Google Analytics - great as it is - and free as it is - could improve it's documentation and to help that along Robbin F. Steif over at Lunametrics (and a fellow WAA Director) is helping with a new, unofficial contest where you can Criticize Google Analytics. Win Prizes.
Robbin covers the usual set of suspects such as Mistakes, Omissions and Opacity (poor documentation …. if you ask me). And here's what you get for the best entries:
"…The Prizes! We have four prizes, donated by two of LunaMetrics’ customers and one of the judges. Databazaar agreed to donate a $50 gift certificate for printer supplies (ink, toner, whatever you need). Voip.com agreed to donate a month of free Make a Call (”click to call”) and six months free of a second line on your cell phone. Since I only have myself to blame for the fact that the good second line voip pages are not up, I had better explain: when you have a second line for your cell phone, you can give out one number to potential boyfriends and not worry that they will drive you crazy, even after you figure out what creeps they are. Or, you can call about a potential new job on your employer-owned cell phone, and your current employer never sees the charges because of the cool technology.
The fourth prize is a signed copy of Avinash Kaushik’s book, Web Analytics: An Hour a Day. (It went on sale on Friday.)"
All you have to do is post a comment on the following post: http://www.lunametrics.com/blog/2007/06/04/criticize-google-analytics-win-prizes/
"..Rules: All entries must be posted here as a comment (so that everyone can see them. Including Google. That means, they’ll get your thoughts, whether you win or not.) Everyone is eligible except myself and the judges. (That means, all the GAACs are eligible, and I hope some of you submit some ideas.) No idea is too stupid (because if you don’t understand it, there are probably close to two million other users who don’t either.) You can submit in as many categories as you like, and you can submit up to three ideas in each category. This is only for Google Analytics and not Website Optimizer. Please don’t submit product enhancements or bugs here, this is about documentation only. All entries are due by June 26, 2007.
I'm still in France, so my posting lighter than normal. I like how Robbin says …everyone can see the comments including Google. I think people at Google are smart, but sometimes they need feedback from the user community that they don't get enough of; I think that's what Robbin is providing by running this contest.
When I have a chance I'll comment too … not only do I have some gripes with Google Analytics (call them omissions if you want) but I want that signed copy of Avinash Kaushik’s book, Web Analytics: An Hour a Day.
