Learning Mode ON! Google Analytics Individual Qualification
It is a total surprise. I swear I only wanted to understand how Google Analytics works, so those weird-looking properties and metrics can talk to me. Then after a quick research, it became clear that the best tutorial seemed to be on Google’s Analytics Academy, the same study materials for Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ). So why not take the course and have another certificate from Google? And the big surprise is that I can have 3 Google Analytics certificates at once!
Course Background
There are 6 courses in Analytics Academy (for the Chinese version, there are only 3). Each course contains around 4 “Units.” A bit like Coursera, each course comes with several short videos and additional reading, as well as a clickable demo (remind me of my project in Google’s UX Design Course).
If you only want to pass the exam, taking Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics should be enough. And you will obtain certificates that are sharable on Linkedin after passing 4 simple exams for each. But do keep in mind, those terminologies and settings will be more “memorable” if you have some hands-on experience with the platform.
I wanted to learn Google Analytics (GA) in the first place because I am a newbie in building my website, and I want to learn more about my readers (if any). Therefore, when I watched those videos, I opened two windows of Google Analytics interface; one linked to the demo account and another linked to my website. I would recommend you to do the same if you will use GA in the future. Plus, some tutorials involve advanced features usually not applicable to new websites, such as opening advertising features or accessing demography data (the latter one only works if you already have 1,000 daily users visiting your website).
Exam Introduction
Google Analytics Individual Qualification is a free exam and 100% web-based. There are 70 questions to answer in one hour. You need to score 80% (have at least 56 questions answered correctly) for passing the exam. After that, the certificate will expire in 12 months. The exam is in 16 languages (last time I checked), so Google considered accessibility when designing GAIQ.
So that’s the basic information of the exam, how to get the certificate in 2 days you may ask. Well, give you a hint, the exam is an open book, and there’s no timer anywhere on the browser. If you only aim for the certificate, I would recommend the following:
- Quickly go through course videos and demos: I played the videos at 1.75x speed (a side-effect from watching too much Netflix) so probably finished each Unit within 20 minutes. Make sure you have a basic idea of the whole GA structure (i.e., the function of 3 admin layers and 5 report types), the webpage tracking mechanism, and some definitions (i.e., bounce rate, assisted conversions, sessions)
- Practice, Practice, Practice: As you may have guessed, there are many online resources that provide free sample tests. I randomly picked one that ranked first when I search for “Google Analytics sample test”. If you are also good at memorizing things, just take a few sample tests on each topic. Make sure you understand the basics in point 1 above, then I think you are good to go.
- Relax when taking the Google Analytics exam: Even though the GAIQ website says it will take 1 hour, the exam won’t really time you, and it’s actually open-book, so just relax and you know the drill.
Final Thoughts
Frankly speaking, Google Analytics Individual Qualification may be more suitable for a fresh graduate or someone with 2~3 years of working experience and working in digital marketing, e-commerce, or analytic domain. Still, it’s not a bad idea to get one Google certificate when all you need to do is read a tool manual. And now you know my secret; you can get 3 if you pass 2 courses I recommended plus the GAIQ exam.
Google Analytics is no doubt a powerful tool, even with the free features. My takeaway here is how to use this tool to your advantage. Whether you are just starting with your first website like me and want to grow your audience or in the e-commerce or digital marketing industry, taking Google Analytics Individual Qualification will be an excellent self-learning opportunity for all. You never know, with digitalization and big data remaining the buzzwords in this post-COVID era, one day, it might come in handy for both your personal and professional life.
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