So you have Google Search Console set up and are ready for the next baby step on the road to SEO greatness (and standing among the SEO grown ups.) The next baby step is, drum roll please, setting up Google Analytics. This will be very exciting, I promise, as only things SEO can be.
- To set up Google Analytics, you first need to login to your Google account, the account where your Google Search Console and your Gmail account reside, and go to https://www.google.ca/analytics/
- Click on "Sign In." See red oval.
- Next create an account for your business or personal website, blog, and mobile apps. For instance create an account for your business, and choose either the name of your business or some helpful description that will help you identify it should you create more accounts later. To create the account, click the "Admin" tab.
- Fill in the New Account Form.
- Create your properties within your account. For instance, create a property for your website, another for your blog, and another for your mobile app if you have one. Each will have its own tracking code. You can also have a separate account for each property if you want. Google Support has more detailed information about Accounts and Properties in their Google Analytics Support site.
- Now you're cooking, good looking. I told you this was exciting. Next you'll need to put in the tracking code into every web page you want to track. Go to Admin, then Tracking Code. You'll see a script. Highlight it to select it, then copy it by hitting Ctrl-C. Paste it with a Ctrl-V, on every page, right after the opening body tag if this is an html-based site, that is, put it just after this:<body>
- Or if it is a WordPress site, you'll want to paste just the account number in an analytics plug-in, which you download within your Dashboard. I usually use Yoast's version because I use Yoast's SEO plug-in too.
- Now you'll want to check what you've done and see if it is working. To do this log in to your Google Analytics account and go to the new property you want to check. Then open a tab in your browser and go to the website itself. Keep that tab open. Go back to Analytics.
- Select: Real-Time > Overview. You should see a number 1 meaning you have a visitor on your website. If there are more visitors you'll have a bigger number. It should look like this:
So you did it and are well on your way to SEO awesomeness! Applause. There is a lot more to learn about Google Analytics (you could spend a lifetime) but now your site is added and collecting data.
If you'd like more help please visit our SEO site and contact us.. We're in Calgary, Alberta but can help anyone, anywhere, remotely as well.
