Tracking Your Website Statistics Using Google Analytics
May 25th by Andrew Houle  |  stashed in Webdesign
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More often than not your web host will offer free statistics in their hosting control panel, but sometimes they don’t and many times if they do, it is limited. Their are many other options available to keep track of your visitors. Two of the best free services are Google Analytics and GetClicky.

In this article I am going to show you how to setup Google Analytics to begin tracking your visitors. It’s pretty straight forward and well worth the little bit of effort.

Here’s What You Do

  1. Head on over to Google Analytics
  2. If you already have a Google Account, sign in, if not you’ll have to sign up.
  3. After signing in, click “Sign Up”

    4. Signup Screen

  4. Fill in the new account form and click continue

    5. Signup Form

  5. Continue through the setup wizard by filling out the contact info form and clicking to continue.

    6. Contact Form for Google Analytics

  6. Accept the Terms of Service and Click to Create New Account.
  7. OK, this will bring you to the code you need. Click on the “New Tracking Code” so that you can take advantage of new features as they become available. Copy the code that google has for you.

    8. Google Analytics Code

  8. Open up your favorite text editor and paste the code at the bottom of all the pages you want to keep track of. Preferably right before the closing body tag. If you are running a wordpress blog it would be best to place this code in your footer.php file. Save your changes and upload your file to the server. Back over in Google, click Continue.
  9. Google will now need to check the status of your site to make sure everything was uploaded properly. Click Check Status.

    10. Check Status Screen

  10. If all goes well Google will tell you so and you are all finished!

    11. Easy as can be. You can check back usually within the next day and begin seeing your stats. They are very detailed explore all the statistics, and use them to see what works and what doesn’t.

About the Author

Andrew is the founder and primary contributer for MyInkBlog. He is a full time web developer for Niagara University. When he's not working there, he's a blogger, twitter'er, wordpress'er, silverstripe advocate, blessed father and husband.

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3 responses thus far

  1. DesignNerd

    May 29, 2008

    Hey thanks!

    This was really helpful! Also you have a beautifully designed blog!

  2. ABBY

    March 24, 2009

    Great tips, thanks :D

  3. Eddie Fullam

    January 25, 2010

    Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice blog.