How to Create and Setup a Google Analytics Account

Google Analytics may seem complex with all the insights and data it collects 24/7 from your website (or mobile app), but it is free and easy to get started with (we'll show you how). Even if you don't utilize all the treasure trove of marketing analytics it provides now, you might eventually work with an agency, consultant, or marketing freelancer that does.

‍

Key takeaways

1. Google Analytics is the most popular marketing analytics tool used by 55.49% of all websites
2. Installation is free and easy and should be done as soon as your new website is live
3. First create a Google Analytics account which includes setting up a property, then install it on your site or app

‍

Who and what is Google Analytics for?

Google Analytics, sometimes referred to as GA4, is for anyone with a website or mobile app that wants to track marketing performance and get reports.

Installing Google Analytics is simple and can be done by yourself (use our updated steps and screenshots below!). However, the massive amounts of data and unintuitive user interface may be challenging for absolute beginners. Some benefits include:

• It integrates seamlessly with Google Ads and Search Console
• Cookies blocked? No worries, GA4 fills in gaps with machine learning (all for free)
• The user and event-level data it collects lives for 14 months by default (pretty generous)
• Installation is simple and costs nothing, which means you can use GA4 and add other analytics tools in future

‍

Getting Started with Google Analytics 4

‍Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the industry standard for tracking website performance. It offers more detailed reporting and better privacy features than ever before. Since the old version of Google Analytics is now retired, we will focus exclusively on setting up your new GA4 account.

It’s recommended to get tracking set up as soon as your site is launched. Understanding how users are behaving on your site means you can optimize your web pages to drive more traffic and convert leads.

‍

⭐️ Updated: How to create a Google Analytics account

You'll need a Google account to begin (that includes gmail or Google Workspace accounts).

Step 1: Go to Google Analytics @ https://analytics.google.com/and click the blue 'Start measuring' button.

Step 2: Log in to your Google account or create one.

Note: You might be asked to confirm your account recovery info. After which, you may be asked to set a Home address (optional) and you can click 'Skip' if you prefer to.

Step 3: Name your account. For example, you can use your business or brand name.

Step 4: Under 'Account Data Sharing Settings', check or uncheck the boxes that you are comfortable with. Then click 'Next'.

Step 5: Create a property (a unique analytics container that stores data) by giving it a name. For example, you can name it after the website or app you plan to track. Confirm the reporting timezone and currency, then click 'Next'

Step 6: Add required business details such as industry and size. Click 'Next'

Step 7: Choose your business objectives (two is recommended, but more is okay). Click 'Create'

And your Google Analytics account and its first property has been created once you see the 'Start collecting data' screen 🙌

At this point, there is no tracking done yet since GA4 has not been installed on a website or app.
Step 8: Click on a platform to continue setting up Google Analytics, or click 'Skip for now' and be taken to the Google Analytics dashboard.

The next part of this guide focuses on setting up your tracking.

‍

Set up a data stream and your Google Tag

A data stream is a source of data that is fed into Google Analytics, and it’s essential not to skip this stage. To set up a data stream, ensure you have the correct account and property selected, and then click “Data Streams”.

‍

You can choose to set up a data stream for your website or an app.

‍

‍

Set up your data stream by inputting your website URL and stream name. You’ll be given the option to enable or disable the enhanced measurement feature, which automatically collects page views and other events. When you’re ready, click “Create Stream”.

‍

The Google Analytics Tracking ID is now known as a “Measurement ID”, and we’ll need this code for our tagging. Remember that you must add the Google tag to your web pages to see data in your new Google Analytics property,

Copy your measurement ID after setting up your data stream.

Install your Google Tag automatically

The process is made easier If you manage your site using a platform such as Squarespace or Wix. Enter your website URL and, after scanning, you’ll be given specific instructions on how to install the Google tag.

You’ll need your measurement ID, and you can find this in your Data Streams. However, only certain website platforms will permit you to apply your measurement ID, conveniently automating its input across your site.

‍

‍

Install your Google Tag manually

Alternatively, you can add the Google tag manually if you have development skills and can access your website’s source code. Copy and paste the Javascript snippet into the code of every page of your website, immediately after the <head> element.

If a developer manages your site, copy the Google Analytics tracking code and send it to them to implement.

‍

Check that it is working

Once you’ve finished setting everything up, you can confirm that you're successfully collecting data from your website or app by checking the DebugView or Realtime reports in your Google Analytics account.

‍

What to do after you’ve created a Google Analytics account 

Here are some tips to get you started with Google Analytics once youve set up your account:

1. Grant access to your team

Unless you’re working alone, you’ll likely need to grant permissions to ensure others can access the Google Analytics data. If you work for an agency, you’ll need to grant access to your team members as well as your clients. 

When you’re on the other side of the table, it can sometimes be a hassle to get access to your client’s Google Analytics assets.

At Leadsie, we promise to make that process quick and pain-free.

On Google Analytics 4, you can choose to add users at the Analytics account or property level. Adding a user at the account level means they’ll have access to all the properties in the account. Add them at the property level and they’ll have access to only that property with the permissions you provide.

Step One: Click “Admin” and ensure you’re in the correct account and property. To grant account access, select “Account Access Management”, or to grant property access, select “Property Access Management”.

‍

Step Two: Click “+” in the top right corner and select “Add Users”.

‍

Step Three: Enter the email addresses you wish to give access to, and decide if you want to notify new users by email. Select the permission you want to give them and then click “Add” to finish. 

‍

If you have a change of heart, you can modify the level of access and permissions for a user at any time.

Check out our full guide on giving and getting access to Google Analytics here.

The easiest way to give access to Google Analytics is with Leadsie. One link and you have access to your client's account: 

‍

2. Link Google Ads with your new Google Analytics account

If you’re using Google Ads, it can be easily linked to your Google Analytics account. This pair of robust Google services can exchange valuable data, assisting you to use both to their full potential.

You’ll be able to access Google Analytics useful metrics in your Google Ads user interface, informing you about the success of your ads and landing pages. The richer data will ensure you make well-informed decisions about how to improve your website and ads.

And whether you’re in ecommerce or digital marketing, you’ll quickly understand how much of your website traffic or business comes from Google Ads. To link Google Ads with Google Analytics, check out this instructional guide. 

‍

3. Set up events to measure success

Google Analytics 4 got rid of the “Views” and “Sessions”, replacing them with “Custom Events”. These are essential for tracking specific goals, such as form submissions or e-commerce transactions. With Universal Analytics sunsetting in July, you’ve got no choice but to get familiar with GA4.

Meanwhile, the “Goals” of Universal Analytics are known as “Conversions” in Google Analytics. And a conversion event can represent any action you want users to take on your website or app. Set these up and your conversion rate will help you better understand which of your campaigns are delivering the best results. 

Plenty of events are automatically tracked on GA4, such as scrolling and outbound clicks.

‍

Three ways to improve your website using Google Analytics

There’s no right way to use Google Analytics 4. How you use its many features depends on your objectives. Take the time to get familiar with it, and you’ll find many metrics that can be used to understand your users’ behavior. 

Make use of the reports, invoking real data to answer your tricky marketing questions. If you’re new to the platform, you should take a closer look at three ways using GA4 can take your website to the next level. 

‍

1. Improve traffic and improve content

Through visiting the “User Acquisition” report under “Acquisition”, and setting column one to “First User Medium”. This can show you which marketing channels are bringing in the most new users. And you can explore other metrics in the table to understand which marketing channels are most valuable to your website.

It’s worth exploring the many Google Analytics reports available at your fingertips. You can use filters to adjust your reports and configure your data collection to your needs. Play around and you’ll surely stumble on data that can help you drive more traffic.

You can look at which type of content brings in the most organic search engine traffic and adjust your strategy accordingly. The data can provide valuable insights for your business, and GA4 can automatically identify unexpected trends in your data, both good and bad.

‍

2. Target your marketing

Visit the “Demographics” report to get location-specific insights. The various metrics can give you a good idea of who is visiting your site and which groups are most valuable. Learning which demographics perform better can help you make better decisions concerning your ad targeting strategy.

By linking Google Analytics and Google Ads, you can pinpoint your marketing more precisely and make your advertising campaigns more successful.

‍

3. Drive optimization

Insights in your Google Analytics reports can help you create your next conversion experiment. And then you can monitor the results in Google Analytics to ensure your content and layout are optimized for visitors.

An optimized website is inevitable if you’re prepared to take advantage of Google Analytics and its fantastic features. It will help you make minor changes to your digital marketing strategy that can make the world of difference.

‍

Use Google Analytics to optimize your site

Once you set up Google Analytics, you’ll never look back. Say goodbye to blind guesses, and instead make data-driven marketing decisions that will boost your bottom line. 

With its invaluable reports, it’s no wonder that Google Analytics is the most popular web analytics tool on the market. Available for free, it’s a game changer for businesses of all sizes.

But don’t take our word for it! Follow the steps detailed above, and even beginners will see that a Google Analytics account takes little more than a matter of minutes to set up.

‍

Get access to your clients' Google Analytics accounts with Leadsie

We created Leadsie to make getting access to your client marketing assets, simple, quick and hassle-free. 

You send your client a Leadsie link, they securely log in to their account, choose which permissions to grant and BOOM you have access! 💥

Here's a quick demo of how Leadsie works:

Leadsie does all the work adding you as a user in the backend so your client doesn’t have to! 

Get started using Leadsie today with a free 14-day trial—no credit card needed!