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Google Analytics can do wonders for your business. If you have a website for your business and it’s not synced with Google Analytics, you’re missing out on a lot of information that you could use to drive more conversions and ultimately generate more revenue for your business.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that allows you to track your website traffic and gain insight into your audience’s behavior. Adding Google Analytics to your website is an important step in improving your website’s performance, but it can be difficult for beginners. This article will guide you through easy steps to add Google Analytics to your website.
Related: Using Data Analytics Will Transform Your Business. Here’s How.
1. Create a Google Analytics account
The first step to connecting Google Analytics to your website is to create an account. To do this, visit the Google Analytics website and sign up with your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, you’ll need to create one before continuing.
2. Build a new property
After creating your account, the next step is to set up a new property. The property is the website or mobile app you want to track. To set up a new property, click the “Admin” button at the bottom left of the page. Next, click the Create Property button and follow the prompts to enter your website details.
3. Get your tracking code
After setting up your new property, you should receive your tracking code. Your tracking code is a unique piece of code that you need to add to your website to start tracking visitors. To get your tracking code, click the “Tracking Info” button on the left side of the page and select “Tracking Code”.
Related: 10 Questions to Ask When Using Google Analytics
4. Add your tracking code to your website
Now that you have your tracking code, it’s time to add it to your website. The way you add your tracking code will depend on the platform you use to build your website. Most platforms can add code snippets to the header or footer of your website.
For example, if you’re using WordPress, you can add your tracking code by going to Appearance > Editor and selecting your theme’s header.php file. Paste your tracking code just before the closing tag and save your changes. Rest assured, this tracking code works for all types of websites, not just WordPress.
If you are worried about editing your website code, you can use a plugin to add your tracking code. The Google Analytics plugin for WordPress is a great option. This is the most popular option for business owners who don’t want to edit website code.
Related: How to Calculate SEO ROI Using Google Analytics
5. Wait for the data to start filling
After you add your tracking code to your website, it may take up to 24 hours for the data to be collected in your Google Analytics account. Once the data starts showing up, you’ll be able to see information about your website traffic, such as the number of visitors to your website, how long they stay there, and which pages are the most popular.
6. Set goals
Setting goals is essential to maximizing the value you get from Google Analytics. Goals are specific actions you want your visitors to take on your website. For example, the goal might be to complete a purchase or fill out a contact form.
To set goals in Google Analytics, click the Admin button and select Goals. From there you can create a new goal and set the parameters of what you want to track.
Related: Small Business Guide to Google Analytics (Infographic)
7. Track your analytics data
Once you’ve set your tracking code and goals, it’s time to track your analytics data. Google Analytics provides a wealth of information that can help you improve your website’s performance. Some of the key indicators you should monitor are:
- Number of visitors: This tells you how many people are visiting your site.
- Bounce rate: This tells you the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing just one page.
- Average session duration: This tells you how long visitors stay on your website.
- Pages per session: It tells you how many pages visitors view on average during a session.
Save your business time and money by setting up Google Analytics to track more data. Remember, the business owner with the most access to information will win the long game because they have more leverage. In future blogs, we’ll discuss how your business can optimize your Google Analytics account for greater success. Google Analytics 4 will be available in a few months, so you’ll want to be ready to make sure you’re up to date with the latest tips and strategies to grow your business.