith is a member of EO Edmonton.

Plan, implement and maintain. These three steps apply to almost any aspect of a business, but they are often overlooked in web analytics. In an increasingly online world, websites are key to running a successful business. Ask yourself if your website is doing what you intended it to do. Can you even determine that with the analytics you have?

Web analytics are technology solutions that enable you to collect and report data on how your customers interact with your website. This information can be used to analyze and improve how your website is helping you meet your business goals.