This simple guide will help you track and analyze website performance, set up tracking, and generate insightful reports. These tools are customizable for different business needs.
Create an Account:
- Log in at Google Analytics and create an account for your website or app.
Set Up Data Streams:
- For websites: Use the Web data stream.
- For apps: Use iOS or Android data streams.
Add Tracking Code:
- Copy the Global Site Tag (gtag.js) from your property settings and add it to the <head> section of your website.
Enable Google Signals:
- Go to Admin > Data Settings > Data Collection and enable Google Signals to track cross-device and user demographics.
Link Google Ads (if applicable):
- Go to Admin > Property Settings > Google Ads Linking to track ad performance.
Enable E-commerce Tracking (for online stores):
- Turn on Enhanced E-commerce in Admin > E-commerce Settings.
Use DebugView:
- In GA4, go to Configure > DebugView to test your setup and see real-time user events.
Google Tag Assistant:
- Use the Tag Assistant Chrome Extension to verify if tracking tags are firing correctly.
| Step | Details | Completed? (?) |
|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Create Account | Set up GA4 property and data streams. | |
| Add Tracking Code | Insert the gtag.js into your website’s <head>. | |
| Test Tracking | Use DebugView and Tag Assistant. | |
| Enable Google Signals | Activate for cross-device tracking. | |
| Link Google Ads | Integrate for ad campaign tracking. | |
Define Business Objectives: Identify measurable goals (e.g., purchases, signups, form submissions).
Set Up Destination Goals:
- Example: Thank-you page after a form submission.
Set Up Duration Goals:
- Example: Sessions lasting over 3 minutes.
Track Pages/Screens Per Session Goals:
- Example: Users visiting more than 3 pages in one session.
Button Clicks:
- Example: Tracking clicks on "Download" or "Contact Us" buttons.
File Downloads:
- Example: PDFs or eBooks being downloaded.
Video Plays:
- Example: Measuring how many users watched a promotional video.
Custom Events via Google Tag Manager:
- Use GTM to create triggers for unique user interactions.
| Goal/Event Type | Details | Example | Completed? |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------|
| Destination Goal | Thank-you page after form submission. | /thank-you | |
| Duration Goal | Sessions longer than 3 minutes. | > 3 minutes | |
| Button Click Event | Contact Us button click. | ContactUs_Click | |
| Video Play Event | Track users playing a demo video. | Demo_Video_Play | |
Source/Medium Report: Analyze how users are arriving at your site (e.g., Organic, Social, Paid).
Channels Report: Evaluate the performance of default channels like Direct, Referral, and Social.
Landing Page Report: Identify top-performing entry pages to optimize for conversions.
Behavior Flow: Understand how users navigate your site and pinpoint drop-off points.
Content Drilldown: Analyze the performance of specific content folders or categories.
Site Search (if enabled): Track what users search for on your website.
Goal Flow: Visualize user progress through your conversion funnel.
E-commerce Reports (if enabled): Monitor product performance, revenue, and cart abandonment.
| Report Type | Key Metrics | Insights to Look For | Generated? |
|---------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------|
| Traffic by Source/Medium | Sessions, Users, Bounce Rate | Which sources bring the most engaged visitors? | |
| Landing Pages | Pageviews, Conversion Rate | Which pages convert visitors into leads or sales? | |
| Conversion Funnel | Drop-off Points, Completion Rates | Where are users abandoning the conversion process? | |
Traffic Overview: Sessions, Users, and Bounce Rate by Source/Medium.
Top Landing Pages: Pages with the highest views and engagement.
Conversion Metrics: Goal completions and conversion rates.
Device Performance: Compare desktop, mobile, and tablet metrics.
| Widget Name | Metric/Dimension | Purpose |
|----------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Traffic by Source/Medium | Sessions, Users, Source/Medium | Identify high-performing traffic sources.|
| Landing Page Performance | Pageviews, Bounce Rate, Conversions| Optimize content for engagement. |
| Device Category Analysis | Sessions by Device Category | Optimize experience for mobile users. |
| Goal Completions | Conversions by Source/Medium | Track progress toward business goals. |
? Enable Enhanced E-commerce:
- Go to Admin > E-commerce Settings > Enable Enhanced E-commerce.
Implement Data Layer:
- Add a JavaScript data layer to track product impressions, clicks, and purchases.
Track Shopping Behavior:
- Use the Shopping Behavior report to monitor drop-offs in the purchasing journey.
| Step | Details | Completed? |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------|
| Product Performance | Track impressions, clicks, and revenue. | |
| Cart Abandonment | Monitor users dropping off before checkout.| |
| Checkout Behavior | Identify steps causing user friction. | |
No Data in Reports:
- Check that the tracking code is correctly installed.
- Verify property settings and data filters.
Duplicate Transactions:
- Ensure each transaction ID is unique.
High Bounce Rate:
- Test your site for slow loading times or poor mobile usability.
| Issue | Potential Cause | Fix | Completed? |
|----------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------|
| No Data in Reports | Incorrect tracking code placement. | Reinstall tracking code. | |
| Duplicate Transactions | Reused transaction IDs. | Ensure unique transaction IDs. | |
| High Mobile Bounce Rate | Poor mobile optimization. | Test and improve mobile layout. | |
? Check Traffic Sources: Look for any unusual changes in traffic.
Review Conversion Rates: Identify drops or improvements in conversions.
Monitor Bounce Rates: Focus on high-bounce pages and investigate issues.
Check Events and Goals: Ensure tracking is functioning as expected.
Update Dashboards: Share key metrics with your team.