Getting The Most Out Of Your Bounteous Training

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January 4, 2016

You’ve decided it’s time to learn more about Google Analytics, or Ads, or both. You’ve signed up for Bounteous training. Now what?

Read on for tips on what to do before, during, and after the training to optimize your learning experience.

Before the training

1. Get access to an account

For Google Analytics, get edit access at the account level if possible and create a test view. For Ads, get standard access or know who has it.

For a Google Analytics test view, simply copy the main production view and put your name on it. Or you can have someone else create a test view for you and give you edit permissions at least for that view.

Create the test view as far in advance of the training as possible, so you have some data to work with. If you don’t see data but think you should, verify that GA tracking code is on your site. And if none of that made sense to you, we’ll talk more about Views and the GA Tracking code in our Google Analytics 301 class!

2. Come with questions

Write a list of questions ahead of time and bring it with you. Look at your Google Analytics data or Ads data and make notes about what you can’t find or what seems confusing.

Other sources of questions: Email or ask your team or your boss what they want to know about your websites (or apps) or campaigns. Ask if they have questions about using Google Analytics or Ads. What can you learn that will help them?

Read our course descriptions to see what topics we’ll cover in your training. Watch the Analytics Academy videos on the GAIQ Prep page. These may also prompt questions for your list.

3. Think about business objectives

Give some thought to overall business objectives before you arrive, because we’ll be asking you about them during the training. Think about objectives for your company’s digital presence, too.

We’ll describe how to relate business objectives to digital objectives, how to set up Google Analytics and Ads to measure those objectives, and how to find the data and use it.

4. Bring the right people

What is your role in your company and what will your responsibilities be? Read over those course descriptions one more time and make sure you have the right people in the right courses. Take our quiz to see which course you should be taking.

The more technical classes like Google Analytics 301 and Google Tag Manager Workshop will give specific recommendations for changes to make to your website. If there’s a person or a team that handles this for your company, ask them if they should attend as well.

5. Keep your confirmation email

And double-check the training dates. Your email is your ticket and receipt, and shows the courses you selected when you registered.

The “Notes” section of your confirmation email includes helpful info about how to get to the training, where to park, and other important details.

To find out about cancellation policies, meals, what you should wear, and so forth, read our Training FAQ.

During the training

The week has come, get ready to learn! We know how hard it is to leave the office for an extended period of time, so we’ve included breaks and an extended lunch to allow time to check in back home. Here are a few reminders:

6. Bring a laptop and take notes

Make sure you bring a laptop and power cable. Get the password if your laptop is a loaner.

It’s easiest to navigate Google Analytics and Ads and take notes on a laptop, compared to a tablet or other device.

You’ll get a copy of all the slides to review later, so while you’re taking notes, write the slide number at the same time.

7. Ask questions

Come early, stay late, get some personal attention at breaks or lunch. Pull out that list you wrote ahead of time and get answers.

Don’t be afraid to speak up during training, either. Someone else may have the same questions.

If we don’t cover something you’d like to learn, let the trainer know.

8. Be present

Focus on the training, even set your email away message to keep distractions to a minimum. We’ll take breaks to give you time to check in with the office, stretch your legs, and get out of your chair.

Network with other attendees. Ask them how they handle campaign tagging or which attribution model they use. You probably have a good deal in common, and getting out of your seat will keep you motivated and focused in the long run.

After the training

Phew! You made it! The courses are jam-packed with material, so it’s important to keep the momentum going and follow through with everything you’ve learned.

9. Take action

Audit your account for best practices. Use our 12-point checklist for Ads, or our GA 301 site health checklist, and then act on what you find.

Debrief your team about what you learned while the info is still fresh in your mind. Discuss new ideas you have about what to set up, measure, or improve.

10. Keep learning

Use your “Get Out of Jail Free” card to email us after the training for any question that crops up later. Follow your trainer(s) on Twitter.

We provide you with many resources during the training, including a flash drive with the training slides, handouts, and more. We talk at the end of each day about how to continue your education with specific links to industry blogs, Google resources, and certifications. Read this blog! Our blogs often come directly from training topics.

Recap

That’s it! Follow our tips to make sure you’re prepared and focused during the training and invigorated and successful after the training.

1. Get Account Access
2. List Questions
3. List Business Objectives
4. Bring the Right People
5. Keep Confirmation Email
6. Bring Laptop
7. Get Answers
8. Focus on Training
9. Take Action
10. Keep Learning