How to Set Up Google Analytics Tag - Made Easy for Beginners
Here is the easiest method how to set up a Google Analytics Tag with basic knowledge. Follow this free and easy Step-by-Step Guide for beginners!
Updated April 4, 2024.
Time of reading: 3 min
Level of Difficulty: Beginners
🦔 You can skip to a specific step if you have already done a thing or two from the list.
Sign in or Create a Google Analytics Account
Alright, let’s begin. First, go to Google Analytics. You will be asked to login with your e-mail.
If you don’t have an account yet, you will be asked to create one.
After you choose an Account Name, there will be some Data Sharing Settings that you can give a 
or decide not to.They are not mandatory.
You can just click ‘Next’.
Create a New Property
Next, you will be asked to create a property.
Make sure to write a ‘Property name’ and choose your Reporting Time zone and Currency. This can be later changed from settings so don’t worry.
Important: Universal Analytics property will stop collecting data starting from July 1, 2023 so you can ignore ‘Show advanced options’ where you can activate it.
You just click ‘Next’.
Google may then ask you to select your business objectives where you can choose quickly from the options and click ‘Create’.
In the last step after you have clicked on ‘Create’ you will be asked to choose a platform. Choose ‘Web’ for measuring your website.
Your property is now created!
For those who already have an existing account in Google Analytics and want to create a new property.
Follow these easy steps:
1. Sign in to their Google Analytics account.
2. Click on the “Settings” icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.
3. In the “Property” column, select “Create Property.
That’s it.
Find and Copy the Tracking Code
Google will now ask for your Webiste URL. Fill it in and choose ‘Create stream’. You may want to leave ‘Enhanced measurement’ ticked.
You will now get an automatic pop-up from Google with the Installation instructions. If you don’t or you have closed it by accident just click on ‘View tag instructions
Then you will get the initial pop-up from Google with instructions.
Select ‘Install manually’.
You will have now in front of you the Google tag that you need to copy and paste in the <head> section of your website.
Here is the easiest method how to do it in our next and final step.
Add the Copied Code to the Head Section
For those who are not running their site on WordPress or any other Content Management systems:
If collaborating with a developer on your site, you can provide them with the Google Tag that you have just copied and instruct them to place it in the <head> of your site pages.
In case, your website platform is WordPress, then you can continue reading.
Here is a complete guide how to add the copied code to the Head Section of a WordPress website.
The easiest way on Worpdpress to put any code or snippet in your <head> is using a Plugin.
We recommend using Header Footer Code Manager that makes it really simple.
First, you will need install the Plugin on your WordPress. Here is a short guide how to install a Plugin on WordPress if you are doing it for the first time.
Once you have activated Header Footer Code Manager, you need to find the plugin in your dashboard and click on ‘Add New’ or ‘Add New Snippet’.
Here is how to add the tracking code in your new snippet.
1. Give your snippet a name such as ‘Google Analytics Tag‘ or ‘GA Tag’ which is up to you.
2. Choose for a Snippet Type ‘Javascript‘
3. Make sure it says ‘SiteWide‘ under Site Display.
4. Keep it ‘Header‘ under Location
5. Add the Google Analytics Tracking code in the snippet and click Save.
Hip Hip Hooray!
You have successfully set-up Google Analytics Tag for your website!
Check if everything is the way it should be. After installing Google Analytics Tag on your website you can click on ‘Home’ in Google Analytics and check if you have installed it correctly.
For this reason, you simply need to go to your website and leave it opened in your browser and then check if there is at least 1 user in real time on your site (that will be you).
Important. Keep in mind that it may take several minutes or even up to an hour for Google Analytics to start registering data for a new property. Therefore, if you see that the property is showing 0 data initially, don’t be discouraged and wait for some time before checking again.
