How to track Mobile Website Using Google Analytics? Mobile Website, Server Side Code Snippets, and Google Analytics

We can track mobile sites in the same way as other websites. Since we need to make changes to the tracking code in order for it to track mobile sites we need to use different tracking code. To make sure that Google Analytic Reports data from for mobile websites, paste the server-side code snippets on each page we need to track. This will result in Google Analytic creating a profile for the mobile website. Google Analytics will now report the same kind of information as in standard Analytics reports.  It includes visitor information and web site traffic sources and we can track users visiting mobile website from both smartphone (like i Phones and Android devices) and WAP devices separately.

It will work in the following server-side snippets environments:

• PHP 5
• JSP on Jetty 6
• Perl 5.10
• ASP.NET on IIS 6.0

Goals and Funnels in Google Analytics for True Webmasters. Quick glance of Goals and Funnels in Google Analytics

Google Analytic can be configured to determine the success or failure rate of visitor’s actions. To meet the objective, we need to create artificial goals and apply it to the web traffic.

Goals & Funnels

Goals are visitor tracking method which can be into different criteria on a website. We can set a goal to unlock after a visitor reaches the contact page, “/contact.html“.

If a visitor comes to a home page and leaving right away, it could be counted as a failed goal. Visitors who did happen to land onto contact page will be recorded as successfully completing the goal.  We can check the statistics through Web analytic tools, further such as total time spent on the page and total pages they visited.

Setting up Goals

If we have multiple accounts then we need to first click the parent name to start with.  In the right side of the column under “Actions” we will see links to edit and delete the profile. Click the “Edit” link to open profile settings and can see the column titled “Goals”.

 Exploring Goal Types

The user will be first prompted to enter a name and select if the goal is Active (On) or Inactive (Off).

Each goal type represents a different style of tracking completed goals.

 URL Destination

URIs type goals track when a user enters a specific page on your website.  Even though the Analytics menu uses URL it’s much easier tracking goals with only an URI component.

After selecting this type, another sub-class of the form opens up and need to choose a match type for the URI.  This determines a few different ways to match the pages requested as completed goals. There are three options here which define how Analytics will record a successful goal measurement.

Time on Site

There is an option to check their time limits.  This could also include visitors who are reading articles or blog posts or watching videos.

We can set a length of time in Hours/Minutes/Seconds and select a Condition: Greater than or Less than the time you put in.  We can check bounce rates also - how many visitors will stay for a couple of seconds before leaving.

Page/Visit

Each individual can be tracked for the amount of pages viewed per visit and will only complete the defined goal if the visitor browses above or below the number you set.

Event

With Event as goal types, there are 4 event conditions to set up the goals: Category (e.g. download), Action (e.g. icon pack, interface pack), Label (e.g. vector, non-vector) and value (e.g. 10, 20). You can configure one or more event conditions.

Besides, for Event goals you can either use the actual Event Value or a constant value which requires you to manually enter the value. 

Defining Custom Funnels

The purpose of defining a funnel system is to create a targeted map for the web site traffic to flow through. So in order for a goal to be completed (such as somebody visiting your contact page) originally the visitor would only need to land on the given URI. However with a funnel the visitor must enter your page as specified in the Goal Funnel section for the goal to be counted as complete. Funnels could include more than one page to follow through as well.

How to Set Up Goals and Funnels In Google Analytics to Track Conversions? Goals and Funnels in Google Analytics

Google Analytics allows you to track each stage in the users visit. This tracking helps to identify bad designing and bring to the notice the area which needs improvements.

A very simple goal would just be to count every time someone filled in the inquiry form, or sent an e-mail or whatever your conversion target. This is an example of a Web Analytics Tool. However that doesn’t tell you anything about how users got to that part of your site, or tell you about the other hundred users who left before they converted (either because the site is badly designed, or your product is too expensive etc), which surly affects your Lead Generation.

Now, set the target is that a user to enter through a particular landing page such as your Business Web Page, and then click on details of a service of product, then fill out the booking form – and a goal will allow you to track each of those stages. Now click on edit next to the profile you want to add your goal to:

Google Analytics and Google AdWords Conversion Tracker

Conversion tracker in Google Analytics helps to track the events associated with the visit of a webpage by any user. This tool can be successfully integrated with Google AdWords to reap the maximum benefit out of ads spending and to improve your returns in search advertising.

The process involves placing a cookie on the user’s computer when an advertisement is clicked on a website. This cookie stores information about the visitor’s behavior and send back the details to the Google Server including conversion as defined. Then a conversion tracking image is placed on your site to state that a conversion has taken place. With this, Google has successfully tracked a conversion on your site. This can be linked with Google AdWords.

To view this information in Google Ad Words, you can click the “Campaigns” tab in your account, or by viewing the “Reporting and Tools” tab and in the dropdown select “Conversions”.

Fig: Displays the Google Ad Words Navigation Bar

Implementation of the tracking process includes a series of steps which are mentioned below:

1. Summary

The basic mechanism involves placing a code snippet in the source code of your conversion page which needs to be tracked. This requires a basic understanding of HTML as well as server access to your website code and a Google Ad Words account for that particular website. After you install the code on your page, leave up to one hour for data to show in your account after the first conversion from your account has taken place. You can also view conversion reports based on the keyword level used. Modification of the code snippet may result in the tracking code not working properly.
        
              

Fig: Tracking Process Explained

2. Acquiring Code Snippet

The code snippet from Google will be displayed when you select a page under the “Action Type” option for which you need conversion tracking to be operational. You also need to specify the tracking purpose meaning the type of page that you are adding. When you place the code snippet on your conversion page, statistics on users who click on a Google Ad Words advertisement and go through to a conversion page such as purchase, sign-up, page view, or lead) can be collected and displayed in your reports.

Fig: Steps Leading to Conversion

3. Requirements

a) Ad Word Ads that are valid and functioning

b) Proper placement of the Google code snippet on your conversion page source file.

c) For Ad Words Conversion Tracking to successfully track conversions from clicks on your ad, customers must be able to download images and enable the "cookies" feature in their browsers.

Fig: Inserting code snippet to the source page.

4. Inserting Code Snippet to Conversion Page

Just by inserting the code into your website does not guarantee conversions to take place, but it requires a user to click on an Ad Words Ad and click through to the conversion page to register a conversion. An option to choose the Site Stats Text on your conversion page is available and a block image appears on the end user pages. It is optional to select this feature, but you will need to convince users that you are using Ad Words free conversion tracking methodology in order to get their approval and guarantee their privacy. The block of code needs to go in between the <body></body> tags. Code cannot be pasted into the header or footer section of a page.

Fig: Code Snippet in the Body Section

5. Verifying Ad Words Conversion Tracking Code Snippet

Either you can wait for a conversion to take place or perform a test conversion yourself. If you know that a conversion has occurred on your site from an Ad Words ad, view the conversion column in your account to verify the conversion. In most cases, updates to your account may take up to 24 hours to reflect. The other option is to search in Google for your ad, then click on the ad to complete a conversion on your site.

Fig: Conversion Reporting

Conclusion: We suggest that you wait for a conversion to occur otherwise this method will cost you an ad click. This is an important strategy in search engine advertisement.