Whether you’re running a blog, an online store, or a SaaS startup in your garage, knowing how people interact with your website is crucial. Google Analytics gives you the tools to track user behavior, monitor traffic, and make smarter decisions—all for free. If you’re new to this, don’t worry. Here’s a straightforward guide to get you up and running.
1. Create a Google Analytics Account
If you already have a Google account, you’re halfway there.
- Go to analytics.google.com.
- Click Start Measuring.
- Fill in your Account Name. This can be your business or personal name—it’s internal.
- Decide what data you want to share with Google. You can leave all options checked or adjust based on your comfort level.
- Click Next.
2. Set Up a Property (Your Website)
A “property” is just a fancy term for the website or app you want to track.
- Enter a Property Name (like “MyPortfolioSite”).
- Set your reporting time zone and currency.
- Click Next and fill out basic info about your business.
- Click Create.
You’ll now be taken to your Admin panel, where you can manage all settings for this property.
3. Add a Data Stream
- Choose Web as your platform.
- Enter your website URL (no typos, or you’ll be watching analytics for someone else).
- Name the stream (e.g., “Main Site”).
- Click Create Stream.
Google will now give you a Measurement ID (looks like G-XXXXXXXXXX) and a code snippet for your site.
Hold on—we’ll connect this later. First, we need to verify that you actually own the site.
4. Verify Site Ownership via DNS
This part tells Google you’re not trying to sneak into someone else’s analytics.
- Go to Google Search Console.
- Click Start Now and sign in with the same Google account you used for Analytics.
- Choose Domain (not URL prefix).
- Enter your domain, like
example.com. - Google will give you a TXT record to add to your DNS.
Now, head to wherever your domain is managed (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.):
- Find your DNS settings.
- Add a new TXT record:
- Name:
@or leave blank depending on registrar. - Type: TXT
- Value: Paste the code Google gave you.
- Name:
Once added, go back to Search Console and click Verify. It may take a few minutes, or in some cases, up to a day.
5. Connect Analytics to Your Site
Now that your property is verified, it’s time to start collecting data.
Option 1: Add the Global Site Tag manually
-
In your Analytics property, under your Web Stream, copy the full script starting with:
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?..."></script> -
Paste this into the
<head>section of your website’s HTML.
If you’re using WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, or any CMS, they usually have a field or plugin for this. Look for a “Header Code Injection” option.
Option 2: Use Google Tag Manager
If you’re planning to track more than just page views (like button clicks or eCommerce events), using Google Tag Manager is the way to go. For now, stick with the global tag unless you like extra setup.
6. Access and Understand Your Dashboard
Once installed and verified, give it some time. Data doesn’t show up instantly.
To access your dashboard:
- Head back to analytics.google.com.
- Click into your account and select your property.
- The Home dashboard will show you:
- Real-time users
- Traffic sources
- Device types
- Top-performing pages
- Locations of your users
Click around. You won’t break anything. Explore reports like Engagement, Acquisition, and Demographics to get deeper insights.
7. Final Tip: Set Up Google Search Console Integration
Back in your Google Analytics Admin:
- Go to Property Settings.
- Scroll to Search Console Links and click Adjust Link.
- Link the verified property from earlier.
This combo gives you richer data—like what search queries are bringing people to your site and how they behave once they arrive.
You’re now officially tracking like a pro, or better yet, letting DataSmart do it for you. Google Analytics can look overwhelming, but when managed properly, it’s a goldmine of actionable insight. We handle the setup, monitoring, and reporting, so you can focus on running your business while we turn your website data into growth strategy.
