How to Use Google Analytics to Track my Blog

Do you want to provide your visitors the treasure of data? If only you roll up your sleeve, you might end up doing it the right way! With just a few easy steps, you can run Google Analytics to track your website in no time at all. All you need to do is follow these simple steps, so get on it!

Before you hit the road! Save yourself the trouble and make sure you can edit your website whenever you want through CMS. If you can`t do so, you will need a web developer who will install the tracking code. If you do not have access to your website back end, you won`t be making any progress. Therefore you need to hold on any reading material until CMS is working properly on your website.

Access to Google Analytics Tracking Code

Once you make sure you can edit your website. now`s the time to secure your Google Analytics Tracking Code! First of all, long into Google Analytics Account and go to `Admin` area in upper right side of page. Now select the `Account and Property` and Click on `Tracking Info` In middle column of `Property`.

Afterwards, Click on `Tracking Code` right under `Tracking info` to gain access to the website tracking code.

Now you will see a box with multiple lines of codes. Make sure you copy the entire code starting with the <script> and all way through </script>.

Important: Some CMS have specific themes including Built in Google Analytics Plugin. The Add On is only needed when you are entering the Google Analytics Tracking ID in order to complete the Analytics Setup. If this is your case, you need to copy the tracking code which starts with `UA-`.  You can find this code on top of page. Every Google Analytics created in your account will be assigned a Unique Tracking ID. Therefore, you need to make sure you are using the appropriate tracking code for each separate domain.

Adding Tracking Codes in the Right Place

Now you have the tracking code with you, you can now install!

First, log into your CMS and access website HTML code. Remember, you must place script on top of your webpage, before </head> tag appears on each webpage you want to be tracked.

As said earlier, some CMS have separate section where the user can easily add tracking codes and tracking IDs. Just make sure you look into the CMS setup to make sure everything goes well.

Boom Goes the Dynamite!

The basic analytics tracking has been installed on your website. You will now notice most repots under `Standard Reporting` in Google Analytics are now delayed in Populating Data. This can take up to 24 hours. But you can also check `Real Time` tracing section in Google Analytics to see data instantly.

Make sure you verify the installation set by revisiting tracking code section at Admin>>Tracking Information>>Tracking Code.

After a while, you will be able to install the code. You can now see a section labeled under `Tracking Status Information` on top of page. If you want the status read `Tracking Installed`. This will inform you that the code is working properly and data is transferred to Google Analytics as desired. If the status shows `Waiting for Data`, the Google Analytics has found a tracking code on homepage. Analytics will now be working to gather the data into reports and it will need more time.

If your status shows as `Tracking Not Installed`, follow the Google`s Recommendations in order to troubleshoot this problem and proper installation.