Twitter Analytics (part two): Look No Further, Use Twitalyzer
After searching high and low for a Twitter Analytics tool, I finally put Twitalyzer to the test and I can confidently say that it is the best tool on the market. In fact, it blows the competition out of the water. I say this after test driving Viral Heat, Ubervu, Twitter Counter, Raven Tools, and SWIX just to name a few.
The depth and number of metrics provided by Twitalyzer is unmatched and really allows you to dig in to analyze granular data about the performance of your twitter account(s).
The product was created by Eric Peterson and Jeff Katz, two guys that are very knowledgeable about web analytics and it’s obvious they understand the pain points of online marketers.
Using Twitalyzer is free but to unlock the true power of the product, you will need to purchase one of the monthly subscription plans. I opted for the Business plan primarily because of the custom date range reporting and because it allows you to track up to 100 accounts.
Cost:
Using Twitalyzer is free but there are also premium accounts on a month-to-month basis: Individual account is $4.99/mo, Business account is $29.99/mo and Agency account is $99.99/mo.
Key Features:
– Tons of metrics
– Graphical display of specific date ranges
– Full data export
– Multiple account management
– Weekly reports
– Integrated Google Analytics
Screenshots:
Metrics
Goals
Google Analytics integration
I agree that Twitalyzer is an excellent tool, indeed the best of the twitter ‘influence’ measures.
But you have to admit their “engagement” statistic makes no sense. All it measures is tweets which begin with a @.
To include tweets which begin with a @ as “engagement” and exclude those which contain a @ in the body — even though both go to the “mentions” box of the recipient — is irrational.
A tweet which begins with a @ goes into the timelines of only those following both the tweeter and the recipient. I.e., a small group of people. It is the most private thing in twitter next to the direct message. It “enages” no one other than the sender and recipient.
A tweet which begins with something other than a @, but contains a @, is seen by all of the tweeter’s followers, as well as being delivered to the recipient.
Those who “engage” people in conversation usually want their followers to become involved. That is “engagement”. The masters of “engagement” on twitter “engage” in multi-party conversations all the time.
And yet, Twitalyzer senselessly excludes from the “engagement” statistic all tweets which contain a @ but start with something else.
Most of the most “engaged” members of Twitter often start their tweets with something other than a @, and are often sending their tweet to multiple parties.
I’ve brought this illogical anomaly to Twitalyzer’s attention, and I hope they’ll eventually getting around to including all tweets which contain a @ in their ‘engagement’ stat, thus making it meaningful, as opposed to meaningless.
This tool looks really professional, but what is the reason to receive such sophisticated analytical data about personal twitter activity? sorry for a dummy question, if it is.
Hi Ray, you’ve definitely put some thought into this or maybe it really bugs you (or both!). I definitely understand your perspective and not sure if this is the best measure of “Engagement”.
Let’s see if this metric evolves in Twitalzyer…