To set up Google Analytics on your website, create a Google Analytics account and property, add a web data stream, then add your Google tag to your site. Google says data can take up to 30 minutes to start coming through. You then check it’s working in the Realtime report.

If you want to know what’s actually happening on your website, Google Analytics is the place to start. It tells you how many people visit, where they come from, what pages they look at and how long they stick around. This guide walks you through the setup in Google Analytics 4 (GA4), step by step. We checked every step against Google’s own help pages on 27 October 2026.

Google Analytics setup at a glance

What do you need before you start?

• A Google account. Use the same one you use for other business tools like Google Search Console or Google Ads, so everything stays connected.
• Access to your website. You’ll either paste a small piece of code into your site or use a plugin if you’re on WordPress. If someone else manages your site, ask them before you start.

How do I set up Google Analytics for my website?

Step 1: Sign in to Google Analytics

Go to analytics.google.com and sign in with your Google account. If it’s your first time, click Start measuring. If you already have an account and just want to add another website, go to Admin, click Create and choose Property (then skip to Step 3).

Step 2: Create your account

An account is the container that holds your websites. Enter an account name (your business name works well), choose your data sharing settings and click Next.

Step 3: Create a property

A property is one website or app. Enter a property name, then pick your reporting time zone and currency. Get the time zone right: Google records every visit in your time zone, so a wrong one makes your daily reports line up badly with your business hours.

Click Next, choose your industry category and business size, then choose how you plan to use Google Analytics. Google tailors your default reports to that choice. Click Create and accept the terms.

Step 4: Add a web data stream

Choose Web, enter your website address and a stream name. Leave enhanced measurement on. Google recommends it, because it automatically collects page views and other events without extra setup. Click Create stream.

Step 5: Add the Google tag to your website

Your stream now has a Measurement ID that starts with G-. There are three ways to connect it to your site:

• WordPress plugin or website builder. Google’s instructions list plugins and builders that have a field for your G- Measurement ID, including Site Kit by Google and MonsterInsights on WordPress, plus Shopify, Squarespace and Wix.
• Paste the code yourself. In the stream, under Google tag, click View tag instructions and choose Install manually. Copy the whole snippet and paste it straight after the <head> tag on every page. Your web developer can do this for you.
• Google Tag Manager. If your site already uses Tag Manager, add the Google Analytics tag there instead of touching your website’s code.

Step 6: Check your tracking is working

Google says data collection may take up to 30 minutes to begin. Then open the Realtime report, open your website in another tab and load a few pages. You should see at least one active user, which is you.

If nothing shows up, the usual reasons are that the code went in the wrong place, the plugin has the wrong Measurement ID or a caching plugin on your WordPress site needs clearing.

Step 7: Mark your key events

Traffic numbers on their own don’t tell you whether your website brings in business. Key events do. A key event is an action that matters to you, like a form submission or a phone number click (older guides call these conversions).

In Admin, under Data display, click Events, find the event and click the star next to it. You can mark up to 30 events as key events on a standard property. If the event hasn’t happened yet, you can still create it there and mark it ahead of time.

Step 8: Link Google Search Console

This step is optional but worth doing. Linking Search Console shows you which Google searches bring people to your site and which landing pages they arrive on.

In Admin, under Product links, click Search Console links, then Link, choose your Search Console property and your web data stream, then submit. You need to be a verified owner of the Search Console property. The Search Console reports are unpublished by default, so find them under Library and publish them.

How do I stop my own visits showing up?

If you visit your own website a lot, your numbers get inflated. Google lets you filter out traffic from your office IP address in two steps:

1. Define internal traffic. In Admin, under Data collection and modification, click Data streams, open your web stream, click Configure tag settings, then Show more, then Define internal traffic. Add your IP address.
2. Create the filter. In Admin, under Data collection and modification, click Data filters, create an Internal Traffic filter set to Exclude, then switch it to Active.

Google warns that an active filter is permanent: filtered data is never processed. Use the Testing state first if you’re unsure.

Which Google Analytics reports should I check?

A lot of people set up Google Analytics and never look at it again. These four reports are worth a regular look:

• Traffic acquisition shows where your visitors come from: Google search, social media, other websites or direct. It tells you which marketing is working.
• Pages and screens shows your most visited pages. If a page gets lots of visits but people leave quickly, it might need work.
• Landing page shows which pages people arrive on first. If your home page isn’t the top one, that’s worth knowing.
• Realtime is handy right after you publish a post or start an ad, to see if people are coming through.

Make it a habit to check your key reports once a week or at least once a month. Over time you’ll start to see patterns that help you make better decisions about your website and marketing.

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Tracking only some pages. Make sure the tag or plugin is on every page, including the blog and any landing pages.
• Skipping key events. Without them you’ll have traffic data but no way to measure enquiries or sales.
• Counting your own visits. Set up the internal traffic filter above.
• Never looking at the data. Google Analytics is only useful if you actually use it.

Want help setting it up?

If this feels like a lot or you want it done properly from the start, our team can help. We work with businesses across Australia to set up, manage and grow their online presence, from website design to SEO. Get in touch or read more on our blog.

Google Analytics setup FAQs

Is Google Analytics free?

Yes. Google offers Google Analytics for websites and apps at no cost.

How long does it take for data to show in Google Analytics?

Google says data collection may take up to 30 minutes to begin. After that you can check it’s working in the Realtime report.

Where do I find my Google Analytics Measurement ID?

In Admin, under Data collection and modification, click Data streams and open your website’s stream. The Measurement ID is under Stream details and starts with G-.

Can I add Google Analytics to WordPress without touching code?

Yes. Google’s own setup instructions list WordPress plugins such as Site Kit by Google and MonsterInsights, which give you a field to enter your G- Measurement ID.

What is a key event in Google Analytics?

A key event is an action that matters to your business, like a form submission or a phone call click. Older guides call them conversions. You mark them in Admin, under Data display, Events.