Simplified Guide to Installing Google Analytics
How to Install Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a powerful website traffic analysis tool. It tells you how users find your site, what they do on it, and more.
It can seem intimidating at first, but the basics are simple. In this article, we’ll cover tips on how to install google analytics for websites on Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress.
Getting a Tracking ID
Once you have a Google Analytics account, you’ll need to get your tracking code. You can do this by logging in to your account and clicking ‘Admin’ on the upper right hand side. Select the account and property for which you need the code, then click ‘Tracking Code’ under ‘Tracking Info’.
This will display your Data Streams, which contains the tracking ID for your website. If you’re using Universal Analytics, the ID will begin with UA-.
Next, click the Install with a website builder or CMS tab. This will show you a list of platforms that support analytics and provide a link to tagging instructions. If your platform isn’t listed, you can find instructions for integrating it manually. Remember that it’s important to place the tracking code high in the
Adding the Tracking Code
After agreeing to Google’s Terms of Service and clicking the Get Tracking ID button, you’ll receive a unique code that must be embedded in your web pages for data collection. At this point, you can also choose which kinds of website interactions to track (ad clicks, downloads, video plays and so on).
Once the tracking code is installed, each time someone visits your site, a small piece of script transmits information about their visit to a Google server. The information is stored in a cookie, which is placed in the visitor’s browser. The data then appears in your Google Analytics reports.
You can use the tutorials and resources provided by Google to install the code in a variety of different platforms, including some popular website builders, such as Squarespace and Wix. In addition, you can use a plugin for WordPress that will add the tracking code to your pages automatically. Or, if you’re comfortable editing your website template files, you can enter the tracking code directly into them.
Configuring the Tracking Code
Once you have your tracking code in place, you need to add it to every page of your website. This is done through Google Tag Manager. Click the Admin icon in the bottom left and select your property (unless you only set up one Universal Analytics Property). Select Data Streams and you will see your tracking number (called a Measurement ID) in the top right-hand corner. Click the copy icon to copy this tracking number to your clipboard.
This code must appear on each page of your website, preferably immediately after the
Alternatively, you can search for plugins or theme settings in your CMS that accept UA Tracking IDs. In addition, some CMSs and websites have their own built-in Google Analytics plugins. Once you have the tracking code, it usually takes 24-48 hours for Google to start receiving data from your site.
Getting Data
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that can provide you with a lot of information about your website traffic. It can help you determine how your site is performing and where it can improve. However, it can be a bit complicated and confusing to set up, especially for new users.
To get started, visit the Admin settings page and click on Data streams. Select your web platform and then enter your website URL and Stream name. You can also enable enhanced measurement (which is recommended).
Next, click the Create stream button. After that, you will see a screen with a Measurement ID and Stream name. You will also need to install the Google tag on your site, which you can do by clicking the View tag instructions link. Then follow the on-screen instructions. Once you have the Google tag installed, you can start collecting and viewing data in GA4.