A Guide to Google Analytics

Track Your Conversions

By Linda McHugh, Senior Manager, Business Development, MerchEngines

This guide will show you how to set up Google Analytics to track AdWords and other search engine marketing campaigns. It's free and it offers so many amazing insights into your website.

Sign Into Your Google Account

You need to sign into your account to use this service :o)
Try:

https://www.google.com/accounts/Login

Set Up Google Analytics Account

Once in your account, click on the analytics link.
Try:

https://www.google.com/analytics/provision/signup

Create User Profile

Click the sign up button and create your account by typing in your website's URL and create an account name. It will then prompt you through some more screens to put in more information like contact information, acceptance of terms and conditions, and the last part is the JavaScript.
Try:

https://www.google.com/analytics/home/provision?vid=1000

Add JavaScript Code

You will now see a box that has a JavaScript code which must go on EVERY page of your website. Where you see the "XXX-XX", that is what your account number is and will be prepopulated for you as a number. Google will automatically track referrals from up to 34 search engines. Copy and paste the code into the bottom of your content, immediately before the tag of each page you are planning to track. It should take about 24 hours for Google to recognize that this has been done.
Try:

https://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55488&hl=en_US

Create Unique Urls

This is where you are going to build your URL's for your campaigns. You can track categories and keywords.
Try:

https://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55578

Create Your Conversion Goals

It's all about conversions right? Yes! Outcomes are very important. Now it's time to see the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Try:

1. In your Google Analytics account, click Analytics Settings

2. Find the profile for which you will be creating goals, and click Edit

3. Select one of the 4 goal slots available for that profile and click Edit

4. Enter the Goal URL. This page marks a successful conversion when reached - for example, a registration confirmation page, a "checkout complete" page, or a thank you page

5. Enter the Goal name as it should appear in your Google Analytics account

6. Turn the goal On or Off - this selection decides whether Google Analytics should track this conversion goal at this time. Generally, you will want to set the Active Goal selection to On.

7. Click Save Changes at the bottom

https://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55515&hl=en_US

View Conversion Reports

To see your source for specific conversions from the goals you set up, click on the left hand navigation:
Try:

Click on Traffic Sources > Search Engines
Then click on the "Goal Conversions" tab. Each search engine will be listed so click on the source you want and the goal conversion tab will display conversion rates for each search engine source.

Need help directly from Google? Go Here: http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/request.py?cf_question=qc_5_1