How to Get Started with Google Analytics + Why you need it! [UPDATED 2023]
Whenever we visit a place, like a hotel or a museum, usually we are asked to write our details. Then, when we are leaving, we are also invited to rate their service. Personally, it’s pretty boring because, of course, you are excited to visit the place. But all those details are essential not only for security but also for marketing purposes.
Imagine every time we visit a website we are asked to type our details, it's a hassle, right? That’s when analytics saves your day!
Brace yourselves because this topic might be pretty intimidating to other people. Donut worry; we’re here to chop all the pieces of information for you to fully grasp what Google Analytics is all about. Understanding how this works will surely give your website extra credit!
So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into the topic!
FOR YOU NOT TO GET LOST:
Web Analytics as your Internet Logbook
Web analytics is a means of gathering and analyzing data about your website's users, including what they're doing, where they're coming from, what content they want, and much more.
Knowing all of the information like age, gender, geographic location and etc., will help you improve user experience.
For example, knowing your users’ geographic location and language can help you understand what translations you need. Indeed, suppose most of your users browse your website using their mobile devices. In that case, you definitely need to make it mobile-friendly.
We tackled that topic The SEO trick every Blogger avoids using - Why I suggest you should use it, you can check that too!
WEB ANALYTICS CAN HELP YOU HAVE:
Better Content - Website analytics show you which content attracts the most visitors, average length, and bounce rate for individual pages, helping you evaluate and enhance interaction.
Better SEO - Welcome our friend - SEO. Everyone loves SEO, and web analytics will definitely boost it. You can create targeted content and improve your search engine popularity by knowing your visitors' demographics and interests. You can also learn more about backlinks by keeping track of your referrals.
Web analytics is like having a secret weapon in the ever-competitive online landscape. It equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and steer your website towards success.
2. Squarespace Analytics vs. Google Analytics
You might wonder why you should use Google Analytics when Squarespace offers its own analytics. The answer is simple: Google Analytics provides more comprehensive data.
Both tools offer insights into visitor demographics, traffic sources, popular content, and unique visitors. However, Google Analytics goes above and beyond.
Squarespace Analytics is beginner-friendly and suitable for daily use. Meanwhile, Google Analytics requires a bit more effort but provides a wealth of information. Consider using both for a comprehensive understanding of your website's performance.
Squarespace Analytics is definitely more newbie-friendly than Google Analytics. I suggest that you can use Squarespace Analytics on a daily basis. At the same time, you can check your Google Analytics at a dedicated time of yours. An effort is a real key to better understanding your website's needs.
I believe that using both analytics is great for your website. No one is better than the other one since both analytics can provide you the information you need. It’s like having the best of both worlds!
What Google Analytics Offers:
Advanced Demographics: Google Analytics dives deeper into user demographics, providing detailed insights into age, gender, and interests.
Event Tracking: You can track specific actions on your website, such as downloads, video views, and form submissions.
E-commerce Tracking: For online stores, Google Analytics offers robust e-commerce tracking, helping you analyze sales and revenue.
Using both analytics tools in tandem allows you to capitalize on the strengths of each platform, ensuring you have a well-rounded view of your website's performance.
3. Setting up Google Analytics in Squarespace
The good news is Google Analytics is free to use for whoever needs it. Yay!
LET’S GET ON!
Go to Google Analytics and create an account.
Access the Analytics screen and click "Admin."
Copy the Tracking Code.
In your Squarespace website, navigate to Settings > Advanced > External API Keys.
Paste your tracking code in the Google Analytics Account Number field.
Don't forget to save your changes!
For more detailed instructions, visit Google Analytics support.
For more information, visit Google Analytics.
Benefits of Integrating Google Analytics with Squarespace:
Unified Data: By combining data from both platforms, you get a holistic view of your website's performance in one place.
Enhanced Conversion Tracking: Google Analytics provides robust conversion tracking, helping you measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
Custom Dashboards: Create customized dashboards in Google Analytics to visualize the data that matters most to your business.
The integration of Google Analytics with Squarespace opens up a world of possibilities for tracking and optimizing your website's performance.
Basics on Reading your Google Analytics
Yay! Now you know how to set up your Google Analytics account. Pretty simple, right? Now the real challenge is to master the interpretation of each data that will be reported to you.
AUDIENCE OVERVIEW
This is the main report, and it offers a broad overview of what occurred on your site during a given period. It provides simple statistics on the active users over time in hours, days, weeks, and months.
Sessions - This figure represents the overall number of times your website was viewed for a given time. It also contains a number of repeat guests.
Users - This is the overall number of visitors to your site for a given time.
Pageviews - This figure reflects the overall number of pages viewed by users for a given time.
Avg. Session Duration - The overall amount of time each visitor spends on your website.
Bounce Rate - The number of users who browse the website after they arrive on the website.
% of New Sessions - The number of people who are making their first visit to your website.
REAL-TIME REPORT
This report provides real-time data on your site's visitors, their sources, and the keywords they use.
Visitor Locations: See where your visitors are coming from in real-time.
Traffic Sources: Identify which channels are driving the most traffic at any given moment.
Top Pages: Discover which pages are currently receiving the most views.
Real-time data empowers you to respond swiftly to emerging trends and capitalize on opportunities as they arise.
ACQUISITION REPORT
The Acquisition report breaks down how visitors find your site, including:
Direct: Visitors who type your URL directly.
Referral: Traffic from websites linking to yours.
Organic Search: Visitors from search engines.
Social: Clicks from social media.
Bounce Rate: Measure of visitor engagement.
By analyzing these sources, you can fine-tune your marketing strategies and focus on the channels that bring the most valuable traffic to your site.
Behavior Flow
The Behavior Flow report visualizes the path users take through your site.
Entry Pages: Discover where visitors enter your site.
Exit Pages: Identify the pages where visitors most commonly exit your site.
User Flow: See the sequential path users take within your site.
This report helps you optimize user journeys and identify bottlenecks in the conversion process.
Bonus: FAQ
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Yes, Google Analytics is free to use for individuals and businesses of all sizes. However, there is also a premium version called Google Analytics 360 with advanced features for larger enterprises.
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Using both analytics tools allows you to gather more comprehensive data about your website's performance. Google Analytics offers advanced features and in-depth insights, while Squarespace Analytics provides a user-friendly interface for daily monitoring.
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Google Analytics typically takes a day or two to start showing data. Be patient as you begin to gather insights into your website's performance.
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The optimal bounce rate is typically less than 40%. A lower bounce rate indicates better visitor engagement. However, ideal bounce rates can vary depending on your industry and website type.
Voila! Now you know how to set up your analytics.
Congratulations! You've successfully set up Google Analytics and gained insight into your website's performance. Take time to review reports regularly to better understand your website's needs and your visitors' behavior.
PRO TIP: Website Cookies and Google Analytics are like peanut butter and jelly; they come hand in hand! Don’t forget to check our blog Super Easy Ways to Customize your Website Cookies and Why do you need it?
Comment down below if what analytics you are using. We love to hear from you!
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Bonus content!
This section of my blog post is dedicated to appreciating each person’s hard work setting up their business. Don’t forget to have a tap on your back in learning these complicated terms to have a better website. Sometimes, when we are so busy, we tend to forget things that matter; our mental and physical health. So, grab a day off, eat that pizza, order a well-roasted coffee or just simply have time for yourself. To tell you, income is just as important as our health. So don’t forget to take care of yourself too!
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