With sweaty palms and racing heart, I walked in to my first day on the job at Analytics Pros. As a self-proclaimed “non-techy” person, I’d done my homework on my new employer and understood the basics of what Google Analytics were and why we were Pros at analyzing digital data. Five minutes into my first day, I was told that I would be taking a lengthy test covering the big-picture principles of Digital Analytics. From the receptionist to the CEO, every employee at AP is asked to study for and receive GAIQ Certification so that company-wide we share a working knowledge of this data powerhouse.
Drinking from a Data Fire Hose
Several new employees attended an 8-hour training session with the President and Founder of AP, Caleb Whitmore. My fear subsided as I thought, “I’m learning from the guy who
wrote the book on GA. I got this.” I quickly realized that I was drinking from an information fire hose held by the expert of data, and I was left gulping for air. Drenched with new concepts, I wondered how I would ever retain them all. And I wasn’t alone. There was a collective sense of information overload and test anxiety among my coworkers.
Ingesting the Information
Overconfident in my new-found knowledge, I immediately dove into taking the IQ test. I failed. It seems necessary (or, at least, less embarrassing) to emphasize that I got a 78%, missing the passing grade by one lousy question. But, a fail is a fail. I wanted to quit, but that wasn’t an option, so I devised a plan. In order to pass the test and more importantly, to become familiar with GA in a way that is effective, I had to employ a smart strategy.
It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently. —Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
Expose, Express, Experiment
Expose
Especially for short-cutters like myself, the most basic but not-necessarily obvious action is to expose yourself to the myriad of resources available to help you succeed. Watch the videos, take good notes, read the study guide, and practice taking sample tests. It is a 90-minute test with no ability to pause or change an answer once you have submitted it. You must know the material.
Express
One of the best ways to know you have mastered any material is to teach it to someone else. Spend some time telling a friend who knows nothing about GA what you’ve learned in clear and understandable terms. This helps you visualize the overall purpose, function, and usefulness of Digital Analytics.
Experiment
Get access to a live GA account. Look at the Audience, Behavior, and Attribution reports and notice what and how they measure metrics and dimensions. Apply filters and employ secondary dimensions. Explore Content Grouping. Spending the first part of your day experimenting with the many features of GA gives you real-life experience and understanding of the concepts at work.
Certified for Certain
The second time around, I passed...easily. With my GAIQ certification in hand, I feel more confident. I can truly contribute to our company’s overall strategy and goals. While the actual GAIQ Certification test is not especially hard, it does require a commitment to learning a new language of sorts—the dialect of data. The advantages are endless for your company, the benefit for your consumer is tangible, and the knowledge you gain as an employee is priceless. What are you waiting for?
Get GA IQ certified.
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