Google Analytics for Flash

Dominic Gélineau Flash developer Analytics, Animation, SEO [email_address] Blog: www.zedia.net Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zedia WE ARE HIRING [email_address]

Why care about analytics? Because it’s cool To provide data to your clients on the impact of what you are doing To give you feedback on the effectivness of your work

Because it’s cool

To provide data to your clients on the impact of what you are doing

To give you feedback on the effectivness of your work

Why Google Analytics? It’s free It’s widely used It has a concept called event It now has a library just for Flash

It’s free

It’s widely used

It has a concept called event

It now has a library just for Flash

Basic concepts about web analytics PageViews Events

PageViews

Events

PageViews The PageViews model is based on the HTML version of a web page The real idea behind a pageView is NAVIGATION In HTML this is sent automaticaly every time the user changes or refresh the page In Flash we have to do this manually We should try and keep the same syntax as HTML for consistency

The PageViews model is based on the HTML version of a web page

The real idea behind a pageView is NAVIGATION

In HTML this is sent automaticaly every time the user changes or refresh the page

In Flash we have to do this manually

We should try and keep the same syntax

as HTML for consistency

Events The real idea behind events is INTERACTION Whenever you want to track something that is not related to navigation you should use an event. In Google Analytics Events are not enabled for all profiles http://code.google.com/p/gaforflash/wiki/EventTrackingRequest

The real idea behind events is INTERACTION

Whenever you want to track something that is not related to navigation you should use an event.

In Google Analytics Events are not enabled for all profiles

http://code.google.com/p/gaforflash/wiki/EventTrackingRequest

Google Analytics for Flash Library http://code.google.com/p/gaforflash/ Just search Google for «Google Analytics for Flash»

http://code.google.com/p/gaforflash/

Just search Google for «Google Analytics for Flash»

How to install it Flex and Flash CS4 can import SWC Flash CS3 can’t Download the library from SVN Put the SWC file in this folder: C:Program FilesAdobeAdobe Flash CS3languageConfigurationComponents Macintosh HD:Applications:Adobe Flash CS3:Configuration:Components

Flex and Flash CS4 can import SWC

Flash CS3 can’t

Download the library from SVN

Put the SWC file in this folder:

C:Program FilesAdobeAdobe Flash CS3languageConfigurationComponents

Macintosh HD:Applications:Adobe Flash CS3:Configuration:Components

Sample Code import com.google.analytics.AnalyticsTracker; import com.google.analytics.GATracker; var _tracker:AnalyticsTracker = new GATracker ( main, “UA-7777777-7”, “AS3”); _tracker.trackPageview(yourSectionName + “/”);

More on Events _tracker.trackEvent(“English”, “Client Quiz”, “Question 3”, value); Category, Action, Label, value Only the two first are mandatory Value is an integer No standards, no real guidelines

_tracker.trackEvent(“English”, “Client Quiz”, “Question 3”, value);

Category, Action, Label, value

Only the two first are mandatory

Value is an integer

No standards, no real guidelines

2 Modes: AS3 vs Bridge The library can work in two modes, AS3 or Bridge. Each of them has there advantages.

The library can work in two modes, AS3 or Bridge. Each of them has there advantages.

AS3 Mode Stand Alone mode Doesn’t require javascript Usefull for full Flash website Usefull when you don’t control the HTML that wraps the swf like for widgets or games

Stand Alone mode

Doesn’t require javascript

Usefull for full Flash website

Usefull when you don’t control the HTML that wraps the swf like for widgets or games

Bridge Mode var _tracker:AnalyticsTracker = new GATracker (main, “window.PageTracker”, “Bridge”); Integrates better when the Flash part of a website is minor Enables more of the Google Analytics API like E-commerce allowScriptAccess = always

var _tracker:AnalyticsTracker = new GATracker (main, “window.PageTracker”, “Bridge”);

Integrates better when the Flash part of a website is minor

Enables more of the Google Analytics API like E-commerce

allowScriptAccess = always

Visual Debug var _tracker:AnalyticsTracker = new GATracker (main, “ UA-7777777-7 ”, “AS3”, true); One of the coolest features of GA for Flash Permits you to see in real time what is being sent to Google Clear advantage over the old way, which was to wait 3 hours and check to see if everything worked

var _tracker:AnalyticsTracker = new GATracker (main, “ UA-7777777-7 ”, “AS3”, true);

One of the coolest features of GA for Flash

Permits you to see in real time what is being sent to Google

Clear advantage over the old way, which was to wait 3 hours and check to see if everything worked

Visual Debug Screenshot

What should you track Too much is like not enough Tracking errors is really helpful

Too much is like not enough

Tracking errors is really helpful

One draw back The library will add 40k to your project Might not be the best thing for all project Like banners

The library will add 40k to your project

Might not be the best thing for all project

Like banners

Links Google Code – http://code.google.com/p/gaforflash/ Developer group – http://groups.google.com/group/ga-for-flash?pli= 1 Adobe Max presentation on GA for Flash – http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f15385v1040

Google Code – http://code.google.com/p/gaforflash/

Developer group – http://groups.google.com/group/ga-for-flash?pli= 1

Adobe Max presentation on GA for Flash – http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f15385v1040

Questions?

Thank you Dominic Gélineau [email_address] www.zedia.net http://www.twitter.com/zedia