I just discovered that Google Analytics - one of several webanalytics tools used on my blogs - allow me to benchmark key website analytics metrics. It is easy and simple to use. You simply chose a category of businesses you would like to benchmark. In the case of Meemoo2 I chose, business/marketing services.

Apart from the category benchmark option, Google Analytics have divided websites and blogs into small, medium and large.

In the image to the left, you see that this blog - Meemoo2 - is doing quite well compared to the benchmark.

For example, the bounce rate (the number of people arriving to your site whom leaves again immediately) -which by the way is phenomenal for Meemoo2 - is only 0,83% compared to the benchmark of 39,53%. The amount of time visitors spend on the site is 2 minutes and 3 seconds in average for Meemoo2 whereas the benchmark is a measly 19 seconds.

Google Analytics also allow you to compare your site to other websites in the areas of:

- total number visits (for any given period of time)
- pageviews
- pages per visit
- percentage of new visits (vs. repeat visitors)

The devil is in the details
I like the flash-based details you see one mousing-over certain areas of the graphics. It looks just like this:

it shows that Meemoo2’s bounce rate for August 28 was 6,25% while the benchmark was 40,11%. - a difference of 84%. (nice). Please do note, however, that a bounce rate of 40% or more is not uncommon at all. In fact, many marketers are struggling to attract (relevant) visitors, and convert these visitors to call-to-action areas of their website.

For a better understanding of your standing compared to the benchmark, Google Analytics have indexed the benchmark. This means that - for example for pages per visit - I can see that the benchmark index is 1,92 pages per visit compared to 3,82 pages per visit for Meemoo2.

Consider using Google Analytics for your own website. It is uncomplicated to get started, and - surprise surprise - it is absolutely free.