The Way to Configure Google Analytics Tracking Code in WordPress

Digital marketing is full of algorithms that put things where they are. Every marketer works hard to fulfill what the algorithms demand so that the client’s websites can have a competitive edge.

Before they can execute anything, they need to understand the current performance of a site or a social media page; this is where the analytic tools come in to assist.

Google Analytics is one of the commonly used tools in digital marketing due to its effectiveness and ease of use.

It is used to track how the website is faring in terms of user behavior and traffic. After all, the parameters that it uses to measure the current status are exactly what the experts want to achieve.

If you want to incorporate a Google Analytics tracking code on a WordPress website, then this publication is for you.

1. Understanding How It Works

   The starting point involves incorporating an appropriate JavaScript code on the target website. This added code will now keep tabs on how the website is faring. Such code will keep an eye on what the visitor is doing on your site from the beginning to the end.

   The tricky part is that one has to incorporate it in all pages of a website. An expert will do this with ease so that it can gather where the traffic is coming from, the duration of the session, their popular interest, conversions and additional data.

2. What You Will Need

   Before you even start the installation process, you will need the plugin itself. Here are some of the basic requirements to get everything going.

   A code editor is very crucial. For starters, you need nothing more complicated than a text editor. The seasoned experts can opt for sophisticated code editors with other features. This is the platform to write, paste or edit the required code.

   The next crucial thing is an installation of WordPress with an appropriate theme. This can be your existing website or blog. If none is available, you can involve a web expert to have this prepared before you start installing the analytics tracking code.

   The third requirement that you will need is the ability to access the files from your website using the FTP (file transfer protocol) program. According to IT experts, this is the only way you will be able to install the plugin and the Google Analytics tracking code.

   Access to the internet is the last requirement that you will need. Matters related to website editing modification or integration with various tools require your site to be live. Stable internet access will not only make things possible but will also enable you to view the results.

3. Installing the Analytics Code

   • Getting an account – a Google account is a must when you need to incorporate the code. With an account, you will need to log in using the appropriate tab on their website.

     The good thing is that a Google account is free of charge and also can be used to access other tools in future. You can register for one with ease using Google’s official website. After successfully creating the account, you will need to log in using the new credentials.

   • Getting the tracking ID – this is the most important step of a successful installation of the Google Analytics tracking code on your site.

     Upon a successful login, they will give you the option of receiving a tracking ID after which they provide a snippet code. On the long JavaScript code, you will get a Google Analytics account number.

     This is the code to use on every WordPress site that you want to be tracked. After this, you will be ready to move to your next step of integrating the code in the site.

   • Installation of the code – now that you have the code, it is ready to be used on your website. Here you will need to open a new folder in your plugin where you will save the website’s details.

     Next, you can access the new analytics tab and then settings. This is where the plugin gets linked to the code.

     After linking, you will need to authentic through the Google Analytics account that you are already logged in to. Just click the authenticate button.

   If you carefully follow the prompts that follow, then you will be connected after a few steps. When the linking is successful, then your website is already collecting all the required data for decision making in digital marketing.

4. Reading the Data

   Upon a successful connection, then it only needs up to 24 hours before you start seeing some data. It appears on an interface through the Google Analytics account, and it is very easy to use.

   Even a layman can clearly read, analyze and interpret what it means. On top of this, you can get various reports through the filters, which are a plus to any website owner or digital marketer.

   With such useful tools, an easy installation process and effectiveness in obtaining data, marketing decisions can now be backed by numbers instead of just speculation.