Adding Google Analytics to a WashU Site
Set up Google Analytics as soon as your site launches to start collecting data right away.
Google Analytics provides valuable insights into how people use your site. It must be added to your site for data to be tracked. There is no way to track data retroactively!
Google Analytics transition to GA4
On July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics properties will stop collecting data. Set up a GA4 property now to maximize data available in your account going forward.
If you’re transferring Google Analytics from an existing website to a new site that’s replacing it, skip to step 2.
1. Create a Google Analytics account
A single Google Analytics account can track up to 100 websites (called “properties” in Analytics-speak), so if you already have a Google Analytics account, you can skip this step.
First you need to create a Google account, if your office doesn’t already have one. We recommend using a shared @wustl.edu email — like myoffice@wustl.edu — to create this account, rather than an individual or a personal email address. You can give others access once the account created, and since it isn’t tied to an individual, your office will always have access, even if the person who created the account is out of office.
Once you have a Google account, you can sign up for Google Analytics.
Giving your team access
Now that your Google Analytics account is set up, you can add more users. In most cases, we recommend adding users at the account level, rather than the property level.
In addition to colleagues and collaborators, you can add your friendly, local marketing and communications office as a user! That way we can more easily provide support when you need it.
- University Marketing & Communications:
wustlweb@gmail.com - WashU Medicine Marketing & Communications:
mpa@wusm.wustl.edu
2. Set up a property for your site in Google Analytics
Within your Google Analytics account, a property is what tracks metrics on a specific website. In 2019, Google announced that its standard property type, called Universal Analytics, would be replaced with a new type, called Google Analytics 4. Standard Universal Analytics properties will stop tracking new data on July 1, 2023.
For a new site:
Log into your Google Analytics account and create a new web property.
If transferring Analytics from an existing website to a new site:
Log into your Google Analytics account and update the property URL. If the URL for the existing site and new site are the same, skip this step.
For a site that has an existing Universal Analytics property:
Use the GA4 setup assistant provided by Google. If you have both types of properties — Universal Analytics (old) and Google Analytics 4 (new) — they will exist in parallel. When you log into Google Analytics, use the property selector to view either version.
3. Connect your site to Google
- In the left menu of your site’s dashboard, go to Statistics + GTM > Google Analytics.
- In the list of three items to the right of your site’s left menu, which says Statistics by default, select Account.
- Paste your Google account tracking ID (G-XXXXXXXXXX) into the Analytics 4 open box.
- Click the blue Save Changes button at the bottom.
- Within a day or so, log in to your Google Analytics account to confirm that data is being collected. Going forward, you can log into Google Analytics any time to see how your site is performing.
Want to improve how your site ranks in Google search? Read tips to optimize your website for search engines.
More launch critical guides
Working with Google Apps
Use a shared @wustl.edu email address for Analytics, Maps and YouTube.