Google Analytics Setup for WordPress

Aug 22, 2024

Google Analytics Setup and Navigation Tutorial

Introduction

  • Importance of tracking data for growth.
  • Goals of the tutorial: Navigate Google Analytics, setup and installation.
  • Focused on WordPress specific setup.

Getting Started with Google Analytics

  • Presenter: Jack from Rank Math.
  • Link to Google Analytics: analytics.google.com
  • Sign in: Ensure you are signed into the appropriate Google account.

Account Setup

  1. Click on Start Measuring.
  2. Account Name: Choose a name that represents your business (e.g., "Jack's Websites").
  3. Data Sharing Settings:
    • Optional: Check the box to allow Google to collect anonymous data for enhanced reporting.
    • Keep other options checked for maximum benefits.

Property Setup

  1. Setting up a Property:
    • Property name (e.g., "My Plugin Store").
    • Set Reporting Time Zone to reflect your audience or business operations.
    • Set Currency based on your accounting standard.
  2. Business Information:
    • Select your industry.
    • Indicate the size of your business (e.g., 1-10 employees).
  3. Business Objectives:
    • Choose from options like Generate Leads, Drive Online Sales, etc.
    • Cannot combine with Get Baseline reports.

Creating the Account and Property

  1. Accept terms of service, select your country, and click Create.
  2. Select Web as the platform for your website.
  3. Enter your site URL (without protocol) and name the tracking stream.
  4. Enhanced Measurement: Keep this option on for tracking various user interactions.

Installing Google Analytics Code

Installation Options

  • Option 1: Use supported platforms (e.g., SiteKit plugin).
  • Option 2: Install manually by adding code to the head tag of your site.
  • Option 3: Install using Google Tag Manager.
  • Preferred Option: Using Rank Math SEO plugin for easier installation.

Steps for Rank Math Installation

  1. Go to Rank Math SEO > General Settings > Analytics.
  2. Connect your site with Google Analytics.
  3. Grant required permissions.
  4. Optionally, for Rank Math Pro, enable additional features (e.g., anonymizing IP addresses).

Steps for SiteKit Plugin Installation

  1. Install and activate SiteKit from the WordPress plugins repository.
  2. Sign in with your Google account and verify site ownership.
  3. Install Google Analytics through SiteKit.

Manual Installation Steps

  1. Copy the Google Analytics code.
  2. Access Theme File Editor > header.php.
  3. Paste code within the head tag.
  4. Update file and test on Google Analytics.

Navigating the Google Analytics User Interface

Overview of Interface

  • Ensure you are on the correct account and property.
  • Home Tab: Overview of site performance.
  • Reports Tab: Detailed insights into user behavior.

Home Tab

  • Overview of key metrics: Number of users, events, new users, and event count.
  • Ability to customize data cards for quick insights (e.g., replace event count with engaged sessions).

Reports Tab

  • Offers detailed breakdowns of user activity and behavior.
  • Report Snapshot: Total active users, new users, engagement, and revenue.
  • Insights Section: Recommendations based on data analytics.

Lifecycle Report

  • Acquisition: How visitors find your site.
  • Engagement: What visitors do on your site.
  • Monetization: Tracks buying behavior.
  • Retention: How well you attract existing users back.

Key Reports

  • User Acquisition Report: Focuses on new user data.
  • Traffic Acquisition Report: Analyzes all user traffic data.
  • Events Report: Performance of tracked events.
  • Pages and Screens Report: Top views and engagement times.
  • Monetization Overview: Useful for e-commerce insights.
  • Retention Report: Returning user metrics.

Conclusion

  • Encouragement to explore Google Analytics.
  • Invitation for questions and feedback.
  • Reminder to subscribe for more insights and tutorials.