Your guide to the resources that will help you put technology to work for your cause.

Use Google Analytics

> If you read our blog, you know that you can track clickthroughs and landing page performance from your messaging campaigns through Google Analytics. With a little export-to-spreadsheet trickery, you can also do some pretty cool tracking of your blog posts.

> Of course, if you don't have Google Analytics, that's kinda moot. Okay, totally moot. (Actually, we just like to say "moot". Moot moot moot.) If you're not using GA because you don't know how to set it up, not to fear: Ian Lurie has produced a series of videos on Google Analytics, and the Google Team itself made an overview of the interface. Prefer to read? Nicole Gustas has written a very detailed step-by-step tutorial.

> Once you've got the basics, turn to the experts, like Google's Analytics evangelist, Avinash Kaushik, for a few tricks. (If you haven't seen the Ask the Expert session on GA we hosted with Avinash, you really should: it's free for NTEN members!) The Official Analytics blog has a bunch of great tips, as well. And did you know that you can track results from your site's internal search?

Update Your Website

> If you haven't updated your web site since 1995, it may be time to start thinking about a change. Consider the example of the Autism Society of America (which went from this to this). Of course, plowing forward without a good understanding of what you're doing often ends poorly. To help you decide whether it's time, check out some advice from "Notes on Design" or try using MIT's nerdily thorough checklist.

> Unless you've got a big IT department, though, you'll probably need to outsource some of the redesign work. The Independent Computer Consultants Association lets you search their directory, as does Elance. And don't forget the NTEN Member Directory: we've collected a lot of smart people (just like you).

> We've also got you covered when you're ready to choose a consultant. NTEN Member Seth Schneider wrote up a great list of things to consider when hiring a consultant. You might also want to read the ScamBusters article on avoiding outrageous prices for poor results. (As a bonus, there's a list of the "Best Kept Secrets about Chocolate" at the bottom. Mmmmmm.)