What is Google Analytics and do I need it? Google Analytics is a free tool that shows how people find and use your website — where visitors come from, which pages they view, and what actions they take. Most businesses benefit from it (or a similar tool): without measurement, you’re guessing about what works.
What does Google Analytics show you?
- Where your visitors come from (search, ads, social, referral)
- Which pages they visit and how long they stay
- What devices they use
- Conversions like form fills and calls (once set up)
Do I really need analytics?
If you spend any time or money on marketing, yes — it tells you what’s working so you invest wisely. Even a simple setup beats flying blind; without it you can’t tell which efforts produce customers.
Is Google Analytics free?
Yes, the standard version is free and covers what most small businesses need. The real investment is the time to set it up correctly and to actually review the data.
What should I track?
Focus on outcomes that map to revenue — form submissions, calls, bookings and their sources — not vanity metrics like raw pageviews. Set up conversion tracking so the data reflects real business results.