MattTrostle.com

Don’t forget the analytics! Now that you’ve got your site set up, some content and just the right look and feel, I know you’re dying to start marketing it. But take 10 minutes first to setup a Google Analytics account. It’s free but the data you get from it is invaluable.

It’s so very important to know how visitors are getting to your site and what they are doing once they get there. You can even integrate it with Google Adwords, track ad campaigns and email campaigns. Probably one of the most powerful features is the ability to create goals and funnels to let you know conversion rates and ROI, if you’re selling directly from your site.

Here’s how to get the code and install it on your site.

After you’ve created your Google Analytics account, click Create New Website Profile. You’ll be adding a profile for a new domain.

Then click on continue. The next screen you see is going to be your tracking code. The New Tracking Code is the selected by default. That’s the one you want. The Legacy Tracking Code is the old code.

Then click in the box and it will automatically highlight the entire text. Then copy it and go over to your WordPress Dashboard.

If you are using WordPress you won’t have to mess with any code. And if you’re using a Studiopress theme, you don’t have to install any other plugin.

For my Studiopress Theme, I’m going to go to Corporate Theme Options then scroll to the bottom.

You’ll see a box labeled Analytics/Stat Tracker Code. Now just paste your tracking code in this box. Make sure the “Do you want to include analytics/stat tracker code?” dropdown box says Yes.

If you are not using a Studiopress theme, use can use the WordPress plugin Google Analyticator.

If you’re not using WordPress but are using another Content Management System, check their documentation to see what plugins or addons they support. Otherwise, find the footer includes file and paste the Google Analytics code just before the ending </body> code.

That’s really all there is to tracking website visitors with Google Analytics. You should start receiving data within 24 hours.

Your next step will be to determine what goals you’d like to setup. I recommend setting up a goal for subscribers to your newsletter and, if you sell anything directly from your site, the sales funnel.