Create Google Analytics Account
Before creating a new Google Analytics account, make sure the site doesn't already have one associated with it. Do not create a new Google Analytics account for the site if one already exists and is in use. There are different ways Google Analytics code may have been placed on a UNLcms site. Most commonly, Google Analytics code may have been entered in Appearance>Settings in the"Head HTML" field or the Google Analytics ID may have been entered in Configuration>Google Analytics. Check both places to determine if a Google Analytics account already exists for the site (or email to check).
- Go to Google Analytics
- Click the Admin Gear icon on the bottom of the Google Analytics left navigation
- Click "+ Create Account"
- Enter or select the following:
- Enter "Account Name": mywebsite.unl.edu
- Uncheck Data Sharing Settings except for "Technical support"
- Click "Next"
- Under "Property name", enter mywebsite.unl.edu
- Under "Reporting Time Zone" select "United States" and "Chicago Time"
- Click "Show advanced options" and click on the toggle to display the option for using Universal Analytics instead of Google Analytics 4
- Enter "Website URL": mywebsite.unl.edu
- Click "Create a Universal Analytics property only" (you can create a GA4 account on a later date and add the script in appearance>settings>head HTML)
- Click "Next"
- Click "Create"
- Check the terms of service box and click "I Accept"
- Copy the Google Analytics tracking code ID (starts with UA-) to paste it into the UNLcms Google Analytics Module Settings
Create RAW View (unfiltered)
- In Google Analytics, while in the same account as above, click the Admin Gear icon on the bottom of the Google Analytics left navigation
- Under "View", select "All Web Site Data" in the dropdown and click "View Settings".
- Click "Copy view", enter "RAW" under "New view name" and click "Copy view"
Add Filters to Default View
Edit Default View settings (add filters and change name)
- Under "View", select "All Web Site Data" in the dropdown and click "View Settings"
- Change "All Web Site Data" to "mywebsite.unl.edu"
- Under "Exclude URL Query Parameters ", enter "fbclid, back"
- Check the box next to "Exclude all hits from known bots and spiders" and click "Save"
- Click "Filters" on the left navigation
- Click "+ADD FILTER" and add a filter for WebAudit (see article Add Filter to Exclude Web Audit Traffic From Google Analytics)
Create TEST View (with default view filters)
- Under "View", select "mywebsite.unl.edu" in the dropdown and click "View Settings"
- Click "Copy view", under "New view name" enter "TEST" and click "Copy view"
Create Search Console Property
- Go to Search Console
- Click "ADD A PROPERTY"
- Under "URL prefix, enter the URL https://mywebsite.unl.edu and click "Continue"
- On the "Ownership auto verified" popup screen, click "DONE" (If done is not an option, make sure you are logged into the Google Analytics account)
- Do the same as above for the http:// version of the URL
- Go to the Google Analytics account for the site
- Click the Admin Gear icon on the bottom of the Google Analytics left navigation
- Under "Property" click "Property Settings"
- Under "Search Console" click "Adjust Search Console" and click "Add"
- Select the radio button next to the site URL (https:// version) and click save
- In Google Analytics, refresh the Search Console Settings page, uncheck RAW and TEST and click "Save"
Set up Google Analytics tracking in UNLcms
- In UNLcms, click "Modules" on the admin toolbar and search for "Google"
- Click to turn ON the Google Analytics module and click "Save configuration"
- Click "Configure" in the dropdown next to the module
- Paste the Google Analtyics tracking code ID in the Web Property ID field
- Click "Links and downloads" and uncheck "Track clicks on outbound links", "Track clicks on mailto links" and "Track clicks on downloads"
- Click "Save configuration"