Ultimate Guide to Adding a Property to Google Analytics: 3 Boost Your Tracking Game

Digital landscapes evolve, with them, the intricacies of tracking and understanding website traffic. Knowing how to add a property to Google Analytics is the cornerstone of diving deep into these insights. So, are you looking to supercharge your Google Analytics game? You’re in the right place!

Decoding Property to Google Analytics

Before we immerse ourselves in the nitty-gritty, it’s pivotal to understand what a “property” is. Within Google Analytics, a property signifies a website, app, or a specific device and serves as a collection point for the data from that resource.

Why Add Multiple Properties?

Google Analytics isn’t merely a one-size-fits-all solution. Different properties allow you to:

• Separate data streams for individual websites or platforms.
• Customize tracking and reporting settings.
• Filter and segment data to tailor it to your specific needs.

Stepping into the Google Arena: Adding a Property

Adding a property can be likened to setting up a new mailbox to receive letters (data) from a particular sender (website or app). Follow these streamlined steps to add your new property:

1. Begin at Home: Start by logging into your Google Analytics account. It’s your base camp, where all data-driven magic happens.
2. Navigate to Admin: Spot the gear icon (⚙️) in the lower-left corner. That’s your “Admin” tab. Click on it!
3. Property Column: Upon entering the Admin dashboard, your screen splits into three columns. The central column, aptly named “Property,” is where the action begins.
4. The ‘+’ Factor: The “Create Property” option is at the top of the Property column. Click on that ‘+’ symbol to forge ahead.
5. Details, Details, Details: Here’s where precision is critical. Input your website’s name, choose the correct reporting timezone, and select the appropriate currency.
6. Universal or GA4? Google Analytics offers two types of tracking: Universal Analytics and Google Analytics 4. While Universal is the classic choice, GA4 is the next-gen option, loaded with fresh features. Choose wisely!
7. Snag that Tracking Code: Once your property is set, you’ll get a unique tracking ID and a global site tag. Integrate this on your website to begin the data flow.

Tailoring Your Property for Precision Tracking

Adding a property is just the beginning. Delve deeper with these advanced steps:

• Data Filters: Filtering allows you to streamline the incoming data. Do you want to exclude internal traffic from your company? Set up an IP filter.
• Link with Google Search Console: Combine the might of Analytics with Search Console. This offers enriched insights into organic search traffic.
• Set Goals: From newsletter signups to product purchases, establishing goals enables you to track specific user actions.

Embracing the Google Analytics Evolution: Transitioning to GA4

Here’s a nudge if you’re still on the fence about GA4. The future of Google Analytics orbits around GA4. Not only does it offer more comprehensive event tracking, but it’s also more user-friendly, and its machine-learning capabilities are off the charts.

Wrapping Up

Mastering adding a property to Google Analytics is akin to getting your website’s traffic pulse. Each property is a gateway to more affluent, more profound insights. So, set them up, customize them, and watch as data unfolds the story of your digital domain. After all, in this digital age, understanding your audience is the true north of success.

FAQs

What is a property example in Google Analytics?

Google Analytics, a “property,” refers to a specific website, app, or digital asset you want to track and analyze. A property is a container within your Google Analytics account where you collect data about user interactions, visitor behavior, and various metrics related to that particular digital asset. Each property has a unique tracking code used to collect data from the purchase.

Here’s an example to help illustrate the concept of a property in Google Analytics:

Imagine you own a website called “www.example.com,” you also have a mobile app named “Example App.” To properly track and analyze the data for each of these digital assets separately, you would create two different properties within your Google Analytics account:

1. Website Property:
   • Property Name: Example Website
   • Website URL: www.example.com
   • Tracking Code: UA-12345678-1 (example tracking code)
2. Mobile App Property:
   • Property Name: Example App
   • App Platform: iOS and Android (for instance)
   • Tracking ID: UA-12345678-2 (example tracking code)

Each property is associated with a unique tracking code or tracking ID, which you insert into the code of your website or app. This code allows Google Analytics to collect data about user interactions, pageviews, events, conversions, and other relevant metrics for the specific digital asset.

Creating separate properties for your website and mobile app lets you gather insights tailored to each platform’s performance. You can analyze user behavior, traffic sources, conversion rates, and more, helping you make informed decisions to optimize the user experience and achieve your digital goals.

It’s worth noting that Google Analytics allows you to have multiple properties under a single Google Analytics account, which can be particularly useful if you manage multiple websites, apps, or online platforms.

How do I make my property universal in Google Analytics?

In Google Analytics, “universal” refers to the older tracking code version called “Universal Analytics,” a widely used method for tracking user interactions on websites and apps. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, Google had transitioned to a newer tracking code called “Google Analytics 4” (GA4), which offers more advanced features and tracking capabilities.

However, if you’re referring to making your tracking setup versatile and applicable to various digital assets (e.g., website, app), here are the general steps to set up tracking using the newer Google Analytics 4 property:

1. Create a Google Analytics 4 Property:
   • Log in to your Google Analytics account.
   • Create a new property by following the instructions provided in the account creation process.
   • Choose the appropriate settings based on whether you’re tracking a website, a mobile app, or both.
2. Get Your GA4 Tracking Code:
   • Once your property is created, you’ll receive a GA4 tracking code.
   • This tracking code is unique to your property and needs to be implemented on your website or app to start collecting data.
3. Implement the Tracking Code:
   • For a Website: Add the GA4 tracking code to the header of your website’s HTML code on every page you want to track. This usually involves adding the tracking code snippet just before the closing </head> tag.
   • For an App: Implement the tracking code in your app’s codebase according to the instructions provided by Google. This typically involves integrating the SDK (Software Development Kit) into your app.
4. Set Up Event Tracking and Goals:
   • In GA4, clicks, form submissions, downloads, and more are crucial in tracking user interactions. Set up events that align with your goals and track essential user actions.
   • Define goals representing conversions on your website or app, such as completing a purchase, signing up, or reaching a specific page.
5. Configure Data Streams:
   • GA4 allows you to set up different data streams for your property, including website and app data. Configure the data streams according to your digital assets.
6. Customize and Explore Reports:
   • Once data starts flowing into your GA4 property, explore the reports and insights in the Google Analytics interface.
   • Customize reports, create dashboards, and extract meaningful insights to understand user behavior and optimize your digital assets.

Remember that Google’s tools and features may evolve, so it’s recommended to refer to the official Google Analytics documentation for the most current and accurate instructions on setting up and configuring your tracking property.