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Setting up Google Analytics may seem technical at first, but the process is much simpler when you break it into clear steps. Google Analytics helps you understand how people find your website, which pages they visit, how long they stay, and what actions they take.
For beginners, the main goal is simple: connect your website to Google Analytics 4, also called GA4, so you can start collecting useful visitor data. Once it is set up correctly, you can make better decisions about your content, marketing, products, and website performance.
In this guide, we’ll walk through setting up Google Analytics for beginners step by step, from creating your account to checking whether tracking is working properly.
Google Analytics is a free tool from Google that helps you understand what people do on your website. Instead of guessing which pages are working, where visitors come from, or whether your content is getting attention, you can look at real data.
With Google Analytics, you can see useful details such as:
For bloggers, this helps identify popular content. For small businesses, it shows which pages attract potential customers. For online stores, it can help track product interest and sales activity.
Yes, Google Analytics is free for most users. There is also an enterprise version called Google Analytics 360, but beginners, bloggers, small businesses, and most website owners only need the free version.
Before Google Analytics can track visitors on your website, you need to create an Analytics account. This account serves as the foundation for everything you'll set up later, including your website property, tracking settings, and reports.
Open your browser and visit Google Analytics.
Click "Start Measuring" to begin the setup process.
If you're not already signed in, Google will ask you to log in with your Google account.
Tip: Use a business email or a Google account that you'll continue using long-term. Avoid creating Analytics under a temporary or personal account if the website belongs to a business.
After signing in, you'll be asked to create an account. An Analytics account is simply a container that holds one or more websites (called properties). In the Account Name field, enter a name that identifies your business, website, or organization.
Examples:
Choose a clear and recognizable name, especially if you may manage multiple websites in the future.
Below the account name, Google displays several data-sharing options. These settings allow Google to:
For most beginners, the default settings are perfectly fine. However, if you're managing a website for a company with strict privacy policies, review each option before continuing.
Once you've entered your account name and reviewed the settings, click Next. You'll then move to the next stage of the setup process: creating your GA4 property.
Now that you've created your Google Analytics account, the next step is to create a GA4 property. A property is where Google Analytics stores and organizes data for a specific website or app. Think of it as the workspace where all your visitor information, reports, and insights will live.
Before setting up Google Analytics, make sure you have the following:
You don't need coding skills for most website platforms. WordPress, Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace all offer simple integration options.
| Website Platform | Typical Setup Method |
|---|---|
| WordPress | Google Site Kit or Analytics plugin |
| Shopify | Built-in integrations |
| Wix | Analytics integration settings |
| Squarespace | Marketing settings |
| Custom Website | Manual Google tag installation |
Before moving on, double-check that you can access your website and have the necessary permissions to make changes. This will help ensure a smooth setup process.
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics and the standard platform used by Google today.
After clicking Next from the Account Setup screen, you'll be asked to create a property. In the Property Name field, enter a name that clearly identifies your website.
Examples:
| Website | Property Name |
|---|---|
| exampleblog.com | Example Blog GA4 |
| mystore.com | My Store Website |
| companysite.com | Company Website Analytics |
Choose a name that's easy to recognize, especially if you plan to track multiple websites later.
Google Analytics needs to know your local time zone so it can accurately record when visitors arrive on your website.
For example:
Choosing the correct time zone ensures that daily, weekly, and monthly reports match your actual business hours and visitor activity.
Important: Changing the time zone later can affect how reports are organized, so it's best to select the correct option during setup.
Next, select the currency you use for reporting. Common options include:
Google Analytics uses this currency when displaying revenue and conversion-related reports.
After entering:
Click Next to continue.
Google may ask for some basic business details, including:
These questions help Google customize recommendations and reports. Typical options include:
| Information Requested | Example |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, Technology, Education |
| Business Size | Small, Medium, Large |
| Use Case | Generate Leads, Measure Engagement, Analyze Traffic |
There are no right or wrong answers here. Simply choose the options that best describe your website.
With your GA4 property created, the next step is to create a Data Stream. This is what connects your website to Google Analytics and allows visitor data to flow into your reports.
A data stream is a source of data for your Google Analytics property. GA4 supports three types of data streams:
| Data Stream Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Web | Track website visitors |
| iOS App | Track iPhone and iPad app users |
| Android App | Track Android app users |
Since we're setting up Analytics for a website, you'll choose Web.
After creating your GA4 property, you'll see a screen asking where you want to collect data from. Click Web. This tells Google Analytics that you want to track activity on a website rather than a mobile application.
Next, enter your website address.
Examples:
Make sure you enter the correct URL. A typo here can create confusion later when reviewing your reports.
You'll also need to enter a stream name. This name helps identify the data source inside Google Analytics. Some common naming formats include:
For most beginners, something simple like "Main Website" works perfectly.
Before creating the stream, you'll notice a feature called Enhanced Measurement. This is enabled by default and automatically tracks several important user interactions without requiring additional setup. Enhanced Measurement can track:
For beginners, it's usually best to leave this feature turned on.
Once you've entered:
Click Create Stream. Google Analytics will now generate your website's tracking setup.
After the stream is created, Google Analytics will display important setup information, including:
The Measurement ID usually starts with:
G-XXXXXXXXXX
This unique identifier tells Google Analytics where your website data should be sent.
Creating a GA4 property and data stream is only half the setup process. To start collecting visitor data, you need to install the Google Analytics tracking tag on your website. The installation method depends on the platform you're using.
For WordPress users, the easiest method is to use Google Site Kit.
Using Google Site Kit:
Once connected, Site Kit automatically installs the Google tag for you.
Shopify provides several ways to connect to GA4.
Using Google's Official Integration:
This method is recommended because it simplifies both Analytics and advertising integrations.
If you have a custom-built website, you'll need to install the Google tag manually. Google will provide a code snippet similar to this:
<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XXXXXXXXXX"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-XXXXXXXXXX');
</script>Paste the code inside the <head> Section of every page on your website.
Example:
<head>
<!-- Other page elements -->
Google Analytics Tag Here
</head>After publishing the changes, Google Analytics will begin receiving data from your site.
After installing the tracking tag, it's important to confirm that Google Analytics is receiving data from your website.
If the setup is working, you should see:
| Report Type | Time to Update |
|---|---|
| Realtime Reports | Seconds to minutes |
| Standard Reports | Up to 24–48 hours |
For testing, always use the Realtime report.
Check the following:
Once you can see your own activity in the Realtime report, your Google Analytics setup is working correctly and ready to collect visitor data.
Setting up Google Analytics for the first time may seem overwhelming, but the process becomes straightforward when broken down into clear steps. By creating a Google Analytics account, setting up a GA4 property, adding a data stream, installing the tracking tag, and verifying your setup, you'll have everything needed to start tracking website performance.
Once your data starts coming in, you can use Google Analytics to understand your audience, identify your most popular content, monitor traffic sources, and make smarter decisions to grow your website.
The key is to ensure your setup is accurate from the beginning. A few extra minutes spent verifying your installation can help you collect reliable data and avoid reporting issues later.
Now that your Google Analytics setup is complete, take some time to explore the reports and insights available in GA4. The more familiar you become with your data, the better equipped you'll be to improve your website's performance and achieve your goals.
My name is Feroza Arshad, and I am a passionate blogger and content creator focused on writing high-quality, engaging, and SEO-friendly content. I specialize in topics such as lifestyle, fashion, personal growth, and digital trends.
I enjoy creating well-researched blog posts that are both reader-friendly and optimized for search engines. My goal is to provide valuable information, improve online visibility through content writing, and connect with a wider audience through storytelling and useful insights.
With a strong interest in blogging and SEO content writing, I continuously work on improving my skills in keyword research, on-page SEO, off-page and content strategy to deliver impactful articles that rank and engage.
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