How to Setup Google Analytics for Your Website
April 03, 2009
If you read my article, "10 SEO Tips to Increase Web Site Hits", then you already know you should setup statistics for your website. Google Analytics offers FREE statistics for your website. Regardless, if you or your webmaster perform SEO on your website, it helps to understand how your visitors arrived at your website. Whether you have 10 hits a month or 1,000,000 hits a day, it will help you see how you can improve your website and continue to increase web site hits.
Well, I am sure you already realize that website statistics are important or you would not have clicked over to read this article. However, before we dive in, I have to mention a few things (gotchas). You will need an email account to setup Google Analytics. If you want to use some of the advanced features, than you will need to setup a gmail (Google) email account. In my instructions, I used a gmail account and I believe I used the Firefox browser at the time. Therefore, your screen may look different if you use a non-gmail account or a different browser. But the general instructions are still the same. I will not list the steps to setup an email account. With all due respect, if you need assistance with that portion of the setup, than I recommend that you first get comfortable with creating an email account on the internet with someone at your side to help you with the process. So, without further delay, I have outlined the steps below that will show you how to setup Google Analytics.
- Go to the following URL:
http://www.google.com/analytics - This will take you to the Google Analytics page. On the right side column you will see the following box.
- This will take you to the Google Analytics Sign in page.
NOTE: This assumes that you are not logged into your Google account. If you are already signed in, then skip to step 4.
- Enter your "Email" (that you used to create your gmail account)
- Enter your "Password"
- Click the "Sign in" button
- Since this is the first time that you setup Google Analtyics, it will prompt you to sign-up for the product. Click the "Sign Up" button.
- This takes you to the "Analytics: New Account Signup" window.
- Fill in the "General Information"
- Enter the "Website's URL" that you want to track. For my example, I entered "www.geeksclick.com".
- The "Account Name" will automatically prefill with the website's url. You can change this to anything you like. In my example, I use "Geeks Click".
- Correct the "Time zone" if necessary.
- Click the "Continue" button.
- Fill in the "Contact Information".
- Enter your "Last Name"
- Enter your "First Name"
- Enter your "Phone Number"
- Select your "Country"
- Click the "Continue" button
- The next step is "Accept User Agreement".
- At the very top you will see the following section.
- Scroll the bottom of the window an you will see the following section:
Click the check box titled, "Yes", I agree to the above terms and conditions".
- I recommend that you click on the link titled "Edit Settings" to display the following:
NOTE: If you are unclear, then click the link "titled "Learn More".
NOTE: In my example, I share the data because it enhances my other Google products but does not share with any 3rd parties.
- Click the button titled "Create New Account"
- This takes you to the "Add Tracking" window.
- Now simply add the code to your website and click the button titled "Continue".
NOTE: You can get this code later if necessary.
NOTE: If you are an ONFX customer simply click "Continue" and proceed to Step 15. - This finally takes you to your "Google Analytics" home page.
- NOTE: If you are an ONFX customer, please send me your "Web Property ID" as shown below and I will update your website for free.
