AIMS Canada

Looking for good information about KPIs

Trisha responded to our announcement earlier this week about the newly launched AIMS Web Analytics Council (AWAC) with a question about KPI's. Here's her post...

"I would be interested to learn about different KPIs and what they really mean from both a technical and business perspective. My knowledge on web analytics is limited and other than actual software training, I haven't found much out there to help me learn more about this important area. Any articles, discussions and events the council can provide will be much appreciated."

We'll definitely be working on information and events around this topic. In the meantime June Li from ClickInsight offered up a few suggestions:

Specifically regarding KPIs, I have resources listed on the Analytics Resources page of my Website (http://www.clickinsight.ca/content/resources1/resources2/web-analytics.html)

• Build a Solid Foundation With Key Performance Indicators by Jason Burby (clickz.com)
• eBook on Key Performance Indicators:  The Big Book of KPIs by Eric T. Peterson
  {all of Eric's books have a section on KPIs.]

And if Trisha wants to find out about where she can learn more about Web analytics in general, here are 3 courses and a Squidoo list [Disclosure:  I'm involved in the first 3]:

• Web Analytics Program (series of 4 courses) at the University of British Columbia.
• Web Analytics 2-day course at the University of Toronto.
• WAA Training Day at Emetrics.org, Washington, D.C., October 15, 2006
• Visit Jill Barringer's Squidoo Lens on Web Analytics Courses.

Thanks Trisha and June for getting the conversation started. Anyone else have a good resource about KPIs? Or a specific analytics question for the group?

Lots of Great Conversation at the Not-Quite Geek Dinner in TO Last Night

Mitch Joel and Michael Seaton did a bang up job of organizing a geek dinner in Toronto last night. They put the word out Sunday afternoon and by Tuesday night at least 15 people were sitting around a table at Houston's in downtown TO.

It was amazing for me as I was able to put faces to many of the people I've been talking to online. Case in point...a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that we're doing interviews with the original 3 founders of AIMS. On my to-do list this week is to get back to Jay Aber with his questions. There's no hiding now as he was sitting beside me at the dinner! (I promise Jay...you'll get them in  short order...I know our members will be very interested in your perspective)

Leesa Barnes profiled a few folks on her blog and Michael Seaton has a summary on theclientside. I have to agree with both of them that a new name is needed. Geek just doesn't seem to apply when not one person that I met was a coder at heart.

All in all a super night with lots of interesting conversation. Mitch was walking around the table recording conversations so I'm sure the evening will become part of an upcoming 'Six Pixels of Separation' podcast. If you haven't checked out his podcast yet I highly recommend it - it's always full of great perspective and conversations.

Looking for an agency for online media competitive analysis

Tim Lamb, an AIMS member and Manager of Web Services for Infor is looking for an agency...he writes...

"I am looking for an agency that could perform an online media competitive analysis for our company Infor. We are looking for someone who will be able to tell us where our competitors are in terms of online advertising, partnering, sponsoring, and building online alliances as well as their success in SEO and SEM. 

We are a software company that plays in the ERP (SAP, Oracle), CRM (Siebel), supply chain management (JD Edwards) and performance management space (Cognos, Hyperion) . Please let me know if I can provide any further information to clarify our requirements."

Can anyone help? Or at least point Tim in the right direction?

If you'd like to follow up with Tim directly his contact info is as follows:

Web Services | Infor | office: 905-475-0525 ext. 3303
tim.lamb@extensity.com  | www.infor.com 

How relevant to B2B is the September event?

Mou Mukherjee, Marketing Manager at Information Systems Architects sent in the following question…

"I'm sure that "How Social Media is Changing Everything you Know" is probably relevant also to B2B..but do you know if there are specific things that will relate to B2B in this session?"

I sent the question over to Shel and he confirmed that (and I quote) “much of what I talk about will be applicable to the B2B world”

It's a great question and thanks to Mou for sending it in. I know many of us are really interested in talking about the impact of social media in the B2B world. It's going to be a great session.

In case you haven't checked out the event yet, here's the link.

The launch of AWAC - AIMS Web Analytics Council

I’m pleased to announce the launch of AWAC (eh-wack), AIMS Web Analytics Council. The purpose of the group is to help facilitate learning and discussion around the topic of web analytics. It’s a great team that has a lot of knowledge and experience in this area and I’m looking forward to tapping into their expertise.

We had our kick-off meeting last week and the group came up with some great ideas for event topics and online articles. I know we’ll all benefit from the expertise of this group. Plans are in the works for an event later this year and the group will post here on the blog from time to time. (They’re already working on a ‘What is Web Analytics and Why is it So Important’ piece.)

Members of the group are:

• June Li, Managing Director of ClickInsight

• Peder Enhorning, President of Unilytics Corporation

• Steven Goldhar, President, Sundance Media Inc.

• Stefan Eyram, Manager of Business Development Canada, ExactTarget

And of course I'll be participating in the group as well.

I know the group would love to hear from members. How are you using analytics? What is your biggest challenge? What information would be helpful? Comment here or send your questions and comments to me at klagden@aimscanada.com and I’ll be sure to pass them on.

September 20th Event - Location is Confirmed

A quick note to let you know that we've confirmed a location for our 10th Anniversary event - "How Social Media is Changing Everything You Know". The event will be held at The Berkeley Street Theatre.

The Berkeley Street Theatre is located at 26 Berkeley Street. It's a beautiful theatre with a big lobby and courtyard where we can enjoy a drink and some yummy appetizers after the presentation and discussion.

Map and directions to the theatre are available here.

ps. Don't forget the earlybird discount expires this Wednesday! Register here.

AIMS 10th Anniversary Event - Help Spread the Word!

Our 10th Anniversary event, "How Social Media is Changing Everything You Know", is fast approaching.

We have a great community who are actively spreading the word about this event, so we decided to create a badge. You can download it here if you'd like to include it on your own site or blog and help spread the word! Don't forget to link it to www.aimscanada.com.

Third-party payment processor recommendation - Help Needed!

This question was sent in by an AIMS member who is looking for help with finding a third-party payment processor.

"We are looking for a payment processor, and I don't like the options I have seen thus far:  either they have been too bureaucratic (affiliated entitry of big banks requiring a personal guarantee), or too unreliable and possibly shady (one we have been dealing with in the US), or they don't allow customized branding (PayPal).  We need to be able to accept payments from Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover, with the majority of our business coming from corporate users in the US, followed by Europe and Canada, and then the rest of the world.

Do you have any suggestions on reliable but fast-moving companies that provide this service?"

AIMS interviewed by One Degree

Ken at One Degree did a 'Five Questions' interview with me (Kathryn) about AIMS.

The questions and answers are here - http://www.onedegree.ca/2006/08/21/five-questions-for-kathryn-lagden-aims

Is instant messaging the end of proper grammar?

AIMS member Judy Gombita (who indicates she completed an undergraduate degree—double specialist in English and History—at U of T) was relieved to discover from her alma mater’s e-newsletter that the prevalence of today’s text messaging amongst Gen Y shouldn’t spell the death knell for proper syntax and grammar. (But the trained editor in her continues to get really annoyed with the short cuts, lack of uppercasing and crappy spelling.)

Full article here - www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/060731-2474.asp