Digital Marketing 101: How to Install Google Analytics

Getting yourself a website is a big step in marketing your brand, but monitoring its performance and analyzing how to improve its ranking is another story.

If you have already done your research on how to track data on your website, you probably have come across Google Analytics. But what does this tool exactly do?

We’ll help you eliminate the guesswork by taking a closer look at Google Analytics – why you need it, how to set it up, and how you can make the most of it.

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a free website analysis service that allows you to measure the activity and performance of your website. As Google puts it, it gives you the “tools you need to analyze data from all touch points in one place, for a deeper understanding of the customer experience.”

You will find Google Analytics useful whether you own a website for personal or business purposes. Here are only some of the many critical questions you can answer by using this free tool:

Who visits my website?
Where do they live?
What do they do on my website?
When do they visit my website?
How do they find my website?
What content is read the most?
How can I improve my website’s speed?

The list of the questions that Google Analytics can answer goes on — making you realize its usefulness and why you should never run your online business without it. Now that you know some of the many benefits, let’s find out how to get started.

QUICK GUIDE: How to Measure ROI in Social Media

How to Install Google Analytics

Setting up Google Analytics is easy. Basically, all you need to do is register your Google account for the service then enter a code in your website. It will allow Analytics to automatically collect data from your website and provide reports accordingly.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

STEP 1: CREATE YOUR ANALYTICS ACCOUNT

Go to Google Analytics page

Click SIGN UP > Google Analytics

STEP 2: FILL-UP THE SIGN-UP FORM

Click the SIGN-UP button to start creating your account
Select WEBSITE for the account you would like to track

Select WEBSITE for the account you would like to track

Provide your website information

Configure data sharing settings

Click GET TRACKING ID

NOTE: Once you click the button, you will be directed to a Terms & Conditions page which you will need to accept before you get your tracking code. Now, here comes the slightly complicated part: connecting your website to your Google Analytics account.

STEP 3: INSTALL YOUR TRACKING CODE

After accepting the agreement, you will be redirected to the tracking code page.

Install the tracking code on every website page you want to track

NOTE: The installation of the code will depend on what type of website you use.

Installing on WordPress:

Go to APPEARANCE > EDITORS
Click the footer.php file and paste the code before the </body> tag
It will automatically implement the code on every page of the website

How to Install Google Analytics on WordPress – 2018

Source: YouTube/WPBeginner - WordPress Tutorials

If you need further help on installing Google Analytics or creating a WordPress website itself, a WordPress development company can assist you in creating your own website, especially particularly one with years of experience in web development, e-commerce development, and more.

Installing on HTML Websites:

Manually add the code on every page

Installing on Drupal Websites:

Go to HOME > ADMINISTRATION > CONFIGURATION > SYSTEM and add Google Analytics account number

Installing on Joomla Websites:

Copy and paste code before the </body> tag in default.php file

Installing on Shopify Websites:

Go to ONLINE STORE settings and paste tracking code

STEP 4: VERIFY INSTALLATION

Go to the TRACKING CODE area to see if your tracking code is properly installed; or
Visit your website and verify if your visit was recorded in the Real-Time reports