How to Add Google Analytics to WordPress Site

Knowledge of how users interact with your website is crucial for the success of your marketing campaigns. Having details on your website’s traffic would help you customize your posts to attract your target audience, and then convert them to leads.

Several tools can help generate a detailed analysis of the various website traffic parameters. However, among the many tools, Google Analytics for WordPress is arguably one of the best you can get around.

In this guide, we would discuss the importance of Google Analytics to website owners, a step-by-step guide on how to create a Google Analytics account, and lastly, how to install Google Analytics to WordPress.

Importance of Google Analytics

If you are a blogger or website owner, Google Analytics helps to grow your website by showing you the statistics that matter and helping you make data-centric decisions. The following is some of the key information that Google Analytics provides you, for free:

1. Who Visits Your Website

This provides information on the geographical locations of your website visitors. This part also provides additional information, such as the browser that was used to access your site, screen resolution, JavaScript support, and so on. This analytic can be extremely useful in creating customizable websites, that would be better suited for your target audience.

2. What Do Your Audience Do On Your Website

With Google Analytics, you can track what section of your website users frequent, how long they spend on your website, and the percentage of those that leave your website on their first visit (bounce rate). This information can help reduce your bounce rate and generate more views on your page, by pushing out content that would appeal to your users.

3. When Do You Get the Most Traffic On Your Website

Having information on your site’s hottest hours of the day can help you select the best time to push your content out. If the timeframe is not compatible with your time zone, you can adjust your schedule to suit the time.

4. How Do Your Target Audience Find Your Website

Have you ever wondered where your users access your websites from? Search engines, direct links, or perhaps, referral sources? This part of the analysis gives you a percentage breakdown of each of these sources. That way, you can create exclusive content for the source where most of your users come from.

5. How Do Your Audience Interact With Your Website

Google Analytics also helps show you how users interact with your website’s features, like the percentage of those that click the links on your site and much more.

How Can I Add Google Analytics To WordPress?

Adding Google Analytics to WordPress involves two major steps: Creating a Google Analytics Account, and Installing Google Analytics to WordPress. In this section of the guide, we would walk you through a step-by-step process on each step.

A. Creating A Google Analytics Account

Google Analytics is available to users all around the world. All you require to sign up is a Google or Gmail account. Follow the steps below to create a Google Analytics account, as you kick-start your journey of adding Google Analytics to WordPress.

Step 1: Visit the Google Analytics Website

On the site, click the “Get Started Today” button
Next, sign in using either your Google or Gmail account. If you already have one, you can use that to sign in. However, if you do not have any, you can go ahead to create an account for yourself.

Step 2: Sign-up For Google Analytics With Your Gmail/Google Account

After signing in with your Gmail or Google account, a welcome screen would pop up.
Click the “Start Measuring” button
After that, provide an Account Nameand personalize your data-sharing settings (which can be left as default).

Step 3: Create a Google Analytics Property

To start, enter a Property Name, and select your Reporting Time Zoneand Currency Thereafter, click the “Next” button
On the next screen, select Industry Category, and choose a business size
Next, select your preferred options for using Google Analytics
Then, click the “Create” button, and check the box signifying your consent to the terms of the Service Agreement.
Next, click the checkboxes for email communication updates you wish to receive, andclick “Save”.

Step 4: Select the Web Stream Option

Select “Web” as the platform and enter your website URL and stream name.
Next, click the “Create Stream” button.

Now that you have successfully created a Google Analytics account, let’s walk you through the steps involved in installing Google Analytics to WordPress.

B. Installing Google Analytics To WordPress

Google Analytics can be installed by any user, with mild technicalities involved. There are several methods through which the installation can be carried out, and we would enumerate the steps involved in four methods.

Method 1: Add Google Tag Code to Header.php

You can add Google Analytics to WordPress by copy-pasting your Tracking Code to your website code (in the “header.php” file). Follow the steps below:

On your WordPress dashboard, click “Appearance (Editor)”
Click the “header.php” file
Copy your tracking code from Google Analytics, and paste it into the header code.
Wait until the installation is fully activated. This can take up to 48 hours.

Method 2: Install Using WordPress Plugin

WordPress plugins are an excellent alternative. There are several plugin solutions however, we would consider the best two: GA Google Analytics for WP, and Monster Insights.

GA Google Analytics For WP

Go to your WordPress dashboard
Click “Add New Plugin”
Type “GA Google Analytics” inthe search box
Click “Install Now”, and then activate the plugin
Click “Plugjn Settings”, and copy and paste the Tracking ID
Click the “Save Changes” button.

Monster Insights

Install and activate the plugin following the steps listed above
Head over to the Plugins Settingspage, and link it to your Google Analytics account
Click the “Connect Monster Insights And Setup Web Analytics” button, and run the setup
Select your site’s category
Connect and authenticate your Google Analytics account with Monster Insights
Click “Save and Continue”

Method 3: Use Google Tag Manager

Navigate your dashboard, and click “Add New Plugins”
Search Google Tag Manager
Install and activate the plugin
Create an account with Google Tag Manager, and enter the required details
Tick the checkbox of Service Agreement
Click “Ok”, and copy your Google Tag Manager ID
Paste the ID on the Plugin’s Setting page
Click the “Save Changes” button

Method 4: Host Locally

Go to your WordPress dashboard
Click plugins and search for “CAOS”
Install and activate the Plugin
Enter your Google Analytics Tracking ID on the plugin settings page, and lastly, select “Location”.

Conclusion

This guide has explained the importance of Google Analytics and the easy steps involved in creating a Google Analytics account and installing Google Analytics to WordPress. By leveraging the information provided here, you will be able to gain deeper insights into the performance of your website and make better-informed decisions that would boost your online presence.