Home Analytics Understanding Analytics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding Analytics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Last updated on Jul 11, 2025

Getting Started

Before you can start using Crowd Analytics, you must have installed Crowd's tracking code on your website or application. This tracking code collects the data that powers your analytics dashboards.
Haven't installed the tracking code yet? Please click here to learn how to.
When you first access the Analytics feature, you'll need to create your own custom dashboard. Crowd Analytics doesn't provide pre-built dashboards - instead, you have the flexibility to create dashboards tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Step 1: Creating Your First Dashboard

Access the Analytics Feature

  1. Navigate to the Analytics section in your Crowd dashboard

  2. Click on the "Create Dashboard" button

Dashboard Creation Process

  1. Initial Setup: A new dashboard will be created with the default name "Untitled Dashboard"

  2. Name Your Dashboard: Click on the "Untitled Dashboard" text to rename it

    • Choose a descriptive name that reflects the dashboard's purpose

    • Examples: "Monthly Traffic Overview", "E-commerce Performance", "Mobile User Analytics"

  3. Save the Name: Press Enter or click outside the text field to save your dashboard name

Step 2: Adding Widgets to Your Dashboard

Understanding Widgets

Widgets are individual data visualization components that display specific metrics or analytics data. Each widget focuses on a particular aspect of your website's performance.

Available Widget Categories

Traffic Analytics Widgets

  • Visitors: Track unique visitors and visitor trends over time

  • Sessions: Monitor active visitor sessions and session quality

  • Page Views: Analyze page popularity and content performance

  • Bounce Rate: Measure visitor engagement and page effectiveness

Technology Widgets

  • Browsers: Understand which browsers your visitors use

  • Devices: Analyze desktop vs mobile vs tablet usage

  • Operating Systems: Track OS preferences of your audience

Geographic Widgets

  • Countries: See where your visitors are located globally

  • Regions: Analyze regional traffic patterns within countries

  • Cities: Get city-level insights about your audience

Behavior Widgets

  • Referrers: Track where visitors come from before reaching your site

  • Entry Pages: Identify which pages visitors land on first

  • Exit Pages: Understand where visitors typically leave your site

Advanced Widgets

  • Languages: Monitor the language preferences of your visitors

  • Screen Resolutions: Optimize for common screen sizes

  • Events: Track custom interactions and user actions

  • Query Parameters: Analyze URL parameters and campaign tracking

  • Hosts: Monitor traffic across different domains or subdomains

  • User Intent: Understand visitor motivations and goals

Adding Widgets Process

  1. Open Widget Selection: Click the "Add Widgets" button in your dashboard

  2. Browse Categories: Use the left sidebar to explore different widget categories

  3. Select Widgets: Click on individual widgets to add them to your dashboard

  4. Configure Widget Settings: For each widget, you can toggle:

    Show historical trend data

    Display current totals

    Show distribution breakdowns

  5. Save Your Selection: Click "Save changes" to add the selected widgets to your dashboard

Step 4: Accessing Your Dashboards

Viewing All Dashboards

  1. Navigate to Analytics Homepage: Return to the main Analytics section

  2. Dashboard Overview: You'll see all your created dashboards listed

  3. Quick Access: Click on any dashboard name to open it

Step 5: Customizing Existing Dashboards

Accessing Customization Options

  1. Open Your Dashboard: Click on the dashboard you want to customize

  2. Enter Customization Mode: Click the "Customise" button

**
Customization Features**

Widget Management

  • Reorder Widgets: Toggle widgets up or down to control their position on the dashboard

  • Add New Widgets: Click "Add Widgets" to include additional data visualizations

  • Remove Widgets: Delete widgets that are no longer needed

  • Resize Widgets: Adjust widget sizes for a better dashboard layout

Widget Configuration

  • Individual Settings: Configure each widget's display options

  • Data Preferences: Choose which data points to highlight

  • Visualization Options: Select chart types and display formats

Step 6: Filtering and Analyzing Data

Time-Based Filtering

  1. Time Range Selector: Use the date picker to filter data by specific time periods

  2. Quick Options: Choose from preset ranges (last 7 days, 30 days, etc.)

  3. Custom Ranges: Set specific start and end dates for detailed analysis

Advanced Filtering

  1. Filter Button: Click the "Filter" button for advanced filtering options

  2. Multiple Criteria: Apply multiple filters simultaneously

  3. Save Filters: Save frequently used filter combinations

Data Analysis

  • Compare Periods: Analyze data across different time ranges

  • Trend Analysis: Identify patterns and trends in your data

  • Performance Metrics: Focus on key performance indicators relevant to your goals

Best Practices for Dashboard Creation

Planning Your Dashboard

  1. Define Purpose: Each dashboard should have a clear purpose or focus area

  2. Identify Key Metrics: Choose widgets that align with your business goals

  3. Logical Organization: Group related widgets together for easy analysis

Widget Selection

  1. Start Simple: Begin with essential widgets and add complexity gradually

  2. Avoid Overcrowding: Don't include too many widgets on a single dashboard

  3. Regular Review: Periodically assess which widgets provide the most value

Dashboard Maintenance

  1. Regular Updates: Review and update your dashboards as your needs change

  2. Performance Monitoring: Ensure dashboards load quickly and display correctly

  3. User Feedback: If multiple team members use the dashboards, gather their input

Multiple Dashboard Strategy

Creating Specialized Dashboards

Consider creating multiple dashboards for different purposes:

  • Executive Dashboard: High-level KPIs and business metrics

  • Content Performance: Focus on page views, engagement, and content analytics

  • Marketing Dashboard: Campaign performance and traffic source analysis

  • Technical Dashboard: Browser, device, and performance metrics

  • Geographic Dashboard: Location-based insights and regional performance

Troubleshooting Common Issues

No Data Appearing

  • Check Tracking Code: Ensure Crowd's tracking code is properly installed

  • Verify Time Range: Make sure your selected time range includes periods with traffic

  • Allow Processing Time: New tracking implementations may take time to show data

Dashboard Loading Issues

  • Reduce Widgets: Too many widgets can slow loading times

  • Check Internet Connection: Ensure stable connectivity

  • Browser Compatibility: Use a supported browser version

Widget Configuration Problems

  • Refresh Dashboard: Try refreshing the page if widgets aren't updating

  • Clear Cache: Clear browser cache if you're experiencing display issues

  • Contact Support: Reach out to Crowd support for persistent technical issues

Your Crowd Analytics dashboards are now ready to provide valuable insights into your website's performance and user behavior. Regular monitoring and analysis will help you make data-driven decisions to improve your online presence.

Need additional help? contact us here: support@crowdapp.io