How to Set Up Google Analytics for Your Shopify Store

Google Analytics is an essential tool for tracking visitor behavior on your Shopify store. If you want to make data-driven decisions on your online business, it’s important to set up Google Analytics from the beginning. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps needed to connect your Shopify store to Google Analytics.

Step 1. Sign Up for a Google Analytics Account

If you don’t have a Google Analytics account yet, you’ll need to create one. Visit the Google Analytics website and sign in with your Google account. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to create a new account and property for your Shopify store.

Step 2. Add Your Shopify Store to Google Analytics

Once you’ve created your Google Analytics account, you’ll need to add your Shopify store as a property. Here’s how:

1. In your Google Analytics account dashboard, click on the "Admin" tab.
2. Under the "Account" column, select the account you created in step 1.
3. Under the "Property" column, click on "Create Property."
4. Choose the "Website" option and enter your Shopify store’s URL.
5. Complete the remaining details, such as time zone and currency.

Once you’ve finished adding your Shopify store, click "Create" to complete the process.

Step 3. Install the Google Analytics Tracking Code

To track your Shopify store’s visitor behavior, you’ll need to add the Google Analytics tracking code to your store’s theme. Follow these steps:

1. In your Google Analytics account dashboard, click on the "Admin" tab.
2. Under the "Property" column, select the property you created for your Shopify store.
3. Under the "Tracking Info" column, click on "Tracking Code."
4. Click on "Copy" to copy the tracking code to your clipboard.

Once you’ve copied the tracking code, you’ll need to add it to your Shopify store.

1. Log in to your Shopify store’s backend.
2. Click on "Online Store" in the left-hand menu.
3. Select "Themes" and then click on "Actions" next to your active theme.
4. Click on "Edit Code."
5. Locate the "theme.liquid" file under "Layout."
6. Paste the Google Analytics tracking code snippet just before the closing “ tag.
7. Save the changes.

Step 4. Verify Your Google Analytics Setup

After installing the Google Analytics tracking code, you’ll need to verify that it’s set up correctly. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your Google Analytics account dashboard.
2. Click on the "Real-Time" tab.
3. Navigate to your Shopify store and browse different pages.
4. You should see "1 active user" or another number that represents the number of active users browsing your store in real-time.

If you see the active user count, it means your Google Analytics tracking code is set up properly.

Conclusion

Setting up Google Analytics for your Shopify store is essential if you want to track visitor behavior and make data-driven decisions. Follow the steps outlined in this article to create a Google Analytics account, add your Shopify store, install the tracking code, and verify the setup. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have access to valuable information that will help you improve your store’s performance and grow your online business.