Tracking Performance (Analytics + Search Console)
Set up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console (GSC) to measure traffic, conversions, and search visibility. This guide shows the essentials for WordPress, including consent, events, and weekly reporting.
1) Prerequisites
- Google account with access to the domain’s DNS or an existing tag on the site.
- WordPress Admin access + your preferred plugin (Site Kit, GA Google Analytics, or via Google Tag Manager).
- Consent banner (if required): Complianz, CookieYes, or your host’s tool.
Tip: For the simplest setup, use Google Site Kit to connect GA4 and Search Console in minutes.
2) Install Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Option A: Site Kit (Recommended)
- Install & activate Google Site Kit → Connect your Google account.
- Go to Site Kit > Analytics → Set up GA4 property (or connect an existing one).
- Enable Enhanced Measurement for scrolls, outbound clicks, file downloads, and site search.
Option B: Tag Manager/Manual
- Create a GA4 property and copy the Measurement ID (G-XXXX).
- Install Google Tag Manager (or add GA4 tag via a lightweight plugin). Paste container code in header/footer.
- Add GA4 Configuration tag with your Measurement ID; trigger on All Pages.
Verify: In GA4 → Admin > Data Streams → Realtime should show your visit within a minute or two.
3) Define Conversions (What Counts as Success?)
- Primary: Contact form submit, call click, quote request, purchase/checkout.
- Secondary: Email link click, brochure download, chat start, appointment booking.
How to Track
- Elementor/Contact Form: set a thank-you page and mark that pageview as a conversion in GA4.
- Button/Link: use GTM click triggers or Site Kit Enhanced Measurement for outbound/phone/email clicks.
- WooCommerce: enable GA4 eCommerce via a plugin (e.g., WooCommerce Google Analytics/GA4).
Mark as Conversions in GA4
- GA4 → Admin > Events → toggle events to Conversion.
- Create custom events if needed (e.g., URL equals
/thank-you/or click text contains “Call”).
UTM Tip: Tag your campaigns (Google Ads, email, social) with utm_source, utm_medium, and utm_campaign so conversions attribute correctly.
4) Set Up Google Search Console
- Open Search Console → Add Property → choose Domain (tracks all subdomains/HTTPs) or URL prefix.
- Verify via DNS TXT (recommended) or use GA/Tag Manager/HTML file if DNS isn’t available.
- Submit your sitemap:
/sitemap.xml(from SEO plugin or host). - Check Pages > Indexing for errors, Performance for queries/pages, and Experience for Core Web Vitals.
Connect GA4 + GSC
In GA4 → Admin > Product Links → Link Search Console. This unlocks GA4 reports with search queries alongside on-site engagement.
SEO Plugins
- Rank Math, Yoast, or SEOPress can create sitemaps, add schema, and integrate with Site Kit.
- Ensure only one sitemap is submitted to avoid duplicates.
5) Privacy, Consent & Data Quality
- Enable a consent banner for regions requiring it; fire GA4 only after consent where applicable.
- In GA4, turn on IP anonymization (default) and set internal traffic filters to exclude your team.
- Link Google Ads and import conversions if running paid campaigns.
Do not track personally identifiable information (PII) like emails or names in URLs or events.
6) Dashboards & Alerts
- GA4 Reports Snapshot: Users, traffic sources, top pages, conversions.
- Explorations: Build funnels for Contact → Thank You or Add to Cart → Purchase.
- Looker Studio: Create a one-page report for sessions, conversions, top keywords (from GSC), and page load metrics.
- Custom Alerts: In GA4, use Custom Insights to alert on conversion drops/spikes or traffic anomalies.
7) Weekly & Monthly Review Workflow
- Weekly: Check GA4 conversions, top pages, and key channels; verify forms and calls are recorded.
- Weekly: In GSC → review Performance (queries with rising impressions but low CTR) and fix Indexing issues.
- Monthly: Compare month-over-month traffic, conversions, and landing pages; document actions to improve.
- Quarterly: Refresh dashboards, audit consent settings, confirm sitemap health, and review Core Web Vitals.
8) Troubleshooting
- No data? Check tag is present (View Source), consent blocking, or duplicate containers.
- Double counting? Ensure GA4 is loaded once (avoid multiple plugins injecting the tag).
- Missing conversions? Confirm thank-you URL fires, events are marked as conversions, and domains match.
- Search terms not showing? Link GSC, wait 24–48h, and ensure site is indexed with a valid sitemap.
9) Final Checklist
- GA4 installed and Realtime shows activity.
- Key events created and marked as Conversions.
- Search Console verified with
/sitemap.xmlsubmitted. - GA4 ↔ GSC linked; dashboards and alerts configured.
- Consent/banner and internal traffic filters in place.
- Weekly review routine documented.