How to Install Google Analytics Code in WordPress Site
Google Analytics has grown to become the leading tool for all sorts of analytics on the web. In a nutshell, it tracks and reports website traffic, Google ads, and much more. It’s hard to imagine running online marketing campaigns without Google Analytics. This tool is so crucial that almost every company has one Google Ads specialist or Google Analytics expert in their team. If you’re considering to uplift your business flow, start by installing Google Analytics. Next, set up Google Analytic account and upgrade your processes and results.
Start by Finding a Tracking Code
First of all, you need to copy the Tracking code (gtag.js) from your Google Analytics account. You can find Tracking code for your site at your Google Analytics account by going to Admin >> Property >> Tracking Info >>Tracking Code.
It should look like the code below, just with numbers instead of XXXXXXXX.
<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-XXXXXXXX-1"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'UA-XXXXXXXX-1');
</script>
Essentially, there are a few ways to go about this; this article will cover the “no plugin” approach, where you connect your site to Google Analytics by implementing a simple line of code. Admittedly, using plugins is the go-to practice for most people today, and is a more straightforward process for someone new to WordPress or code in general. For more information on that method and some of the most notable Google Analytics plugins, you can check out our article about The Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress.
That being said, implementing Google Analytics manually through code is not as hard as it might sound. The fact of the matter is that it might be less reliable than plugins for some users, as there’s a chance that the code you integrate with your theme might disappear if you switch or update your theme, and this is something you should be mindful of.
Here are a couple of ways to install Google Analytics by just using code:
Adding code in the header.php file
You can locate and edit the header.php file in your WordPress theme folder. You should copy your Google Analytics tracking code and paste it in the header.php file somewhere between <head> and </head>
Step 1: In Left menu, under Appearance, click on Editor
When you login in the WordPress admin area, find Appearance tab in the left menu. Click on Appearance tab and click on the Editor item in the submenu list.
Step 2: Open “header.php” to edit the file
When you open Editor, in the right menu you will find “header.php” file. Click on it to edit the file.
Step 3: Find <head> in Editor
Google recommends to add Analytics code snippet just under the <head> tag. However it is also OK to add code anywhere between <head> and </head> tag.
In the central column find <head> tag. It should look similar to the image below depending on the theme you are using.
Step 4: Paste Google Analytics code right under <head> and click Update
Paste Google Analytics code just under the <head> tag. Once you do that, your code should look similar to the image below. Don’t forget to change XXXXXXXX with your Google Analytics tracking ID.
After you paste the code, click on Update File button on the bottom of the page.
Your code is now installed, and you should be able to see the traffic on the site in your Google Analytics account.
Add Google Analytics code to functions.php
There’s also an option to add your tracking code to the functions.php file. This way, the code will be added to all the pages on your WordPress site automatically. Here’s how you do that:
Step 1: In Left menu, under Appearance, click on Editor
Step 2: CTRL+F and find “functions.php” in the right menu
Step 3: Paste this code to functions.php
Don’t forget to change XXXXXXXX with your Google Analytics tracking ID.
add_action('wp_head','wpklik_add_googleanalytics');
function wpklik_add_googleanalytics() { ?>
<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-XXXXXXXX-1"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'UA-XXXXXXXX-1');
</script>
<?php }
Step 4: Update your functions.php file
Now you will be able to monitor the data you collect and apply the newly gained knowledge to your site.
We hope that you found this article to be helpful. If you liked it, please feel free to check out some of these articles as well!
