| Last time we mentioned tracking software in general | | | | snippets for each category, and choosing the wrong |
| and briefly stated possible scenarios you can | | | | category (leading to the wrong code snippet) may |
| experience, as well as your possible actions when | | | | cause your reported statistics to be inaccurate. |
| they actually occur. We also saw that Google | | | | Installing Google Analytics Now that you have the |
| Analytics is able to provide all of these features and | | | | snippet, all you have to do is copy that piece of code |
| much more. In this second part of the series we'll be | | | | and paste it in every page of your site that you want |
| looking at Google Analytics in much more detail. | | | | to be tracked. It is recommended that you place it |
| Creating a Google Analytics account The first thing | | | | before the tag, so that it is read last and will not affect |
| you have to do to install Google Analytics is to sign up | | | | page loading times. |
| for an account. Head on over to and get a Google | | | | For static sites, where each page is pre-generated |
| account; alternatively if you already have your own | | | | and is served as-is by the webserver, all you need is |
| Google account you may just sign in there and | | | | to copy and paste the code to each of those static |
| associate your account with Google Analytics. From | | | | pages. Sometimes static sites make use of |
| here on you simply need to sign into your Google | | | | server-side includes which make site-wide changes of |
| account and you'll have access to the statistics | | | | similar content easier (like headers and footers, for |
| gathered by Google Analytics. | | | | example). In this case, the best way would be to add |
| After that, you'll need to provide your website URL. In | | | | the snippet to a server-side include that is called on |
| case you would like to track more than one website, | | | | just before the tag. |
| you can add those after setting up your account, but | | | | In case you are using a dynamically generated site (like |
| for now just add one of your existing websites. You'll | | | | a blog using Wordpress or a Content Management |
| also have to fill in an account name. Remember that | | | | System like drupal), the easiest way to install Google |
| you're not just limited to the root URL; you can assign | | | | Analytics to every page of your site is to install it in the |
| an account name to a specific section of your | | | | template you are using. For example, in Wordpress a |
| website. For example, if you have a blog section, you | | | | theme usually contains a template for the page layout |
| can create an account just for that blog section that is | | | | – once you paste the tracking code to this template, |
| separate from your products section or from your | | | | each page that uses the template will be tracked by |
| company information section. | | | | Google Analytics. |
| The last thing you need to do to create an account is | | | | Website profiles Your Google Analytics account is not |
| to accept the terms of service. Read through and | | | | limited to tracking a single domain. You don't have to |
| understand the agreement and tick the checkbox | | | | create a new Google Analytics account if you wish to |
| signifying that you have read and accepted the terms. | | | | track a different domain or segregate tracking within a |
| After that, you will have created an account. Setting | | | | single domain. So how do you separate the reports |
| up your Google Analytics account | | | | between domains? You create a new website profile |
| It is very easy to install Google Analytics. Installing it is | | | | for them. |
| as easy as copying and pasting a snippet of javascript | | | | In fact, during the setting up section, you have in fact |
| code into all of your web pages. However, you must | | | | created an initial website profile. The procedure for |
| first understand your site layout, as the Google | | | | creating a new website profile is very similar to that |
| Analytics code snippet is different depending on | | | | first set up. All you need to do is to click on “Add |
| whether you have a single domain, one domain with | | | | Website Profile” and continue as you would when |
| multiple subdomains or multiple top-level domains. | | | | you initially set up your first website. |
| ·Single domain. The single domain option is the default | | | | Adding users Most of the time, you will not be the only |
| option. This option should be used when you have a | | | | one who wants to see the statistics gathered. Maybe |
| single top-level domain and all of your webpages are | | | | your boss would like a piece of the action or perhaps |
| under this domain. For example, if you own and every | | | | you would like to delegate monitoring and responsibility |
| webpage has that domain as its root, then this option is | | | | of specific sections of the reports to subordinates. |
| for you. | | | | You can of course just share your Google Analytics |
| ·One domain with multiple subdomains. If you own a | | | | account username and password, but that will not be |
| domain but prefer to use subdomains to keep | | | | very secure. The secure way of adding collaborators |
| separate the sections of your website, then you should | | | | is to add users. |
| use this option. For example, if you have and this option | | | | To add a new user, just click on “User |
| is for you. | | | | Manager” and then “Add User.” Note that the |
| ·Multiple top-level domains. Sometimes you would like | | | | user you are adding must have a Google account. The |
| your domain to be available in as many | | | | easiest way to make sure the email address has a |
| top-level-domain extensions as possible, so that it looks | | | | Google account associated with it is to sign up for a |
| more official. For example, if you have as well as | | | | Gmail account. After that, simply choose the access |
| yahoo.co.uk then this option is what you should choose. | | | | privileges you want this user to have, as well as which |
| Notice that whenever you choose an option, the | | | | website profiles he or she can access. Then just click |
| snippet of text to the right of it will change. This is the | | | | on “Save Changes” and your new user would |
| reason that identifying the category your domain falls | | | | have been added. |
| into is important: there are different code tracking | | | | |