Opinions of contributing entrepreneurs are their own.
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 data that you could use to drive more conversions, which will ultimately result in 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. Linking Google Analytics to your website is an essential step in improving your website’s performance, but it can be daunting for beginners. This article walks you through easy-to-follow steps on how to link 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 in linking Google Analytics to your website is to create an account. To do this, go to the Google Analytics website and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, you’ll need to create one before continuing.
2. Set a new property
After you have created your account, the next step is to set up a new accommodation. A property is a website or mobile app that you want to track. To set a new property, click the “Admin” button at the bottom left of the page. Then click the “Take Ownership” button and follow the prompts to enter your website’s details.
3. Receive your tracking code
After you’ve set up your new property, you’ll need your tracking code. Your tracking code is a unique snippet of code that you need to add to your website to track your 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 method of adding your tracking code depends on the platform you are using to build your website. Most platforms allow you to add code snippets to your website header or footer.
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 right before the closing tag and save your changes. Rest assured, this tracking code works for all types of websites, not just WordPress.
If you don’t feel comfortable editing your website’s code, you can use a plugin to add your tracking code. For WordPress, the Google Analytics plugin is an excellent option. This is the most popular option for business owners who don’t want to edit their website code.
Related: Calculating SEO ROI with Google Analytics
5. Wait for the data to start populating
After you’ve added your tracking code to your website, it can take up to 24 hours for the data to populate your Google Analytics account. Once data appears, you can see information about your website traffic, such as how many people visit your website, how long they stay on your website, and which pages are the most popular.
6. Set goals
Goal setting is essential to maximize the value you get from Google Analytics. Goals are specific actions you want your visitors to take on your website. For example, a goal could be completing a purchase or filling 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 define the parameters of what you want to track.
Related: A Small Business Guide to Google Analytics (Infographic)
7. Monitor your analytics data
Once you’ve set up your tracking code and goals, it’s time to review your analytics data. Google Analytics offers a wealth of information that can help you improve the performance of your website. Some of the most important stats to check include:
- The number of visitors: This tells you how many people are visiting your website.
- 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: This tells you how many pages visitors view on average during a single session.
Save your business time and money by setting up Google Analytics to track more data. Remember, the business owner with access to the most data will ultimately win the long game because they have more leverage. In future blogs, we will discuss how your company can optimize your Google Analytics account to achieve greater success. Google Analytics 4 launches in a few months, so you should also be prepared to make sure you stay up to date with the latest tips and strategies to grow your business.
