Google Analytics And Your Miva Merchant Store Part Two: Account Creation And Setup

If used correctly, Google Analytics can be one of the most popular tools in an ecommerce storeowner or developer’s arsenal.  It is easy to use, provides valuable data and customized reporting, and best of all—it’s free!

Last time, I discussed some of the benefits and features of GA, as well as an overview of the different sections and the benefits of each section.  Today, I am going to show you how to create a Google Analytics account, and talk about some different ways to integrate Google Analytics with your Miva Merchant Store.

Getting Started

First, go to the Google Account Sign In Page and log in to your account.  If you don’t have an existing Google Account, you can create one for free by entering your email address and other required data and agreeing to Google’s TOS (terms of service.)

Creating Your Google Analytics Account

Once you receive a verification email from Google, go to the Google Analytics home page, click on “Access Analytics” button and enter your username and password from your Google account. You will be prompted to enter the following required information:

• The name of your website
• The URL of your website
• Account name
• Your first and last name
• Country and time zone
• Phone number

Once you accept the TOS, you will be asked whether you are going to use your account to track one domain, a domain with multiple sub-domains, or a group of website. A snippet of tracking code will then be generated. This code is what you will use to integrate your Google Analytics account with your site.

Integrating Google Analytics With Your Miva Merchant Store

The Google Analytics site offers extensive tutorials and videos about all things Google-Analytics related, including adding your code to your site.  While the process isn’t complicated, there are some variables that can make it seem that way, particularly if you don’t have a lot of technical experience.  Luckily, there are many resources available, including videos like this one,that explain the process step-by-step.

Miva Merchant store owners also have the option of adding their GA tracking code by installing the free Kemper Strategic module and pasting in the tracking code when prompted. The free version of the module includes:

• Automatic ecommerce conversion tracking
• On-Site search tracking
• URL structure overrides

Customers can also opt for the paid version, which includes professional installation, Adwords Conversion, advanced filters, and other features.

Additionally, Miva Merchant store owners can also contact our Web Development Department for professional installation and integration assistance.

Now that you know more about Google Analytics and how to setup and integrate your account with your Miva Merchant store, you are well on your way to using this powerful tool to its full potential.

Next time, we’ll take a more in-depth look at goals, funnels, and reporting inside of Google Analytics.  In the meantime, feel free to comment and ask questions in the comment box below this post.