Google Analytics
Google Analytics if a free tool that allows you to track traffic to your Web site. It works by inserting a short script in each page of your site, that notifies Google about visits to the page, so that Google can collect the data and prepare reports for you. In order to use Google Analytics, you need to:
- Get a Google Analytics key;
- Activate the Google Analytics Plugin;
- Insert your Google Analytics key in the plugin;
To get a Google Analytics key go to and click on "sign up now" in the blue box on the right. If you already have a Google account, you can simply sign in. Otherwise, create an account.
Once you are logged-in on the Google Analytics page, click the '+Add new account' link on the right. Follow Google's instructions.
Once you reach the page with the Javascript code for you to paste into your site, look for the code that looks like "UA-00000000-0" right after GetTracker. Copy that code (without the quotes) and insert it in your Google Analytics Plugin's Tracking ID parameter. Don't forget to save the plugin page. You can find the Google Analytics Plugin at Joomla->Extensions->Plugin Manager->Google Analytics Bridge 2009.
You must also enable the plugin, either using the check box in the plugin's page or the Enabled box in the Plugin Manager.
After inserting the code in the Google Analytics plugin (and enabling it) you should click 'Finish' on the Google page with the Javascript. That will take you to a page listing your site and it will probably have a yellow triangular warning icon indicating that the tracking status is unknown. Once Google has started collecting data, that icon will turn to a green check and you will be able to view your reports.
You can verify that the Google Analytics plugin is working properly by going to the home page of your site, viewing the source code, and checking that the Google Analytics code is present at the very bottom of the page.
