{"id":166137,"date":"2017-07-08T13:00:37","date_gmt":"2017-07-08T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/?p=166137"},"modified":"2022-04-06T03:35:36","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T03:35:36","slug":"google-analytics-plugins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/google-analytics-plugins\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When your site is live, one of the first things you\u2019re probably thinking is, &#8220;Is this thing actually working?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Without an immediate barrage of sales or signups, it\u2019s hard to know what\u2019s happening. Does your site even have any visitors and, if so, where are they coming from? Do they always enter from the home page or have they found it through the latest blog post? When they\u2019re on the site for more than five minutes, what\u2019s keeping them from converting?<\/p>\n<p>There are so many questions that can arise when you have no direct insight into what\u2019s going on with your site\u2019s activity. Luckily enough, there\u2019s one tool you can turn to that will help you make heads and tails of what\u2019s happening with your visitors: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com.au\/analytics\/\" target=\"_blank\">Google Analytics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, we&#8217;ve\u00a0covered <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/google-analytics-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what Google Analytics is<\/a> as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/google-analytics-tracking-code-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\">how to add it to WordPress<\/a>. Now, I\u2019d like to review the Google Analytics plugin options because, unsurprisingly, there isn\u2019t just one perfect Goldilocks solution for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>In this post, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#best-ga-plugins\">Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#beehive\">Beehive Analytics Dashboard<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ga-dashboard\">Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress Plugin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#analytify-free\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Free)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#analytify-premium\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Premium)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#enhanced-ecommerce-ga\">Enhanced Ecommerce Google Analytics Plugin for WooCommerce<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ga-google-analytics\">GA Google Analytics Plugin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#wp-ga-events\">WP Google Analytics Events Plugin<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"best-ga-plugins\">Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress<\/h2>\n<p>A Google Analytics plugin should accomplish at least two things for you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It should establish the connection between your site and Google Analytics without you having to update any of your site\u2019s code.<\/li>\n<li>It should add a comprehensive dashboard filled with statistics to your WordPress backend, keeping all the data for your site within WordPress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most of the following Google Analytics plugins will help you achieve those goals. (I did throw in a couple other more specialized plugins for good measure.) Your goal now should be to sift through this list and find one with the price point, ease of use, and intended purpose that jives best with what you need.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"beehive\">Beehive Analytics Dashboard<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/beehive.jpg\" alt=\"Beehive Analytics Dashboard\" width=\"600\" height=\"194\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beehive Analytics Dashboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This is WPMU DEV\u2019s contribution to the world of Google Analytics plugins and it\u2019s awesome. It simplifies the process of getting the Google Analytics tracking code onto your site and then it enables users to add as little or as much data about their site (or network of sites) to the WordPress dashboard with\u00a0granular tracking capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to make money on your site and these smaller and yet more significant pieces are key to conversion tracking, then this is the Google Analytics plugin for you.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/beehive-analytics\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Beehive Analytics Dashboard<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"ga-dashboard\">Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress Plugin<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/GA-Dashboard-for-WP-600x184.png\" alt=\"Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress Plugin\" width=\"600\" height=\"184\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress Plugin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This is the quintessential Google Analytics plugin. It adds the tracking code to your site and then it pulls all the key statistics (and a little bit more) into your dashboard. All Google Analytics data fits within a single widget on your dashboard; it\u2019s simply up to you to configure the type of statistic, timeframe, and any special dimensions that you want displayed within it. This plugin also works with multisite.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"analytify-free\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Free)<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Analytify-free-600x195.png\" alt=\"Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Free)\" width=\"600\" height=\"195\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Free)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In addition to being super easy to set Google Analytics up on your site through this plugin, the dashboard widget that comes with it is incredible. Rather than provide you with a confusing layout or inundate you with too much information, it presents everything in a large, clear, and easy to follow format, with a focus on the key statistics you need to stay on top of.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-analytify\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Free)<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"analytify-premium\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Premium)<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Analytify-premium-600x300.png\" alt=\"Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Premium)\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Premium)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For those of you who like the free Analytify plugin, but are disappointed with the limitations of the free version, this is the premium one. The dashboard interface is the same, but this one comes filled to the brim with performance data, ecommerce tracking, social media referral information, page-level analyses, and more. You can also catch a glimpse at each page\u2019s analytics from the frontend of your site.<\/p>\n<p>One more thing to note is the pricing. There are plans for different business purposes. So if you\u2019re a developer or serving multiple clients on behalf of your agency, you can secure enhanced WordPress analytics all at once with this plugin.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-analytify\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Analytify Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin (Premium)<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"enhanced-ecommerce-ga\">Enhanced Ecommerce Google Analytics Plugin for WooCommerce<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Enhanced-Ecommerce-600x192.png\" alt=\"Enhanced Ecommerce Google Analytics Plugin for WooCommerce\" width=\"600\" height=\"192\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Enhanced Ecommerce Google Analytics Plugin for WooCommerce<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This is not your typical Google Analytics plugin. In fact, if you\u2019re looking for one that will get Analytics up and running on your site, then look elsewhere. However, if what you need is to get ecommerce-specific analytics pulled into your dashboard so you can stop bouncing back and forth between your site and Google Analytics, this will do the trick.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/enhanced-e-commerce-for-woocommerce-store\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Enhanced Ecommerce Google Analytics Plugin for WooCommerce<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"ga-google-analytics\">GA Google Analytics Plugin<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/GA-Google-Analytics-600x191.png\" alt=\"GA Google Analytics Plugin\" width=\"600\" height=\"191\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">GA Google Analytics Plugin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pure and simple, the GA Google Analytics plugin aims to achieve one thing and one thing only: to get the Analytics tracking code onto every page of your site. If that\u2019s all you need help with and you\u2019re not interested in pulling statistics into your dashboard, then this is the plugin for you.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/ga-google-analytics\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GA Google Analytics Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"wp-ga-events\">WP Google Analytics Events Plugin<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" data-caption=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/GA-Events-600x192.png\" alt=\"WP Google Analytics Events Plugin\" width=\"600\" height=\"192\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">WP Google Analytics Events Plugin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Google Analytics\u2019 event-tracking functionality is pretty cool\u2014especially if you\u2019re trying to determine the efficacy of a specific set of breadcrumbs or steps you\u2019ve set up along the conversion path. If your main goal right now is to study your site\u2019s analytics to find out what\u2019s happening with the scrolling and clicking leading up to a conversion, then you can use this plugin to bring that data into WordPress.<\/p>\n<p>More details: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-google-analytics-events\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">WP Google Analytics Events Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n<p>If you want your site to be successful now and in the future, you can\u2019t afford to leave anything up to chance. Google Analytics is an incredibly powerful tool that will help you unlock those insights into what\u2019s happening on site. And with the help of a Google Analytics plugin, you can spend less time worrying about how to code it into the backend and more time reviewing your data so you can update your content and the user experience accordingly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When your site is live, one of the first things you\u2019re probably thinking is, &#8220;Is this thing actually working?&#8221; Without an immediate barrage of sales or signups, it\u2019s hard to know what\u2019s happening. Does your site even have any visitors and, if so, where are they coming from? Do they always enter from the home [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":344989,"featured_media":166277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"blog_reading_time":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_tutorials_categories":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[9917,9976],"tutorials_categories":[],"class_list":["post-166137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plugins","tag-analytics","tag-plugins-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/344989"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166137"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":208104,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166137\/revisions\/208104"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166137"},{"taxonomy":"tutorials_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tutorials_categories?post=166137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}