Can I use Google Analytics to Track blogs?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by richi2rich, Nov 4, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hi, it's my first time posting here i think, hehe! I'm relatively new to blogging and all the blogging communities I'm trying to track visitors to my blogs through google analytics for site tracking but i don't know how to go about it. any ideas? Can't seem to track where users come from or how they leave through what link.

    I'm using both blogger and wordpress.

    Thank you
    -richi2rich
     
    richi2rich, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  2. yourihost

    yourihost Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Yes you can.
    I am using Wordpress + Analytics.

    Put the code in the header just after <body>
     
    yourihost, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  3. digitalmusings

    digitalmusings Peon

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    #3
    Yes Of course you can use Google Analytics and It works well.

    You need to put the code anywhere before the <body/> tag.

    Alternatively you can paste the code in one of the WordPress text widgets and place it in side bar, it would be invisible. after that go too google analytics DashBoard and check if its detecting the code, if it is, you are good to go. Analytics is on!
     
    digitalmusings, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  4. richi2rich

    richi2rich Peon

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    #4
    Thank You so much, wordpress and google confused me so much since the analytic page said i have to put it on every page...since i'm a newb to blogging i was thinking how do i do that on every post? haha yea i'm silly...

    how about blogger any way to use analytics for that?
     
    richi2rich, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  5. richi2rich

    richi2rich Peon

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    #5
    Oh and i forgot, would the settings of permalinks affect the analytics? right now i have it at default /?p=123 Do you guys find it easier to track users and clicks if the permalinks and archives were set differently?
     
    richi2rich, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  6. yourihost

    yourihost Well-Known Member

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    #6
    If you use permalinks with the name of the post , It will be MUCH easier to track.
     
    yourihost, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  7. MeetHere

    MeetHere Prominent Member

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    #7
    Is there any Google analytics plugin for wordpress ?
     
    MeetHere, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  8. Swiftblade

    Swiftblade Peon

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    #8
    Yes. Search.
     
    Swiftblade, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  9. dccv

    dccv Peon

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    #9
    I use analytics and mint. They both work well with wordpress.
    haveamint.com
    and
    google.com/analytics

    on my http://www.utahluxury.com
     
    dccv, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  10. Christian Little

    Christian Little Peon

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    #10
    You need to install the code for tracking pages that use dynamic PHP. See the instructions right from Google here: http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=55504

    Basically in your body you create a variable called $page or whatever. Put this declaration in your "Main Index Template" or "Header" template.

    Then you use that variable reference when calling the Google Analytics tracking code in your "Footer template.

    It does work, just a little trickier to setup. If you install it with just the normal code, it will count all page request as your index page "/" even if people click the links to go deeper into the site because Wordpress runs all commands through /index.php.

    I believe there are also plugins that will do this for you and you just have to input your tracking ID into the plugin config page, but I haven't used these and don't know if they are reliable. Try searching on http://www.wp-plugins.net - that's a directory for wordpress plugins, has thousands of them.

    Edit: I just checked wp-plugins.net for "google analytics" and it came up with at least 3 plugins that claim to insert GA into your blog properly.
     
    Christian Little, Nov 4, 2007 IP
  11. Tom Thumb

    Tom Thumb Notable Member

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    #11
    would you not be better in wordpres using pretty permalinks?
     
    Tom Thumb, Nov 4, 2007 IP