how-to-add-google-analytics-tracking-to-a-website
What is Google Analytics?
Google Analytics is actually one of the most popular Google services. This tool allows anyone to track their websites.
The tool connects directly to your website in order to collect a vast amount of data. This data will then be analyzed and presented to you. By analyzing the information you receive from Google Analytics, you will be able to understand who your visitors are and what they do on your site. This will help you understand your audience better, create stronger content, and sell more of your services or products.
Why do you need Google Analytics
All of the information gathered by Google Analytics will help you to make decisions that will hopefully empower you to propel your site forward and make it better. The information you receive can impact several different fields.
How to set up a free account
Before you can start using this free service, you will need an account. Fortunately, to register for Google Analytics, all you need is a free Google account. If you don’t have one, you can open one now to prepare for the analytics.
Sign up
Once your free Google account is ready, you can go ahead and open Google Analytics.
- Click on the “Start for Free” button.
- Log in to your Google account.
- Click on the “Start measuring” button.
- Name your account.
- Add a property name (your site name).
- Under Advanced settings, turn on the toggle to create a Universal Analytics property and add the URL of your site.
- Add business information and click on the “Next” button.
- Confirm the terms of the agreement and customize email communication options to your preferences.
- Set up a data stream to start collecting data. Since we are learning about tracking a blog/website, click on the “Web” button.
- Add the URL and name of your website.
After this step, you will receive a measurement ID that needs to be connected to your site. This is a way of proving the ownership of the site and tethering it directly to Google Analytics so that the entire system can work properly.
- Under Tagging Instructions, choose “Global site tag (gtag.js)” option.
This will reveal a short script that contains your unique ID that I mentioned earlier. Keep this window open and choose one of the two ways to install the code on your site: add it manually, or use a WordPress plugin.