Anybody here certified in Google Analytics?

What is Google Analytics?

It's an analytical tool used for site traffic and SEO. I've used it for years to analyze site patterns etc.

didnt know you could get certified in it? from where?

Been about a year since I took it so I don't remember specifics, but it's not difficult. Even if you have no GA experience, watch these videos and you'll be good to go:

http://www.google.com/support/conver...dexSplash&rd=1

The test is timed, but you have something like 4 days to complete it, so you don't have to do it all at once (i.e., you can run through the questions, answer what you know, then exit the test and look up the answers you didn't know).

My kind of test!

So pretty damn easy then? Not that I don't want to learn, but I hate exams... I always enjoyed really hard projects or presentations than exams. Any tips you can provide would be much appreciated.

Hmmm....tips beyond watching the vids that provide all the information they're testing on, and pausing the test to look up answers you don't know?

It's really not that bad....if we were talking about the Omniture exams, that would be a different story....

I started down this path a while back before realizing it wasn't something I wanted to get into. If I remember correctly there are like 3 to 4 tests you need to take to be certified by Google and each are around $50 a piece. This certification looks good on your resume and is something you should get if you are interested in the field. There is plenty of free study material online and I would exhaust it before buying any text books.

It's a rapidly evolving industry that's in demand. If you are good you can find work even in a slow economy. I know the last marketing/ad firm I worked for was in the process of hiring a guy for this even as they had to do some massive company lay-offs (around 30% was let go).

Shoot me a PM and maybe I can help a little. I have some contacts that work in this field and have been successful.

I didn't know they offered this. But honestly do you really need the certification? You can always say you are good in it and do a quick show for whoever is asking.

Having taken it myself, I wouldn't put much stock in someone who's certified. As stated above, anyone should be able to pass the Individual Qualification with about half a day of research. Becoming a certified partner is substantially more rigorous (involves case studies for several past implementations, phone interview with Google, etc.)

I have been thinking about it as I'm in my last year of an Advertising degree. Still undecided frankly.

I know it's an easy thing to get, but that's the point. If I was hiring a jr. to mid level person and I noticed they didn't have it, it might raise a red flag. It's a no-brainer in my opinion and worth the small time and cash investment.

Remember OP indicated he is in school. If this is the case then he won't have a lot of other things on his resume to show his worth in this area. Every little bit helps.

If you are even remotely interested in working in it I would give it a shot. It's one of the few areas of marketing that's growing in the economy and your chances of getting a job out of school would be more substantial. I'm not saying you have to end up choosing to work in it, but I would try it out and see if it sticks.

I'm in school as well but does it honestly make your resume "better"? I first used analytics working at a startup in high school and it seems like its normally intern level work. I would think knowledge of Google Analytics is required versus an extra asset. I think it's like joining all those honor societies. Sure it's something to put on your resume and it only costs $50 or so, but is it really worth it if everyone has something similar?

Something that takes a little more practice such as actually being able to use photoshop (not adding colors, simple crops etc.) would be much more valuable in terms of advertising work.

I'm a finance major so maybe I'm coming from a different perspective but I've done two marketing internships as well.