What They Are, Why They’re Important, and How To Set Them up on WordPress
So, you have a WordPress website.
Here’s the truth — you need to know what your users are doing on your site. You also want to see which parts of your site are doing well and which parts are going to make you go bust.
This is why you need analytics — Google Analytics, that is.
Analytics will give you an insider’s perspective on your user’s behavior on your site. In a nutshell, Google Analytics will clue you in on how your site is doing.
Now, we at PERC get it. Right off the bat, a discussion on Google Analytics sounds too technical. Allow us to take this seemingly confusing piece of technology and explain it to you PERC-style.
Stick around to learn more about the ins and outs of Google Analytics and how you can set it up for your site!
What Is Google Analytics?
Google Analytics is a tool that enables you to look at your site’s performance. More specifically, it is a tool that provides you with numerical and graphical data about stats and figures that might matter to you.
These stats include the number of new visitors to your website. Part of the statistical data you’ll get access to is how many of your new visitors become repeat visitors.
You’ll also be able to track user engagement or the number of users who click through your site and stay.
You’ll even get a sneak peek into other useful pieces of data like how much money your site is bringing in. This piece of data is particularly important if you’re in eCommerce.
All this data and more is available on a dashboard that is linked to the site you are monitoring.
Why Is Google Analytics Important for WordPress?
As mentioned in the earlier section, Google Analytics provides you with data to monitor certain statistics surrounding your site. According to Medium, you’ll want to do this for two reasons:
First, monitoring site data allows you to determine how users behave on your site. This can help you improve certain parts if you see that one page causes many visitors to leave, for example.
Second, you can get a better idea of whether or not the investment you’ve made on your site was worth it. One part of the Google Analytics dashboard for WordPress contains figures on your site’s revenue from sales.
How To Set Up Google Analytics in WordPress
It might seem uber-technical now. But, contrary to popular belief, setting up Analytics for your WordPress-powered site is straightforward. Here’s a tip from us here at PERC before getting started — get a Gmail account.
You’ll need your Gmail account to sign up for Analytics. When you go to the Google Analytics page, there will be instructions about how to sign up for a free Analytics account with your Gmail account.
Sign up for an account. At some point in the registration, you’ll be asked to provide your site’s URL. All you need to do is provide it when asked.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll have signed up for an Analytics account.
You can then follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Install and Activate the Google Plugin
Go to your WordPress dashboard. You’ll see a section labeled “plugins.” Click “plugins” and look for a plugin called “Site Kit.”
Install the plugin and click “activate” after installation.
Site Kit allows you to connect Analytics to your WordPress site.
Step 2: Set-Up Site Kit
Once you’ve activated Site Kit, you’ll see a button that says “Start Setup.” Click on it and you’ll be redirected to a page that’ll require you to sign in using your Gmail account. Sign in and allow Site Kit permission to access your WordPress site.
Step 3: Add Your Site to Your Analytics Account
Go back to your dashboard. You’ll see Analytics on the header of your dashboard. Click “connect service” and add your site.
Setting Up Google Analytics Isn’t Rocket Science
Getting your site metrics using Google Analytics is a straightforward process. But, site data is only the beginning. In truth, running a business from your site involves constant site tweaks based on what your data looks like.
For conversion-generating web design that takes the guesswork out of optimization and site-building, let us help. Contact the experienced PERC team today!
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khE3BLejaWw
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-install-google-analytics-in-wordpress/
