Adding the Google Analytics Tracking Code (even the new and improved ga.js version) is as simple as downloading the Google Analytics for WordPress plugin from Yoast.com.

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  1. Download the plugin and upload it to your plugins folder using FileZilla or some other FTP client.

    2. Upload_to_Plugins_Folder.JPG

  2. Navigate to your plugins tab and scroll down to find and activate the plugin.

    Nav2_Plugins_Tab.JPG

  3. Once the plugin has been activated, it should appear on the same screen as your Plugins and Plugin Editor Links:

    Click_On_Google_Analytics.JPG

  4. Click the Google Analytics link to open up the settings for the Analytics plugin. Paste your Analytics User Account Number into the box (not the entire code! Just the ID itself).

    5. Paste_Tracking_code_here.JPG

  5. If you’re curious where to find your Analytics User Account Number, I’ve taken a screen shot of mine and pasted it below. Normally you would paste the entire code Google gives you into your website, but with the plugin you only need to paste your unique Analytics User Account Number. I’ll say that again - You only need to paste the letters and numbers in between the (” “), don’ t paste the quotes or parentheses, just the number/letter combo. I’ve erased my ID out for security purposes (paranoid? yes), but it looked like this (”UA-#######-#“). Paste your Analytics User Account Number into the box and click “Update Settings”.

    Copy_New_Tracking_Code.JPG

  6. It may take Google a while to realize that you’re code has been inserted (it took a few hours when I did it). To check and see if the code is working, navigate to this page within Google Analytics and hit the “check status” link. Don’t be surprised if Google complains that your code hasn’t been inserted properly. Remember, it took several hours for Google to recognize my code. If it’s been a full day and you’re still getting an error, try uninstalling the plugin and repeating the steps from above.

    7. Click check status to verify tracking code_1.JPG

  7. Eventually you want Google to say “Receiving Data” like the two blogs above www.tystips.com in the image above. Once you’ve got the green light (er . . . green checkmark?) from Google, you’re all set and Analytics is collecting stats!

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are alternatives to Google Analytics. One of my favorites is HiStats. I actually run both stat trackers on this blog because they offer not only different ways to view the data, I can also use them to check on each other to make sure that the traffic showing up on Analytics matches (somewhat) the traffic showing up on HiStats. Give HiStats a try, it’s free and you can use it to put a free hit counter on your site as well. Can’t beat that!

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