Metrics: Boy, do we like measuring things! Most everything in our lives is captured all around us, from the very day we are born. The very first thing they took from me was my lbs and inches and the time I popped out. This was before I even had a name.
So, I guess, it goes without saying (watch, I'll say it). We like to measure things (there, I said it). How about web traffic? Well, we'll capture that too! It used to be that you needed to install your own scripts - and - in 'em pioneering days of the 'ole web, you'd write your own Perl script to parse the 'ole web log.
Welp, them days are gone. You still might parse your own web logs (if you can access them) to get a different perspective of what your server is serving, but tracking your traffic is actually quite easy. With cloud computing and shared hosts being all the rage, the tracking you'll likely end up using is something like Google's Analytics.
If you haven't given it a try, then this video will give you a great introduction to using Drupal's Google Analytics module. Knowing who's coming to your web site, how they're finding you, what they're doing while they're there and many other juicy tidbits it one of the key motivations for running a web site. If you don't have any tracking on your Drupal site now then watch this video and get set up within a very short time!
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If you need some inspiration on possible video topics I can suggest Webforms,Contemplate and Panels.
What I also would very much appreciate are video's that show how to get to a specific goal and not only introduce a Module. For example, the possibility to apply for an activity on a site. This would involve Webforms for the subscription form, Contemplate for display (I think cause I still have to investigate this one), using CCK for the activity content type, using views to aggregate info based on conditions and using Panels to give it a place on the homepage.
This scenario is something I had to make recently but I don't find myself experienced enough to screencast about it. It's my first experieince with drupal and I don't want to spread bad practices, I need to absorb good practices by watching an expert.
The Drupal startel will first be oferwhelmed by the choices he has to make concerning the Modules. After that its how to let them all work together, functionaly as well as graphicaly.
Maybe you can make a screencast of some real project challanges you are facing in daily work.
Thanks for your time you put into these videos and sharing them with the pubic. As always, stay Drupal addicted :)
Tom
I have to agree with Tom. A full project screencast would be perfect. I can't imagine why he chose those 3 modules, Webforms, Contemplate & Panels (I'd have made the same choice and probably added Views), cos I seem to be stuck at this intermediate level of comprehending how the 'Trustworthy' & "Super-Powerful' Drupal contrib modules deliver a remarkable site.
I'd love something that touches on the styles & style plug-ins that come with Views & how we could possibly develop custom mini modules or php snippets that can add interactivity to views lists.
Please keep up the great work. I'm addicted!!!
How can we contribute/donate? A lot of 'DVD Videos & Screencasts' that we currently pay for are not as rich as yours....
Chill
I have to say that after viewing a video on gotdrupal.com for the first time, I wanted to go back on your site again. But I had some difficulties to remember the url so I searched Google with "drupal addicted" which was all I remembered. Unfortunately, your were not on the first page (which is a shame) so I think this could be improved.
Here are some links to some other great videos that go beyond what I covered in this video.
Compliments of Brian Stevenson.
thanks a lot for the information!
Well said, I'm amazed how we take G Analytics and Gmail for granted every time when it's free and innovative we shouldn't complain! Having Drupal and Analytics combined with this mod is great for us less experienced out there.