Are Google Academy Courses Worthwhile?
Today, some of the most popular digital marketing tools are those from Google. As well as being the world’s leading search engine, the company offers several different courses to provide the knowledge you need to benefit from their products. So, are Google Academy Courses worthwhile or are they merely a promotional tool for Google? In this article, we find out more about what courses the Google Analytics Academy offers and whether they’re worth your time.
Courses Offered by Google Analytics Academy
There are several courses that you can complete at Google Analytics Academy. Below, we explore each course in detail.
Google Analytics for Beginners
The most basic course from the academy is Google Analytics for Beginners. During this course, you’ll cover everything from creating a Google Analytics account to applying data filters and implementing tracking codes. If you’ve never used Google Analytics before, this course will teach you how to navigate the reports and interface and how to create your dashboards from scratch. You’ll also learn how to analyse reports, track your campaigns and set up goals.
Advanced Google Analytics
If you’re already familiar with Google Analytics, this advanced course will take your knowledge to the next level. In Advanced Google Analytics, you’ll learn how to configure customs metrics, dimensions and event tracking as well as how data gets collected and processed. You’ll also learn about remarketing and dynamic remarketing as well as more advanced analysis techniques.
Google Analytics for Power Users
The next course is Google Analytics for Power Users. Designed for users that understand the inner workings of the platform, this course covers advanced techniques that allow you to take your business to the next level. During the course, you’ll learn how to compare traffic sources and users that convert with those that don’t so that you can optimise your site, content and campaigns. If you’re new to Google Analytics, you should cover the basic courses before pursuing this one or you’ll end up pretty confused!
Getting Started with Google Analytics 360
Google offers two versions of its analytics platform: Google Analytics and Google Analytics 360. Google Analytics is the standard version and is free to use. Google Analytics 360 is a premium version of the platform and has tier-based pricing. Thankfully, Google will notify you when you’re a good candidate to upgrade, so you’ll have an idea of when to make the jump to the paid platform. If you are looking to upgrade, the migration path from the basic to the more advanced platform is straightforward. You’ll keep the same interface, tracking code and reports that you’ve already created. The only difference is that you’ll have access to the premium features of 360.
If you’ve recently upgraded to Google Analytics 360, this is the course for you. You’ll learn about features such as roll-up reporting, unsampled reports and custom tables and funnels. You’ll also touch on topics such as integrating with Google Ad Manager, reporting with BigQuery and other useful marketing products. With several real-life examples, the course teaches you how Google Analytics 360 can help you achieve your business goals.
Introduction to Data Studio
The Introduction to Data Studio course teaches business owners, marketers and data analysts how to visualise data to gain insights. During this course, you’ll learn how to connect your data, create reports and share them with your teammates. You’ll also learn how to design clear and concise reports to share with different stakeholders.
Google Tag Manager Fundamentals
If you’re hoping to manage multiple analytics and marketing tags, this is the course for you. Suitable for business owners, analysts, developers and marketers, the course teaches you how to prevent redundant or incorrect tags from distorting your data. During this online course, you’ll learn how to use Google Tag Manager to simplify the tagging and management process.
Certifications
Once you’ve completed any of the above courses, a certificate of completion will be sent to you. You’ll also have the option to complete the Google Analytics Individual Qualification exam. Before doing this, you’ll need to complete the Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics course and have the certificates to prove it. You can then visit the Google Partners section and take the exam. To pass the exam you’ll need to score a minimum of 80%. If you manage this, you’ll receive a unique Google Analytics Individual Qualification certificate and your profile will show your certification status.
Are Google Analytics Courses Worthwhile?
So, now we know what the courses are all about, but are they worthwhile? There’s no doubt that Google is here to stay, so it’s worth taking the time to understand the platform. If you want to track your marketing efforts, knowing how to use Google Analytics effectively is a must. Thankfully, the courses above allow you to learn the platform for free.
Knowing how to make the most of Google’s marketing tools will benefit your business, allowing you to track your marketing efforts free of charge. When it comes to how customers are using your website, you can’t afford to be in the dark. Knowing how people are engaging with your content will allow you to make the necessary changes to take your business to the next level, all of which can be learnt through the Google Academy courses. Google Analytics presents all of your website data clearly and concisely, allowing you to reach out to visitors in a more effective manner. If you already know how to do this, great. If not, the Google Analytics Academy courses are certainly worthwhile.
Essentially, the Academy courses teach you how to use the analytics platform to grow your business. Depending on your level of experience, you may benefit from taking the beginners course and working your way up. If you’re already familiar with the platform, you may be better off starting with the advanced course instead. As the courses are simple to complete and free of charge, they’re worthwhile for those looking to increase their knowledge of the Google Analytics platform.