The Web Analytics Association Second Annual Web Analytics Outlook Survey was just released. Over 650 web analytics practitioners from around the world responded to the survey and and overwhelmingly agreed with 3 clear messages:

1.  Budgets are tight.
2.  Training and best practices consulting are important.
3.  We are still trying to get the message through to top management.

Some key highlights from the report:

• Over 96 percent of respondents indicated that they plan to increase or maintain current spending on web analytics in 2009.
• Over 65 percent of respondents revealed a demand to have business decisions driven by analytics, a top web analytics initiative in 2009
• Roughly 81 percent of respondents plan to invest in consulting and staffing to help make the most out of their existing analytics tools and take action on the data they provide to improve web site performance and boost ROI from online marketing campaigns.

If you are a member of the Web Analytics Association (WAA) you can get a copy of the full report.

Either way, you can hear from my co-founder of the Web Analytics Association, Jim Sterne today at 12pm EST as he joins me for a free webinar Turn Web Analytics Into 2009 Revenue. Even if you can’t join us live, register to be notified when the recording is made available. You won’t want to miss it.

Since 1994, Jim has devoted all of his attention to the internet as a marketing medium. He is also the author of 6 books on web marketing and the founder and producer of the eMetrics Marketing Optimization Summit. Jim says 2009 is “Our Year to Shine”. This is the year that web data and web intelligence come into their own. This is the year upper management will be looking to the web for rescue – and you’ll be there with the answers. If, that is, you stand ready to move up the to the next level of continuous web marketing improvement and that is all about tactics this year. Jim will lay out the conceptual framework and then tell you exactly where you need to focus your attention to make 2009 the best year yet for your business online.

Do you have any questions you would like Jim Sterne or myself to answer during the webinar? Let us know in the comments below.