Recipe 008: Set up Google Analytics tracking from scratch
This recipe is without question the fastest way to go from zero to hero with Google Analytics and perfectly track your traffic on any website.
Last Updated / Reviewed: 09/24/2023
🚀 Goal: To set up the basic analytics foundations that every website should have no matter it’s niche or purpose.
🤔 Why this is important: Google Analytics is the most popular tool to measure website data to gather visitor insights. With it, you will be able to know the amount of traffic you are getting, and how your visitors are behaving inside your website.
🗓️ When this is done: Only once per website.
👨 Who does this: The person responsible for Analytics possibly with the help of your webmaster.
__⚠️Prerequisites or requirements: __Some of these steps are designed for sites running either WordPress, Squarespace, or Shopify. If you aren’t, you will have to perform similar instructions on your own CMS.
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Step 1 - Add Google Tag Manager to your Website
Click here to view this SOP 004: Add Google Tag Manager to a WordPress Site (web version)
Click here to view this SOP 065: How to add Google Tag Manager to a Shopify Store (web version)
Click here to view this SOP 066: How to add Google Tag Manager to a Squarespace Website (web version)
Outcome: Google Tag Manager is installed on your website.
Special instructions: You will only follow the SOP that applies to your specific platform (WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace).
Step 2 - Add Google Analytics to your website
Click here to view this SOP 009: Add Google Analytics 4 to a site (web version)
Click here to view this SOP 067: How to add Google Analytics to a Shopify Store (web version)
Outcome: Google Analytics is perfectly configured and accurately reporting on your website’s traffic.
Special instructions:
- You will only follow the SOP that applies to your specific platform (Shopify or non-Shopify).
Step 3 - Set up your conversion goals
Click here to view this SOP 168: Set up and track custom events in Google Analytics 4 (web version)
Outcome: You have set up and tested the conversion events and goals that make sense to your business.