Part of our blogging series that helps new users and newbies how to setup and manage an online blog, this post is going to show you how to add Google Analytics tracking code to your sites to track user’s activities on your blog. Adding tracking code allows you to understand how your blog is doing with respect to visitors and usage.
If you’re new to online blogging, one motivational factor is to know how well you’re doing. You want to know who are you visitors, where they are coming from and how long they’re staying and reading your content. Finding out all of that, you’ll need an analytic program and Google Analytics is the most popular of all.
Now that you’ve setup blog and it’s running as expected, lets get started with adding Google Analytics. Before you can use the code, you must first sign up to use it. To sign up for Google Analytics, visit this page or search Google for ‘Google Analytics’
After registering, logon to Analytics and click the Admin page. There you’ll want to create a new web property. You first need to create a web property before tracking it. So create one and select the analytics JavaScript code to add to your site.
The tracking code should look like something below. Select the whole thing and copy.
<script>(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');ga('create', 'UA-4498753098', 'myonlineblog.com');ga('send', 'pageview');</script>
When you copy it, logon to WordPress’ admin page and browse to Appearance –> Editor. Your default theme will automatically load. On the right where you have all the theme’s files, click Header (header.php).
When the file is loaded in the editor, look for the line that </head> and add or paste the your analytics code just before it.
It should look like the image above. The analytics code highlighted with green just before the </head> line.
When you’re done, save it and close out. It’s also a good idea to backup before doing this so you can restore the file in case something goes wrong.
After a few minutes or hours, you should begin to see some stats when you sign into Google Analytics.
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I track my Wordpress blog traffic?
To track your Wordpress blog traffic, you can add Google Analytics tracking code to your site. This code helps you monitor user activities and understand visitor behavior.
What is the importance of tracking blog traffic and users?
Tracking blog traffic and users is crucial for understanding your blog's performance, knowing your audience, and gaining insights on visitor engagement.
How do I add Google Analytics tracking code to my Wordpress site?
To add Google Analytics tracking code to your Wordpress site, sign up for Google Analytics, create a web property, and then insert the analytics JavaScript code into your site's header.
Why is Google Analytics recommended for tracking blog traffic?
Google Analytics is recommended for tracking blog traffic because it is a popular and powerful analytic program that provides detailed insights into visitor behavior and website performance.
Where can I find the Google Analytics tracking code?
You can find the Google Analytics tracking code in your Google Analytics account after setting up a new web property. The code should be inserted into your site's header for tracking purposes.
What steps are involved in setting up Google Analytics for my blog?
Setting up Google Analytics for your blog involves signing up for an account, creating a web property, obtaining the tracking code, and inserting it into your site to start monitoring traffic.
Can I track user activities on my blog with Google Analytics?
Yes, you can track user activities on your blog using Google Analytics. It allows you to monitor page views, visitor demographics, behavior flow, and other valuable data.
How do I integrate Google Analytics tracking code into my Wordpress theme?
To integrate Google Analytics tracking code into your Wordpress theme, access the theme editor, locate the header.php file, and paste the analytics code just before the closing </head> tag.
