Google Analytics can be complicated, but it can also be your very best friend if you know what you are doing. Tracking your data and using this data to your advantage is so important for your business. So let’s talk about the ins and outs of Google Analytics and break it down.
Basics of Google Analytics
First of all, Google Analytics is free. To summarize GA in a quick statement: it tracks your website and campaign data. But more importantly, it answers all the questions a website owner asks about their site.
Let’s get started with the simple setup steps.
Install your Code
After signing your business up for GA using your Google account, which you can do here, you’ll receive a custom Javascript code that will allow GA to monitor your site.
You will add this code directly after the <head> tag of every site page (that you want to track). Once this is done you can access GA via the portal and start reading your analytics report.
Or if you are WordPress user with your own domain, the MonsterInsights plugin will easily install your code for you no matter what your framework.
Set up your Goals
Your next step would be to set up a New Goal. Goals tell Google what specific goal or action you want to achieve on your website. Goals include anything from email list sign-ups to purchases. Once set up, GA will track these goals for you. Up to 20 goals can be created on your website.
Extra (Optional) Steps
If you work with a team and want their collaboration, you can give each member specific permission and data access to your site analytics.
**Note: you need to wait 24 hours for Google to gather all it’s initial data before you are able to view it. Patience – but we are almost there!
Google Analytics Reports
The next step is to learn all about your audience! How do we do that? Let’s talk reports. Google Analytics Report includes:
- Real-time. This is what’s happening on your page now, in real time.
- Audience. This tell you exactly who your audience is.
- Acquisition. This gives you data on how you can acquire new site traffic based on where it comes from.
- Behavior. This follows your sites user behavior or trends. It shows how your traffic is behaving on your site. This is a great way to analyze your top content.
- Conversions. This vital analytic tells you where, when and why people are converted (or taking action) on your website. Are you having them sign up to your newsletter, buy your product, or complete a form? You’ll find out why here.
Without this tracking – you won’t know what is driving your sales!
If you want a step by step guide with images, this article from MOZ is a great resource for your Google Analytics questions.
Conclusion
I’ve given you some basics on the ins and outs of Google Analytics to help you start the process and efficiently set up your account.
Now, getting to know Google Analytics will take time. But I promise, the more you understand it the less time it will take you to decipher and understand what the data is telling you. But once you get the hang of the ins and outs of Google Analytics, there will be no stopping you or your business! You got this.
Have questions? I am here to help! Contact me to get in touch!
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