To dive into your Looker Studio dashboard, explore real-time insights that reveal how your content is performing. Analyze key metrics like web traffic, engagement, and conversions, empowering you to make data-driven decisions that enhance your digital strategy.
How to Use the Navigation Data Report
This dashboard offers a detailed analysis of navigation data, organized by the locations of interactions within the website. It sheds light on how users interact with different navigation links, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of various link strategies. By monitoring how different navigation elements perform, you can tailor your website to better meet user needs and enhance navigational ease.
Navigating the Report
Scorecards
Key engagement metrics are displayed in green scorecards across the top of the dashboard. These include:
- Total Navigation Clicks
- Main Menu Clicks
- Left Navigation Clicks
- Footer Clicks
- Top Green Bar Clicks
Each metric is essential for gauging the effectiveness of linking strategies. The percent change from the previous reporting period is also indicated below each metric to track progress over time. For definitions of each navigation type, refer to the .
Graphs and Charts
Pie Chart: Positioned on the bottom right, this chart visualizes the distribution of clicks by navigation location, offering a clear view of which areas are most engaging to users.
Tables
Table: Located at the bottom left, this table displays the URL links clicked by navigation location. This detailed view allows you to see not only which links are most popular but also where they are situated on your page, helping you understand user flow and link effectiveness.
Using Filters
The filters at the top of the dashboard match those on the Session Data page, ensuring consistency across reports.
These filters allow you to adjust:
- Date range
- Page path and Page path groupings
- Navigation type, which includes:
- Main navigation
- Left-navigation
- Footer
- Global-OHIO-image (OHIO University image/logo)
- Top-green bar link clicks
By adjusting these filters, you can narrow down data to specific periods or sections, making it easier to analyze trends and make informed decisions.
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Examples of How Data Can Be Actionable
Optimizing High-Traffic Links
If data shows that certain navigation elements (e.g., main menu or footer links) receive a significant portion of clicks, consider highlighting or expanding content related to those areas to improve accessibility and engagement.
Identifying Underperforming Links
Low click rates on specific navigation links can indicate that users either don't find them useful or have difficulty locating them. This can be a sign to revise the content, update the link text, or reposition the link for better visibility.
Targeting Content for Clicks
Popular navigation paths can reveal content that drives engagement and conversions. Leverage this data by placing calls-to-action (CTAs) in high-traffic areas or aligning content with user intent based on navigation patterns.
Reducing Link Overload
If certain navigation sections, like the main menu or left-navigation, have too many links but receive low engagement, simplifying these areas by removing or consolidating less-used links can improve user focus and reduce cognitive load on the end user.
Monitoring Seasonal Trends
Track how navigation patterns shift during key periods (e.g., holidays, start of semesters, scheduling of classes). If certain links spike in usage during specific times, ensure that relevant content is easily accessible and prominently placed during those periods.
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You still need help?
You're not alone in this! Schedule a personalized 1:1 consultation with UCM to get your specific questions answered and gain expert guidance. We'll help you and your team unlock the full potential of your data, making it easier to drive actionable improvements for your webpages and achieve meaningful results. Click the project request form below and navigate to Web < Web Analytics/Dashboard Support Request.