How to Install and Use Google Analytics

Creating your Google Analytics Account

Google Analytics is available for free and all you need is a Google or Gmail account to sign up. The signup process is quite simple, follow the step-by-step instructions below to create your Google Analytics account.

Step 1: First you need to visit the Google Analytics website to sign up. When you’re on the website, simply click the ‘Get started today’ button.

Click get started today

Next, you will be asked to log in with your Google account. If you already have a Google or Gmail account, then you can use that to sign in. Otherwise, you can go ahead and create a Google account for yourself.

Sign in using your Google account

Step 2: Once you sign in with your Gmail account, you will be prompted to a welcome screen like the one below.

This is where you will signup for Google analytics with your Gmail account. Go ahead and click the ‘Start measuring’ button.

Click start measuring button

After that, you will be asked to provide an account name. This name will be used internally so you can use anything like your business name.

Google Analytics will also show multiple account data sharing settings. These settings give you control over sharing your Google Analytics data. You can keep the default settings and move on to the next step.

Enter your account name

Step 3: On the next screen, you will need to create a Google Analytics property.

Google introduced a new version of Analytics called Google Analytics 4 or GA4. It’s the latest version that tracks your website and mobile apps in the same account. Plus, you get new features, metrics, and a different interface for your reports.

Important Note: If you already have a Universal Analytics account, then it’s critical to start tracking data in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) as well. That’s because Google will sunset Universal Analytics on July 1, 2023. After the sunset date, Universal Analytics will not receive any data and will eventually stop working.

Setting up a Google Analytics 4 property after the sunset date will mean starting from scratch. However, you can start sending data into GA4 today while still using Universal Analytics. This way, you’ll have historical data in Google Analytics 4 for comparison and analysis when Universal Analytics closes.

To start, go ahead and enter a property name, select your reporting time zone, and currency. Then click the ‘Next’ button.

Enter property name and select timezone

On the next screen, you’ll need to select an ‘Industry category’ from the dropdown menu for your website and choose a ‘Business size’ from the given options.

Enter business information

Next, you’ll need to scroll down and select how you intend to use Google Analytics with your business, like measure engagement, optimize advertising cost, increase conversions, and more.

You can choose multiple options or all of the given options that meet your needs. When you’re done, simply click the ‘Create’ button.

Choose your intended use for analytics

Once you click on the Create button, a popup window will open with Google Analytics terms of service agreement.

Simply click the checkbox for ‘I also accept the Data Processing Terms as required by GDPR’ and then click the ‘I Accept’ button.

Accept terms of service agreement

Next, you’ll see a popup with options on which communication emails you’d like to receive from Google Analytics.

Simply click the checkbox for the updates you want to receive and then click the ‘Save’ button.

My communication options

Step 4: Now you will be presented with your Google Analytics Webs stream options.

Since we’re setting up Google Analytics for a WordPress site, go ahead and select the ‘Web’ as the platform.

Choose web as platform

After that, you’ll need to enter your website URL and Stream name.

By default, Google Analytics will have an Enhanced measurement option enabled. This allows you to track page views, scrolls, outbound clicks, file downloads, and more in Google Analytics.

Next, you can click the ‘Create stream’ button.

Enter website URL and stream name

You can now see your Stream URL, name, and Measurement ID.

It will also show different enhanced measurements that it will record.

View web stream details

Google Analytics will also show different ways to add Google Analytics code to your WordPress website under the ‘Tagging Instructions’ section.

If you click the ‘Global site tag (gtag.js) option, you’ll see the Google Analytics tracking code.

Tagging instructions details

While we recommend using the third-party plugin MonsterInsights, if you would prefer to manually connect Google Analytics to your ShareFaith website, you should copy this tracking code because you will need to enter it in your WordPress site. Using the steps below which include installing the MonsterInsights plugin, you would not need to copy this code at this time. You can also simply leave this browser tab open and switch back to copy the code when needed.

We suggest leaving the Analytics browser tab open as you may need to revisit it once you have installed the code on your WordPress site.

Now that you have set up a Google Analytics account, let’s take a look at how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.


Installing the MonsterInsights plugin

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin. 

After you have logged into your website editor, select Plugins from the WordPress menu.

In the Search Bar, type Google Analytics and select the Install Now button for MonsterInsights plugin. After a few short moments, the Install Now button should now say Activate. Click this button again.


Upon activation, the plugin will add a new menu item labeled ‘Insights’ to your WordPress admin menu and you’ll see a welcome screen. Go ahead and click the ‘Launch the Wizard’ button.

Launch setup wizard

Clicking on it will open the MonsterInsights setup wizard.

First, you will be asked to choose a category for your website (a business website, blog, or online store). Select one and then click on the ‘Save and Continue’ button.

Choose what describe your website

Next, you need to connect MonsterInsights with your WordPress website.

Simply click on the ‘Connect MonsterInsights’ button.

Connect MonsterInsights with your site

This will take you to Google accounts where you will be asked to sign in or select a Google account if you are already signed in.

Go ahead and choose your Google account or enter your email to sign in.

Choose Google account to sign in

Next, you will be asked to allow MonsterInsights to access your Google Analytics account.

Click on the ‘Allow’ button to continue.

Allow access to your Google account

The next step to completing the connection is to select the profile you want to track.

You need to select your website here and then click on the ‘Complete Connection’ button to continue.

Connect analytics with your site

After that, simply click on the ‘Complete Connection’ button to continue. MonsterInsights will now install Google Analytics on your website.

Next, you will be asked to select the recommended settings for your website.

Recommended settings

The default settings would work for most websites. 

MonsterInsights will also ask who can see the reports. You can choose different WordPress user roles. Once you’re done, click on the ‘Save and Continue’ button to save your settings.

Who can see the reports

Next, MonsterInsights will show you a list of website tracking features you would like to enable.

You can scroll down and click on the ‘Continue’ button or the ‘Skip for Now’ option.

Choose which tracking features to enable

On the next screen, MonsterInsights will show that you’ve successfully setup Google Analytics tracking.

You can see that Google Analytics is connected, tracking code is installed, and data is now being collected.

Tracking should be all setup

Next, you can scroll down and see a field to enter your license key.

Go ahead and click the ‘Complete Setup without Upgrading’ option for now.

Continue setup without upgrading

You’ve successfully added Google Analytics to your WordPress website.

Next, you’ll need to create a Measure Protocol API Secret. This will allow MonsterInsights to track events like eCommerce purchases, form conversions, and more.

To start, you can login to your Google Analytics account. Then head over to the ‘Admin’ settings page and click on the ‘Data Streams’ option.

Go to admin and data stream settings

Next, you’ll see your Data Streams.

Simply select the data stream you connected with MonsterInsights.

Select your data stream

On the next screen, scroll down to the ‘Advanced Settings’ section.

After that, click on the ‘Measure Protocol API Secrets’ option.

Select measurement protocol API secrets option

You’ll now see a new window slide in with your Measurement Protocol API Secrets. Initially, this page will be empty, and you won’t have any API secrets.

Go ahead and click the ‘Create’ button.

Create an API key

Next, you’ll need to enter a nickname for your API secret.

Once you’ve done that, simply click the ‘Create’ button.

Enter a name for your API

Your API secret will now be created.

Go ahead and copy the API secret that’s under the ‘Secret Value’ field.

Copy the secret value

Next, you’ll need to enter the Secret Value in MonsterInsights.

You can do that by going to Insights » Settings from your WordPress admin panel and then clicking the ‘General’ tab.

General settings tab

Then head over to the ‘Google Authentication’ section.

Simply enter the Secret Value under the ‘Measurement Protocol API Secret’ field.

Enter measurement protocol API secret in MonsterInsights

You’ve successfully set up the Measurement Protocol API Secret and you are all set to begin using Google Analytics with your website!

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