SOP 254: Installing & Setting Up Google Site Kit On A Wordpress Website
Last Updated / Reviewed: 09/22/2025
Execution Time: 30–60 minutes
🚀 Goal: Install and configure Site Kit by Google plugin on WordPress to connect Search Console, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), and Google Tag Manager (GTM) (or Google Tag / Google Tag Gateway) properly, ensuring only one source of GA4 tracking is firing and data is visible in GA4 real-time/debug.
🤞 Ideal Outcome: Site Kit is installed, the site is verified in Search Console, GA4 is connected with live data showing, Tag Manager or Google Tag is set up if needed, no duplicate tags exist, and real-time data appears correctly in GA4 and the Site Kit dashboard.
🤔 Why this is important: The setup simplifies Google integrations, prevents duplicate tracking, improves data quality, and makes auditing and maintenance easier.
🧐 Where this is done This is done in WordPress Admin, Site Kit settings, and Google consoles (Search Console, Analytics, Tag Manager/Tag Gateway), using tools like Tag Assistant and GA4 DebugView.
🗓️ When this is done: New site launches or when standardizing analytics on existing sites.
👨 Who does this: WordPress Administrator with a Google account that can manage Search Console, GA4, and GTM.
__⚠️Prerequisites or requirements: __The WordPress site must be live, the user must have admin access, and the Google account must allow management of GA4, GTM, and Search Console. Existing tags may need removal, and the correct domain and canonical URL must be confirmed.
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Install Site Kit in WordPress
01▸ Log in to the WordPress admin account.
02▸ Go to "Plugins" → "Add Plugin".
03▸ Search for "Site Kit by Google", then click "Install Now".
04▸ Go back to "Plugins" and click "Installed Plugins". Now, search for "Site Kit by Google" and click "Activate".
05▸ Click "Start setup" from the "Site Kit" banner.
Connect Google account and verify site
01▸ By now, you should be able to click "Sign in with Google", choose the client account, and allow the requested permissions.
Note: Tick the box to connect Google Analytics as part of your setup.
02▸ Next, click "Verify" to let Site Kit add the verification token > click "Allow" metrics on the dashboard, followed by "Set up" and "Next".
03▸ Now, click "Create Account". Ensure that the information, such as account name, property and "Web Data Stream" is correct.
Note: If automatic verification fails, verify via "HTML tag" or "DNS record" in "Google Search Console", then click "Retry" in Google Site Kit. You should see "Ownership verified" in "Search Console". Site Kit shows a success screen and continues setup. Reporting data may take 24–48 hours to appear.
Connect services in WordPress Site Kit (Search Console, GA4, and GTM)
01▸ In WordPress, go to Site Kit → "Settings" → "Connect More Services".
02▸ Scroll down and look for "Search Console", "Analytics" and "Tag Manager". Click "Set up...". One example below:
03▸ Complete the setups as instructed. To ensure it is connected, you should be able to see the green ticks or "Connected" under "Connected Services" in Site Kit settings.
Quick QA of tags and data flow
01▸ Open the live site in an incognito window and start a debug session at tagassistant.google.com.
02▸ In your "Tag Assistant" session, open the site and click through a couple of pages.
03▸ Confirm exactly one GA4 source fires, and the GTM container is present.
Note: You should see exactly one GA4 "G-" ID and one "GTM-" container in "Tags" for each page view. If two GA4 sources appear (Site Kit + GTM), keep one: either turn OFF "Let Site Kit place the Analytics code" in "Site Kit" or remove the GA4 tag from GTM. "Tag Assistant" may take up to a minute to update.
04▸ Go to analytics.google.com, select the correct property, then open "Reports" → "Realtime overview" while your incognito session is active.
Note: You should see at least 1 in "Users in last 30 minutes" and your current page/location. "Realtime" can take up to a minute to show your hit.