Tools like Google Analytics for WooCommerce have made it easier for budding stores and shops to manage their own site metrics. It provides a state-of-the-art, user-friendly platform for measuring website interactions and using reports for improving your website.

Even with a limited technical background, you can make tremendous changes to your website with the insights that Google Analytics integration provides. And with its freemium offerings, it’s a highly accessible and affordable resource.

How To Use Google Analytics

Google Analytics offers WooCommerce stores the ability to track and measure a number of metrics. These include

• User interactions and behaviours
• Page visits
• Conversion and bounce rates
• Site performance
• Average orders per value
• Cart abandonment
• Customer lifetime value
• Traffic sources
• Used devices
• Ad revenue

Keeping track of all these metrics is essential for long-term success. But these are just examples of what a store may or may not choose to keep track of.

Broadly, however, there are two categories that most e-commerce metrics fall under. These are

• Event-based metrics, which assess store actions and interactions
• Item-based metrics, which track the items involved in an event

For instance, let’s say you’re measuring the traffic that your online store is attracting.

Here, the “event” metrics reflect what your visitors are doing, like page views, conversions, or bounce rates. Meanwhile, the “item” metrics can be the sites or platforms that your visitors are redirected from, like a search engine, social media posts, or a backlink in a blog article.

Together, both these parameters can give you a clearer idea of who you’re selling to, where they come from, and how both facts correlate. The resulting information can help you approach marketing, store presentation, and troubleshooting more effectively.

How to Set Up Google Analytics in WooCommerce

The great thing about Google Analytics integration is that is works with pretty much all of the major e-commerce platforms, like WooCommerce, Shopify, Prestashop, Magneto, and more. Of these, WooCommerce is arguably the most versatile and robust choice that is available for free.

So, knowing how to set up Google Analytics in WooCommerce can open up immense possibilities for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Luckily, this setup is also fairly straightforward, as follows.

1. Create and set up an account with Google Analytics. Click on Start for free if you’re not commiting to a paid plan just yet.
2. Click on Admin and then Create property under the account that you choose.
3. Set up the property details like name, time zone, and more.
4. To enable data collection in your store, head over to Admin > Data collection and modification and click Data Streams.
5. Click Add stream and specify the device that you’re primarily using.
6. After setting up the property, you’ll receive your tracking ID for Google analytics, which you’ll need to add to your WordPress user settings.
7. Through your WooCommerce admin panel, find the “Google Analytics for WooCommerce” plugin.
8. Activate and install the plugin.
9. In WooCommerce, go to Settings > Integration and paste the tracking ID.
10. Verify the installation status of the ID through your GA account.