How to Implement Google Analytics

There are many analytic platforms you can use to monitor this data, but Google Analytics is a must. Not only is it free, but Google has you covered with an extensive and thoroughly customizable suite of analytic tools.

That being said, it requires a bit of work to set up Google Analytics in the first place, especially if you’re unfamiliar with things like HTML, Javascript, PHP, and so on. In this article, we’ll explain a few different methods to implement Google Analytics on your website, so you’ll be up and running as soon as possible!

As a disclaimer, there is a very high technical ceiling to using Google Analytics. This article covers setting it up at a basic (but extremely useful) level of functionality.

Call 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist about digital marketing services and analytics from WebFX, or keep reading to learn how to start using Google Analytics on your site.

1. Get your tracking code

Google’s tracking code is what allows the platform to access your site’s data. To get your code, head over and log into your Google Analytics account. If you don’t already have one, they’re free to make and use!

If you just signed up for an account…

Google’s process for new accounts is pretty straightforward. After you click to sign up for analytics, you’ll arrive at a setup screen that looks like this:

Fill out the information, click “Get Tracking ID,” and accept the terms and conditions. You’ll be directed to a new page that has your tracking code front and center:

If you already have an analytics account…

It’s even easier! Log in, click on “Admin” at the top, and then navigate to “Tracking Info,” and finally “Tracking Code”:

2. Include the tracking code on your website

The exact protocol for this step changes based on how your website is structured and whether you’re using a CMS or not.

If your website is static HTML…

The Javascript tracking code (NOT just your Tracking ID) will need to be in the HTML of every page you want to track. The code should be placed in your header, right before the tag, to ensure it loads quickly enough to properly track everything that happens on-page.

You may have read that the code should be included at the bottom of your HTML, in the footer. This used to be true years ago, but in 2009 Google implemented their Asynchronous tracking code model. Asynchronous code loads separately from your web page, so it won’t cause any hang-ups when users load your page (and therefore can be placed in your < head >).

If your website is dynamic…

You can put the tracking code in its own include file, and then simply push it dynamically onto all of your pages through templates or by hand.

If you’re using PHP, for example, you could save your tracking code in a file named “analyticstracking.php.” Then, on each page template, you would add in the code line < ?php include_once(“analyticstracking.php”) ? >.

This will automatically place the tracking code on any page using a template that has an include line in it.

If you’re using WordPress as a CMS…

There are a few ways to integrate Google Analytics with a WordPress website.

The easiest and most common method is using a plugin. There are many plugins that simply provide a field for you to paste your tracking code into and add it to all of your pages.