If you’re looking for a free website traffic monitoring solution, Google Analytics is one of the most widely used and robust options available. It provides comprehensive insights into your website’s traffic, user behavior, and more. Here’s how you can set up Google Analytics for your site:
- Create a Google Analytics Account:
- Go to the Google Analytics website.
- Sign in with your Google account or create a new one.
- Set Up a Property:
- Once logged in, click on the “Admin” button in the lower-left corner.
- In the “Account” column, select “Create Account.”
- Fill in the required information for your website.
- Create a Property:
- Click on “Create Property” in the “Property” column.
- Choose the type of property (website) and fill in the necessary details.
- Get Your Tracking Code:
- After setting up the property, you’ll be provided with a tracking code.
- Copy the tracking code and paste it into the HTML code of every page you want to track. Place it just before the closing
</head>tag.
- Verify Tracking Installation:
- After adding the tracking code, return to your Google Analytics dashboard.
- Click on “Home” and then select your account and property.
- Look for the “Realtime” section to see if data is being collected.
Google Analytics will start collecting data, and you can access detailed reports on your dashboard.
Remember that while Google Analytics is free, it’s essential to review and comply with Google’s terms of service and privacy policy. Additionally, be aware of privacy regulations in your region, and inform your website visitors about your use of analytics tools in your privacy policy.
If you’re looking for alternatives, some other free analytics tools may have limitations but can still provide valuable insights. Examples include Matomo (self-hosted), AWStats, and Clicky (free tier with limited features).