Set up Google Analytics on Your Website

Not sure how many people visit your site? 

Do you want to know if the amount of people visiting your bulletins page is worth the time it took to make those updates? 

Is anyone listening to your sermons online? 

Google Analytics (GA4) is a powerful tool that helps you answer those questions and many more. GA4 lets you measure the number of unique visitors to your site, track the most popular pages, see how long your visitors stay on each page and so much more. The information you gain from GA4 will help you decide what changes need to be made to your site to help your site become a more effective tool for your ministry.

Setting up Google Analytics in ChurchSpring is incredibly simple. 

Follow these easy steps to get Google Analytics tracking set up on your ChurchSpring site:

  1. Sign in to your Google Analytics account. If you don't have an account, follow these steps to set one up.
  2. Click Admin.
  3. At the top of the Property column, select your property.
  4. In the Property column, click Data streams > Web.
  5. Click the data stream for your website.
  6. Under Google tag, click View tag instructions.
  7. On the Installation instructions page, select Install manually:
    • On the screen, you’ll see the JavaScript snippet for your account's Google tag. Your Google tag is the entire section of code that appears, beginning with:

      <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->

      and ending with

      </script>
  8. Next, log in to your ChurchSpring website and click on Settings in your Admin Menu (the black bar on the left)
  9. Go to the Website tab
  10. Click on Analytics
  11. Paste your Google Analytics tracking code in the box on that screen
  12. Click the "Save Information" button, and you're Done!

You should begin seeing data inside your Google Analytics account within 24 hours. Don't forget that we're here to help! If you have any questions or run into any issues, just contact support and we will jump in and help you out.

APRIL 2024 UPDATE FROM GOOGLE ANALYTICS:

On July 1, 2024, Google Analytics 4 properties will have fully replaced Universal Analytics properties, as previously announced. From that date, Google will begin turning off all Universal Analytics services and Universal Analytics APIs, which means Universal Analytics properties will be inaccessible through the Google Analytics front-end and APIs. If you haven't completely migrated to Google Analytics 4 properties, follow the migration guide to start making the switch today.

Exporting your dataTo maintain access to data from your Universal Analytics property, you should download or export your data now. If this isn't done through one of the methods provided in the Google Analytics Help Center, your data will be permanently deleted by Google and won't be recoverable. If you intend to use the BigQuery integration to export historical data from your Universal Analytics 360 property, we strongly recommend initiating this immediately.

JUNE 2023 NEWSLETTER ARTICLE:

In case you’ve missed the headlines, the countdown is on for the end of Universal Analytics (UA) as Google fully moves users over to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) at the end of this month. So what does that mean for you? If you’re already using GA4, you’re all set! If you’re still using UA or haven’t set up Google Analytics for your website yet, follow the steps below:

  1. Create a GA4 Property: Start by creating a new GA4 property in your Google Analytics account. You can do this by navigating to the Admin section and selecting "Create Property" under the appropriate account. Follow the prompts to set up the new property.
  2. Install the GA4 Tracking Code: GA4 uses a different tracking code than Universal Analytics. You'll need to replace your existing UA tracking code with the GA4 tracking code on your website.
  3. Configure Events and Conversions: In GA4, events (aka actions on your website) are crucial for tracking user interactions. Determine the events you want to track and define their parameters. You can always adjust these as your needs change.
  4. Set Up Customizations: Explore the customization options available in GA4, such as custom dimensions, custom metrics, and custom audiences. These allow you to tailor your tracking and reporting to suit your specific needs.
  5. Review and Adjust Reporting: GA4 has a different user interface and reporting structure compared to Universal Analytics. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the GA4 interface and reports. Adjust your reporting and analysis processes as needed to accommodate the changes in GA4.

FAQS & TROUBLESHOOTING

  • Why am I seeing a vertical bar on the right side of my home page that contains digits at the top? This is a sign that you did not enter the correct Google Analytics code into your Settings. Remove the incorrect code and the unwanted bar will disappear from your home page. Review the steps above or contact our team for assistance.

Helpful Videos

  • How to set up Google Analytics for your church website - start at time marker 00:16:00 (check out the full show notes at churchspring.com/csl019)

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