One of the fantastic things about running an online business is the availability of data and information about your customers. It is possible to know so much about what is working and what isn’t, and adjust your strategies in real time. An excellent source of this data is Google Analytics; the best news is that it is free with any Google account.
1. Set up Google Analytics
To get started, log in to your Google account (or create one if you don’t have one already). Head to www.google.com/analytics and click on ‘Create an Account’.
2. Get your tracking code
Follow the prompts and enter your contact details and accept the terms and conditions. Here you will be given a tracking code, which is a piece of JavaScript that needs to be inserted into every page of your site. If you are using WordPress, you can install a simple plugin such as Google Analytics by Yoast that will help you with this, rather than having to do it manually on each page.
3. Start Tracking!
Come back to Google Analytics and select Real-Time -> Overview on the top left column; if you are browsing your site at that time you should see at least one visitor (you) in the real-time results. Use your mobile or another device to access the site, and you will see this as a 2nd active user. Google Analytics will now track each of your site visits with a dizzying array of detail and information to choose from.
Becoming an expert at using Google Analytics may mean the difference between success or failure in your online business. Knowing what is successful and what is not will help you determine where you spend your advertising budget, how you attract and convert customers, and ultimately your use of all of your company’s resources. Be in the know and make informed decisions about all of this by taking the time to learn how to set up Google Analytics and get tracking your key website data!
