Google have just released another exciting free tool for Website owners to use - Google Analyitics.

This is bascially an advanced stats package created by Urchin and now utilised by Google.

Googles description:

“Google Analytics tells you everything you want to know about how your visitors found you and how they interact with your site. You’ll be able to focus your marketing resources on campaigns and initiatives that deliver ROI, and improve your site to convert more visitors.

Sophisticated, yet easy to use.
We believe that web analytics should be simple and sophisticated at the same time. We’ve designed Google Analytics to have enterprise level capabilities and yet still be accessible to anyone who wants to improve their marketing and site design. Google Analytics delivers all the features you’d expect from a high-end web analytics offering, and provides timesaving AdWords integration features.

Integrated with AdWords.
If you have an AdWords account, you can use Google Analytics directly from the AdWords interface. Google Analytics is the only product that can automatically provide AdWords ROI metrics, without you having to import cost data or add tracking information to keywords. Of course, Google Analytics tracks all of your non-AdWords initiatives as well.

Free.
Google Analytics gives us an opportunity to invest in our advertisers and everyone else who wants to create quality content on the web. Instead of spending money on web analytics, you can focus on creating targeted, ROI-driven marketing campaigns, and on improving your site design and content.
”

Basically all you need to do to use it is copy and paste a bit of Javascript into the header of the pages you wish to track.

I have used Urchin before but it looks as though this is a more advanced system than the version I used some time ago. I am testing it now and will let you know my thoughts on it shortly.

If your like most people who want to start a business on the web the chances are you won’t have all the technical skills needed to build a Website. Many Websites are reliant on increasingly complicated technologies to run them such as XML, XHTML, PHP, ASP and more.

So what are you options?

1) Learn how to program and build Websites
2) Then learn how to promote them in the Search Engines
3) Add or update your Website
4) Write great copy

Alternatively you could go to www.Elance.com or www.Rentacoder.com and get someone to do it for you!

I have used Elance extensively and have been thoroughly impressed with the standard of programmers. Many are from Eastern Europe and there proces are excellent due to their own low cost of living.

When using Elance make sure you go for companies with good feedback and testimonials - there a some Indians who try to work for you but are not skilled enough and in my experience can be a bit of a pain afterwards as they chase you for business.

On the other hand there are some excellent Indian programmers - I have two working with me near full time who are fantastic, dedicated and skilled workers.

At last - I have a blog! My name’s, Jason West and I’d like to welcome you to “The Internet Money Tree” , a guide to making a living from the Internet.

I decided that some of what I know about making money on the Internet must be useful to others, so it might be fun to put it all on a blog, and it would if nothing else be a useful resource for me - I have the memory of a butterfly!

The Internet is THE most exciting business tool ever in my opinion. Never has there been so many opportunities for the average person to make a healthy income (in many cases a passive income!) with so little financial investment.
For example Steve & Julie Pankhurst set up one of the most used Websites in the UK - Friends Reunited and turned it into a multi million pound business.

How do I make my living on the Internet? Well the simple answer is in lots of ways! I have been online now for 6 years and started my first Website back in March of 2000. I have 4 successful Ecommerce stores, a Hotel Advertising Website, a Job Websites, a classified advertising site (being released soon!) and numerous other online ventures.

There are hundreds of other success stories of ordinary people taking full advantage of the Internet as a business tool and I hope to share more with you soon.

When you get started on the Internet your going to need some software and various tools, I will be adding everything I know to this site over time.

I look forward to comments on things I write, good or bad and am also happy to answer as many questions as I can to help my site visitors earn a living on the Net.