Google Analytics invitations now being handed out
After being live for only a very short time, Google Analytics shut the doors on new users who wanted an account. While registrations were closed, the signup form prompted users to enter an email address where Google could notify them when signups were being accepted.
Today I recieved an invitation in my inbox that gives me instructions on how to set up my new account. A link in the email points to a help file that basically says the same thing as the invitation I recieved. I wonder how long until these are sold on eBay?
I really think this is how Google should have released Google Analytics in the first place. An idea similar to Gmail would help generate good buzz instead of a bad first impression -- it became very slow after going from a handful to over a quarter million accounts in just days.
On their progress page, they explain that they have started sending out the invitations today. Not everyone who requested one recieved an invitation, but they will send them out as capacity increases.
Google says:
11 January 2006
We've added enough capacity that we are re-opening signups on an invitation basis. Many of our users who previously submitted their email address to us will be receiving an invite shortly.
As you may know, we experienced extraordinarily strong demand shortly after we launched last November. To ensure a high quality user experience for existing customers, we had to temporarily disable new signups. We have been working diligently to add more capacity that we can both enhance performance for existing users and re-open signups to a limited number of new users.
Since we launched, we've improved the freshness of report data so that our existing customers can see reports that are as recent as 3 hours ago. We've also re-enabled the addition of new profiles so that all of our existing customers can track additional sites using Google Analytics.
Currently, we don't have enough capacity yet to re-open signups for everyone who wants an account. Not everyone who previously sent us an email address received an invite. We will continue to send out additional invites as we add more capacity. If you haven't submitted your email address to us, please do so on our signup form.
Thanks for your patience and for your interest in Google Analytics.
-The Google Analytics Team.
What are your first impressions of Google Analytics? If you do not have an account yet, how do you react to the "by invitation only" singup process?