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How to setup Google analytics during website development

December 28, 2023

Setting up Google Analytics during website development involves a few straightforward steps. Google Analytics is a powerful tool that allows you to track and analyze user behavior on your website. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up Google Analytics:

1. Create a Google Analytics Account:

If you don’t have a Google Analytics account, go to the Google Analytics website and sign in with your Google account or create a new one.

2. Create a New Property:

Once logged in, click on “Admin” in the lower-left corner.
In the “Account” column, select the account to which you want to add the property.
Click on the “+ Create Property” button.
Enter your website details, including the name, URL, industry category, and reporting time zone.

3. Choose a Platform:

Select the appropriate platform, such as “Web” for a website.

4. Configure Data Streams:

Follow the prompts to set up a data stream for your property. Enter the necessary information for the website, including the website URL.

5. Accept Terms and Get the Tracking Code:

Accept the terms of service and click on the “Create stream” button.
Once your property is created, you’ll be provided with a tracking code. This code is essential for integrating Google Analytics with your website.

6. Integrate Tracking Code with Your Website:

Copy the provided tracking code (it starts with “UA-“) from the Google Analytics interface.
Paste the tracking code into the <head> section of your website’s HTML. Place it just before the closing </head> tag on every page where you want Google Analytics to track data. Example of the tracking code:  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=GA_MEASUREMENT_ID"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'GA_MEASUREMENT_ID'); </script> Replace GA_MEASUREMENT_ID with your actual Measurement ID.

7. Verify Setup:

After adding the tracking code, save and publish your website.
Go back to the Google Analytics dashboard and click on “Home.” You should see a notice indicating that your setup is incomplete. Click on “Check status” to verify that Google Analytics is receiving data.

8. Explore Google Analytics:

Once the setup is complete, explore the various reports and insights available in the Google Analytics dashboard. You can track metrics such as pageviews, user demographics, traffic sources, and more.

Note:

It may take some time for Google Analytics to start collecting data. Be patient, and regularly check your Google Analytics dashboard for insights.
If you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, there are plugins available to simplify the process of adding the Google Analytics tracking code.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to set up Google Analytics for your website and gain valuable insights into how users interact with your content.