Businesses need to be able to measure results. And not just in the long-term. Today, more and more clients, consumers, and customers are interested in learning how a company is performing in real-time.

And that’s where data and analytics tools come in. The great thing about technology is that a lot of these new programs and software are relatively inexpensive, so you can get your business up to speed for a reasonable price.

But what if you’re not well versed in the data space? Well, good news! Our trusty friend Google is here to help, with a data tool called Google Analytics.

In a nutshell, the tool tracks audience traffic and engagement. It also creates reports of social media users and counts mobile visitors. These reports, which are stored in one central location, can be generated anytime and anywhere, giving you data in real-time. If you’re new to data tools, here’s why reports are important: they help businesses see what content is attracting customers and what is not. As a result, the data can then be used to back up a new marketing campaign or keep plugging along with a strategy that’s working.

Basically, Google Analytics is the starter kit for businesses seeking to get their feet wet in data analytics. Our CFO consultants also think it’s a great tool for beginners because it doesn’t require coding knowledge to use. Oh, and did we mention it’s free? Yeah, we think it’s a pretty good idea to check this one out…