Google Analytics is an incredibly useful feature that can allow you to analyze various amounts of data and statistics using the many tools it grants to the user.
The programme works by acquiring user data from a website with this information then being sent to Google Analytics to track and visualize the data which becomes available for the host and user to see.
Within this process the tracking ID is very important as it lets Google Analytics know which account and property to send the relevant data to, so finding and approving it is necessary for the programme to work properly.
Luckily finding out the universal analytics tracking ID is fairly simple and just requires togging through a few menus. Once you do it once, make sure to write down or memorize your code so you won’t have to go through the process again.
Step 1 – Open Google Analytics
First, open up the primary Google Analytics page where you will have a few options on the side and at the top to choose from.
Step 2 – Click On ‘Admin’
One of these options will be ‘Admin’ at the very top next to ‘User’, click on this and you will get a few options to choose from including ‘Data Collection’ and ‘Data Retention’.
Step 3 – Click On ‘Account’
There will be a few options near the left-hand side of the page that open up. Click on ‘Account’ and select an account from the dropdown menu.
Step 4 – Click ‘Property’
Then click ‘Property’ from the middle column and select the relevant property from the menu that appears.
Step 5 – Click On ‘Tracking code’
Under the ‘Property’ option select ‘Tracking info’ and then navigate to ‘Tracking code’.
Step 6 – Find tracking ID
Now there will be a few pieces of data that pop up to the side including how much traffic has been received in the last 48 hours, and how many users are interacting with a website right now.
In the top left, you will see the ‘Tracking ID’ which will be a combination of letters and numbers and is your own personal ID.
Method 2 – Google Analytics 4
Google Analytics 4 uses a ‘Measurement ID’ rather than a tracking ID, however this works the same as the regular tracking ID and is still required to allow the analytical data to be reported as it should.
Step 1 – Open Google analytics
Start by opening up the Google Analytics page.
Step 2 – Click On ‘Admin’
At the top next to ‘User’, click on the ‘Admin’ option.
Step 3 – Click ‘Data streams’
A left hand column will appear with several options to review and analyze any parts of data. Click on the ‘Data streams’ option.
Step 4 – Select Appropriate Data Stream
Choose the relevant data stream from the drop down list.
Step 5 – Measurement ID
The measurement ID will now be visible in the top right corner and is similarly a combination of random letters and numbers, however for GA4 users the first letter will always be ‘G’.
When you create a Google Analytics account, you will be asked to name the URL and industry of the website that you want Google to track and keep a record of.
This is where you will require the ID tracking code which you will be required to type right after the <head> tag of the site.
There are two primary ways to implement your Google tracking ID onto a website so that it knows where to relay the necessary data and information.
Firstly, for a website that supports third party apps you can use these apps designed specifically to link the site with your Google account. From here, all you need to do is follow the steps of connecting your account to the site and then add your tracking ID.
For websites that do not support such third party apps, you will need to insert your tracking ID manually. When you find your tracking ID, you will also see a string of JavaScript code under the heading ‘Global Site Tag’.
Copy and paste your tracking ID into the <head> tag of the chosen web page which is the second to top choice.
How Do I Know If My Tracking ID Is Working?
You can test if your tracking ID is functioning as it should by actually viewing the real time data as it is being collected from the chosen site.
To do this, load up the Google Analytics page and scroll to the ‘Associated property’ option in the drop down menus.
Then, click on ‘Reporting’ from the left side panel and then choose ‘Real time’ followed by ‘Overview’ and you will be presented with a page displaying data that is currently being received from the site including how many people have visited the site recently, what their actions on the site are and how long they stay on average.
These statistics are crucial for managing a site and analyzing its current and expected growth as more people visit and interact with it.
Summary
It is extremely important to always have your Google Analytics Tracking ID memorized or written down since it is required so that you can monitor activities on your sites and receive the correct analytics.
The good news is finding this tracking ID is very easy just requiring you to navigate through some of the Google Analytics menus, and is easy enough to do if you find that you forget your tracking ID or need to double check what the combination was.
Hi, my name is Justin Shaw, I started my career with a Masters in Computer Science but found writing to be my forte'.
I'm now the Principal Tech writer for GshiftLabs.com as well as a few other well known publications. I help make the complex world of Tech-Jargon easy to understand.
