--- title: Google Analytics and Social Media Can Help Drive Traffic to Your Site description: The information about social media provided by Google Analytics can be used to make decisions about and optimize your social networking efforts. image: https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/file-44952336-jpg/images/google_analytics_and_social_media.jpg --- [![Share on Twitter](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/share-count-tw.png?width=30&name=share-count-tw.png) ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%20&url=https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site&via=) [![Share on Linkedin](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/share-count-in.png?width=30&name=share-count-in.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site&title=&summary=) [![Share on Facebook](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/share-count-fb.png?width=30&name=share-count-fb.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site) # Google Analytics and Social Media Can Help Drive Traffic to Your Site [![Louise Armstrong](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/5d88b4c092dfb6536c0b91c9fa748e03)](https://blog.gobonafide.com/author/louise-armstrong) by [ Louise Armstrong](https://blog.gobonafide.com/author/louise-armstrong) on June 17, 2013 in [Visibility](https://blog.gobonafide.com/topic/visibility) Share: [![Share on Twitter](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/share-count-tw.png?width=30&name=share-count-tw.png) ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%20&url=https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site&via=) [![Share on Linkedin](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/share-count-in.png?width=30&name=share-count-in.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site&title=&summary=) [![Share on Facebook](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/share-count-fb.png?width=30&name=share-count-fb.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site) We all know that social media is an important driver of traffic in the online world. But [how important is social media](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/116911/Social-Media-Is-it-Right-for-Your-Business) for your business? Which social networks should you focus your efforts on? And how can you improve those efforts?![google analytics and social media](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/file-44952336-jpg/images/google_analytics_and_social_media.jpg?width=202&height=134&name=google_analytics_and_social_media.jpg) To properly answer those questions, you need data. And you can get that data from [Google Analytics](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/104421/10-Google-Analytics-Terms-Definitions-You-Need-to-Know). ### **Social Media and Google Analytics** Though Google Analytics is a (primarily) free service, it provides the tools you need to measure the effectiveness of social media. You can find the information in the “Social” tab under “Traffic Sources” or by creating an advanced segment with the social media sources you want. The social media information you can gather with Google Analytics includes: - The number of visits from each social network, both as a whole and for each individual page. - The visit duration and number of pages per visit for each shared piece of content.  - The traffic flow from each social network, showing which pages they navigate through as they explore your site (and where they leave the site). - The geographic location of your social media visitors.  - How many social media visitors are using mobile devices. - The number of conversions that originate from each social network source.  - Interactions with your content (such as comments or shares) on the social network itself, for Google+ and a selection of other partner networks.  - The estimated dollar value of the traffic from each social network.  ### **Using the Data** The information about social media provided by Google Analytics can be used to make decisions about and optimize your social networking efforts. Below are just a few examples of how the data can be helpful. - **Allocating resources.** Since you can see the effectiveness and value of each social media platform, you can decide which networks to primarily focus on. For example, perhaps you are getting a lot of referrals from [your business' account on Pinterest](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/132074/A-Guide-to-Using-Pinterest-for-Business) despite not spending much time there. Instead, you are expending a lot of effort on YouTube without getting many results. You could decide to reallocate your effort to Pinterest or look at ways to change your approach on YouTube.  - **Testing different approaches.** You can utilize [A/B testing](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/136426/What-is-A-B-Testing-A-Guide-for-Beginners) by creating different pages and using a different type of [social media campaign](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/142554/How-to-Start-Implement-a-Social-Media-Campaign) for each. You can then see which networks and tactics drove the most traffic for each page.  - **Designing promotions.** If you find you have a lot of Facebook fans in one particular city, you may set up a Facebook-based promotion specific to your location there. Or if you have a lot of mobile users, perhaps you offer a discount for showing they have shared a post on their phone.  - **Refining your content.** Google Analytics can show you where your social media visitors are [bouncing off](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/122746/What-is-Bounce-Rate-and-How-to-Improve-It) or leaving your site, whether it be the landing page or some other link in the conversion chain. You can then work to improve those pages. Or, if most of your social media visitors use mobile devices, you can work to optimize your landing pages or the referring social media pages [for mobile](http://web.zizinya.com/blog/bid/138392/Optimizing-for-Mobile-The-New-Rules-of-Mobile-Marketing). By utilizing the power of Google Analytics’ social media tools, you can better realize the power of social media to build your business. ** Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net* ![lets_talk2.jpg](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CTAs/lets_talk_2.jpg?width=795&name=lets_talk_2.jpg) [![Louise Armstrong](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/5d88b4c092dfb6536c0b91c9fa748e03)](https://blog.gobonafide.com/author/louise-armstrong) ### [Louise Armstrong](https://blog.gobonafide.com/author/louise-armstrong) Louise is a Senior Digital Strategist at Bonafide. A pop-culture addict with a passion for all things digital. She's Scottish by birth, but don't ask if she likes haggis... ## about us Bonafide is an online / digital marketing agency based in Houston, Texas that works with growth-minded businesses nationwide. We help companies find new customers on the internet using market research, inbound marketing, CRM and sales enablement, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, pay-per-click advertising (PPC), social media, PR, technology and more. ## Quick Links ## Questions? 713-568-2364 ## Contact us Bonafide 5318 Weslayan St # 128 Houston, TX 77005 * Mailing address only. [Schedule a Call](https://learn.gobonafide.com/schedule-a-call) [![Bonafide](https://blog.gobonafide.com/hubfs/Bonafide-September2018/Images/logo.png)](https://www.gobonafide.com) © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy & Terms of Use](https://www.gobonafide.com/privacy-policy-terms/) [**](https://www.facebook.com/GoBonafide) [**](https://twitter.com/gobonafide) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gobonafide) [**](https://www.instagram.com/gobonafide/) [**](https://www.gobonafide.com/feed/rss/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Louise Armstrong", "url" : "https://blog.gobonafide.com/author/louise-armstrong" }, "datePublished" : "2013-06-17T12:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Google Analytics and Social Media Can Help Drive Traffic to Your Site", "image" : [ "https://blog.gobonafide.com/hs-fs/file-44952336-jpg/images/google_analytics_and_social_media.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.gobonafide.com/blog/bid/147889/google-analytics-and-social-media-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-site", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.gobonafide.com/hubfs/Logos/bonafide_logo_2color_rgb_linkedin.png" }, "name" : "Bonafide" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gobonafide.com/#organization", "@type" : [ "Organization", "ProfessionalService" ], "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Houston", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "77005", "streetAddress" : "5318 Weslayan St # 128" }, "alternateName" : "Bonafide Digital Marketing Agency", "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" }, "award" : [ "HubSpot Impact Award – Graphic Design (2017)", "BBB Winner of Distinction (2016, 2017, 2019)", "BBB Award for Excellence – Pinnacle Winner (2018)" ], "description" : "Bonafide is a digital marketing agency based in Houston, Texas that works with growth-minded businesses nationwide, helping companies find new customers online through inbound marketing, SEO, content marketing, PPC, social media, CRM and sales enablement, and more.", "foundingDate" : "2009-06-01", "hasOfferCatalog" : { "@type" : "OfferCatalog", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Content Marketing" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Inbound Marketing" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Social Media Marketing" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "CRM & Sales Enablement" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Market Research" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Public Relations" } } ], "name" : "Digital Marketing Services" }, "image" : { "@id" : "https://www.gobonafide.com/#logo" }, "knowsAbout" : [ "Digital Marketing", "Inbound Marketing", "Search Engine Optimization", "Content Marketing", "Pay-Per-Click Advertising", "Social Media Marketing", "CRM and Sales Enablement", "Market Research", "Public Relations" ], "logo" : { "@id" : "https://www.gobonafide.com/#logo", "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "Bonafide", "url" : "https://www.gobonafide.com/hubfs/Bonafide-September2018/Images/logo.png" }, "memberOf" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Better Business Bureau" }, "name" : "Bonafide", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/GoBonafide", "https://twitter.com/gobonafide", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/gobonafide", "https://www.instagram.com/gobonafide/" ], "telephone" : "+1-713-568-2364", "url" : "https://www.gobonafide.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gobonafide.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "name" : "Bonafide", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.gobonafide.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://www.gobonafide.com" } ```