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[This post is part of the Ultimate Guide to Launching a WordPress-Powered Blog series. Check out the rest here!]
Setting up your website analytics for your blog is a critical step in taking your efforts as a blogger to the next level. For many, especially those that are just starting out, installing an analytics package like Google Analytics can be a daunting task!
[A much easier one is one of the plugins mentioned here on my list of analytics apps that I use.]
For those that have done it a million and a half times it’s like drinking water but remember when it was your first time? Yikes!
So, I’ve created a quick visual guide to setting it up and installing it on a simple site as well as in a WordPress Theme. Ready to get started?
[You can click all of the images for a larger view!]
1. Visit Google Analytics Home Page
2. Sign In to Google Analytics
If you need to create a Google Account you should do it at this time.
3. Sign Up for Google Analytics
If you are new then you’ll have to now “Sign Up” to start using the service.
4. Setup a New Account to Track
As you can see I’m setting up a new site called “Standard Tumble” which will be the new site for a new WordPress Theme to be released this coming year. I inserted the URL (http://standardtumble.com) and called the account “StandardTumble.” I set the country to United States and the Time Zone to “Eastern.”
5. Fill in Contact Information
6. Accept User Agreement
7. Get the Analytics Code
This is the next screen you’ll see. You’ll want to highlight all of the code in the box and “copy” it from here and paste it into your site (or your blog’s header file).
As it mentions, you’ll want to put this just before the </head> tag in the file.
8a. Paste Code Into Site
This is where it might get a bit tricky, especially for a new blogger. As you can see, I have an index.html file that I’m going to put the code into to start tracking the site traffic.
In the following screen I’ve pasted the code that I received from Google just before the </head> line:
After I do this I save the changes to the file.
8. Paste Code into WordPress
If you have a WordPress blog you’ll want to paste the code into your WordPress Theme’s header.php file. You first do this by clicking “Editor” under the “Appearance” tab on the left as seen above.
Next, you’ll want to find the header.php file and click that. I’m using the “TwentyTen” Theme (which comes with WordPress) as the example here:
And now I’ve inserted the code right above that </head> line:
Hit “Update File” and you’ll be set!
9. Check For Installation Success
Above you’ll see that it says that “Tracking Not Installed” yet. You’ll want the screen to look like this instead:
As you can see it’s now “Waiting for Data” and will start pulling information!
On the dashboard, you’ll also see this icon change as well when it’s working:
Above it’s “Not Working” and below it’s been successfully installed:
10. Visit Dashboard and Check Stats
After you install it the dashboard will look like this above with no data. It takes Google 24 hours to pull the data and start reporting, so check back the next day!
You should be setup now and ready to take over the world!
Let me know if you have any questions and/or have issues getting Google Analytics installed!
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