How to Use Free Google Tools to Improve & Grow Your Website
Google offers several free tools that are chock full of data that you can use to improve your site—not using these tools yet? Follow the links below and then come back. I’ll wait…
Once you have set up your accounts, we have to get the tracking code on your WordPress website.
Get Your Google Tracking Code
Now that you have that code go to Appearance > Customize. Depending on your theme, you should have an area to add Header/Footer Scripts. You can usually find this setting in Theme Settings > Header/Footer Scripts.
Paste the entire Google Global Site tag snippet and save. Google Analytics is now tracking the activity on your website.
Getting Google Monthly Snapshot Updates
Next, we want to ensure we have email reports activated so you can get information delivered to your inbox. So, again, in Google Analytics, click on Admin > then the “User” tab.
Make sure your email address is correct. Then page down to the Enabled tab and make sure that box is checked in the Monthly Snapshot box.
You’ll want to also activate the snapshot report in Google Console:
- Go to Settings > Users and permissions.
- Select “Add User.”
- Enter your email address. Necessary: the user must have a valid google account connected to the email address used.
- Permissions: choose Full.
- Select “Add.”
Now, you’ll get two summary emails each month highlighting the basic stats for your website.
Google Console vs. Google Analytics
You may be asking whether I need both console and analytics. And what’s the difference?
Yes, you want to be set up in both because each has a different purpose when it comes to looking at the provided data about your website:
Every Which Way from Sunday
When logging into either analytics or console, it can make your head spin. So many menus and data areas to weed through. That’s why it is common for my clients to mention that they get overwhelmed when they login.
If you catch yourself thinking that — you are not alone. But try not to ignore that there is a ton of important data for you to review and act upon if you choose. So when you are ready to lean into both dashboards, here are a couple of links to bookmark:
But, to get you warmed up, let’s get back to how you can use some bite-sized data emails to improve your WordPress website.
When Your Monthly Snapshot Emails Arrive
Your monthly snapshot emails, one from console and one from analytics, will provide you with targeted, manageable data. Data that you can focus on without distraction — or your head spinning.
Your Google Console monthly search performance email will show you the following:
The above metrics will display the top 3 results for the previous month. Look at each and then think of ways to improve or take advantage of them. For instance:
Your Google Analytics Snapshot will show you the following:
Use the above to…
For all of the above, digging deeper into the correlating data provided within your respective dashboards will give you nuggets of data you can use to grow exposure for your WordPress website. While also making your site more user-friendly.
Take Baby Steps
Don’t drive yourself crazy wondering what to do with all that data. Even for folks like me who love data, there’s too much, and impossible to absorb all at once. I just don’t have the time to interrogate it all.
Instead, start with your monthly snapshot to focus on any improvement or growth areas you can take advantage of. Most importantly, know that all you have to do is login to get any additional data points you may be wondering about or want to focus on.
When my snapshot email comes in, I also use that as a trigger to login into my analytics account and poke around. You never know what information may stand out and inspire you to create, modify or try new things.
At your service,