When you first log in to Google Analytics to view a report, you'll see a general dashboard. (Keep in mind that you'll need to wait at least 24 hours after updating your Web site before Google Analytics has enough information to show you anything.) This single page has an incredible amount of information packed into one place. It graphs the total number of visitors, day by day, and provides an overview of where they come from and what pages they view.

To dig into these results and retrieve much more information, you can use the links provided on the left side of the page. For example, sophisticated users identify goals (specific pages they want the user to reach, such as an order confirmation page) and then examine what portion of visitors reach this goal. They also create reports with cross-sections that combine more than one type of analysis. This allows you to determine, say, the most popular Web pages in a specific city, or to look for surfers who come from a specific referring site.

If you use Google Analytics along with AdWords, you should be able to greatly extend your Web presence. But all three Google services have the potential to help you grow your business--all you have to do is create an account and get moving.