As you may know, here at flyte we're pretty fond of Google Analytics and set our clients up with this great, free traffic reporting software.
If you're working with a contractor who's helping you with search engine marketing, or improving your Web site's effectiveness, they may want/need access to your traffic reports to make better recommendations. However, if you give them full access to your Google account they can also access your Gmail and intercept all of your mushy emails or those cease-and-desist letters from Sarah Palin's lawyers.
Here's how you can give them access to just your reports but keep curious eyes away from anything else.
First, login to your Google Analytics account. Down near the bottom of the page you'll see "User Manager." Click there.
That will take you to a page that will show you any user that already has access to the traffic reports. In the dark gray bar you'll see an Add User link near the right. Click there.
This will take you a page where you can add a new user. You can give this new user just View Reports access or make them an Account Administrator. If you choose to give them Account Administrator access they will be able to edit your account settings such as adding other users, creating filters or having Google Analytics email certain reports to users.
This could be just what you want, but just be aware of what you're choosing.
Your new user will need to have a Google account, but as Google accounts are free this probably isn't much of a problem.
You may be tracking reports for multiple Web sites. If you're just giving View Reports access you'll need to select at least one domain from the Available Website Profiles, click the "Add>>" button, and make sure they end up under Selected Website Profiles. Otherwise, the reports won't transfer.
And as always, save your work.
That's all you need to do. Next time they log into their Google Analytics account they'll see a link to your analytics on their dashboard page.
Rich Brooks
Web Analytics Guy
