Google Analytics is a great tool for tracking site visits and SEO.

The advantage of Google Analytics is that it includes robust and powerful features. The tradeoff is that it takes time to set up and learn how to use and benefit from all of these features.  These instructions offer guidance on getting started with Google Analytics inside of StickyFolios.  For more detailed instructions on how to use Google Analytics, please see the links at the end of this article.

Note:  Google Analytics integration is not included in Starter Plan accounts. It is a feature available to StickyFolios members with Pro Plan accounts. 

Coming Soon:  We will be implementing simple view data (total views and unique views) into StickyFolios if you prefer more basic statistical data.

Instructions if you do not yet have a Google Analytics Account

  1. Click this link to set up a free Google Analytics account: https://www.google.com/analytics.  Follow the on-screen instructions to create your account.
  2. Setup a property in the account you have created.  When you are setting up your property you will be asked if you want to create a Website or Mobile App. Once you complete the set up process you will get the code to use.   Note: When setting up your code select the Website option. 
  3. Find your tracking ID in Google Analytics (hint:  it is formatted like UA-XXXXXXX-X).  
  4. Add the tracking ID under SEO in the Settings Panel in your StickyFolios.
  5. Note:  You will need to add your Google Analytics tracking ID to each StickyFolio that you would like to track through Google Analytics.  

Instructions if you already have a Google Analytics Account

If you already have a Google Analytics account, then you probably also have a property setup for your website and/or other online tool(s).  In Google Analytics, a property is a website, mobile application, or blog, etc., that is associated with a unique tracking ID.

A Google Analytics account can contain one or more properties.  Therefore, you will need to decide whether to have StickyFolios under a new property or under an existing property such as the property you use for your existing website.  

First, let's assume that if/once you implement custom domains, you will plan to do so under the same domain as your website.  For example, if your website is under www.johndoephotography.com, then your StickyFolios custom domains (once you set it up) will be under either xyz.johndoephotography.com or xyz.johndoephotography.com/abc.

There are pros/cons with each approach of creating a new property in Google Analytics vs using your existing website property:

  • Creating a new, seperate property for StickyFolios:  The advantage of this option is that you do not need to create a separate view or segment to see your StickyFolios traffic data.  It is simpler to set up and the recommended appraoch.
     
  • Using your existing website property for StickyFolios:  The advantage of this option is that all of your web traffic can be seen in a single view.  However, to see just your StickyFolios traffic data, you will need to create a segment, a new view, or view just the specific pages of interest which is beyond the scope of this article and our support.  Also, your website data will be intermingled with your StickyFolios data.  In general this option can be more complicated to set up and for this reason we do not recommend it. However,  if you are an advanced user, you may decide to go this route at your discretion. If you are setting up a completely new domain for StickyFolios we do not recommend this option. 

Note that if you have more the one personal domain, Google recommends setting up a separate property for each domain, so that each URL has its own tracking ID code.  For example, you could create separate properties for sallysphotos.com and weddingsbysally.com.

Assuming that you are creating a new property for StickyFolios, here are the instructions:

  1. Log in to your Google Analytics account
  2. Create a new property in the account you have created.  When you are setting up your property you will be asked if you want to create a Website or Mobile App.  Select the Website option.
  3. Find your tracking ID in Google Analytics (hint:  it is formatted like UA-XXXXXXX-X).  
  4. Add the tracking ID under SEO in the Settings Panel.
  5. Note:  You will need to add your Google Analytics tracking ID to each StickyFolio that you would like to track through Google Analytics.  

Viewing Your Page View Data for each Folio 

To view your page data for each Folio, Google Analytics Account and select the property you are using for StickyFolios.  Next, using the menu bar on the left hand side of your Google Analytics Account, navigate to Behavior > Site Content > All Pages.
 
You will be able to view each of your Folios by sub-folder.  If you are tracking Folios under different sub-domains, then you will need to setup tracking for multiple subdomains.
 

Additional Third-Party Resources