No matter which ecommerce platform you choose, we recommend connecting your online store to a Search Console and Google Analytics account as early as possible. And if you use Shopify, setting up Google Analytics and Search Console is a breeze. Here’s a quick guide to getting it done: 

Adding Google Analytics to Shopify

Step 1: Set Up Your Google Analytics Account 

Using the email address that you wish to associate with the account, follow Google’s instructions to set up your Google Analytics account. Once you’re in, if you click on the Admin button in the lower left-hand corner, you’ll get to a screen that looks like this: 

Click on “Property Settings” at the top of the middle column. That will pull up this: 

Also called a UA code, that unique tracking id is what you’ll need to have before you can connect Shopify to your Google Analytics account. 

Step 2: Install Google Analytics on Shopify 

Option 1: Install Google Analytics Via Preferences 

1. Navigate to your Shopify admin 

2. Click on “Online Store” in the left-hand navigation. That will expand the section into a list that looks like this: 

3. Click on “Preferences”

4. In the second box, paste in your Google Analytics UA code 

5. Check the box marked “Use Enhanced E-commerce” (By default, Google’s conversion data tracks the performance of site content. This more advanced feature tracks the performance of each individual product and connects conversion metrics to the actual product revenue). 

6. Click “Save”

7. Verify that everything’s working by heading back to Google Analytics. In the same Admin view from before, right underneath Property Settings, you’ll see Tracking Info. Click that to expand it and then click on Tracking Code.

8. Click Send Test Traffic and you’re all set. 

Alternatively, you can pop into the Real-Time section of your Reporting dashboard to make sure you can spot your own movement on the site. 

…And you’re done! 

Option 2: Install Google Analytics via Theme Code 

1. Navigate to your online store 

2. Click “Online Store” in the left-hand navigation. 

3. Click on “Themes” 

4. The themes page will show you your current theme, and at the top you’ll see a drop-down menu called “Actions.” Click on that and select “Edit Code.” 

5. Click on the file called theme.liquid. This is the main template of your theme.

6. Hop back over to Google Analytics, hit “Tracking Info” on the Admin panel, and then hit “tracking code.” You’ll see a snippet of code called the Global Site Tag. Copy that.

7. Head back to your Shopify liquid code and on the line below the tag, paste the Global Site Tag.

8. Click “Save” and run a traffic test in Google Analytics.

Enabling Enhanced Ecommerce 

We just have one more thing to take care of. Shopify stores require Enhanced Ecommerce enabled on the Shopify theme as well as the store’s Google Analytics profile.

1. If you’ve installed Google Analytics via Option 1 above, you’ve already checked the “Use Enhanced Ecommerce” box. If you used Option 2, navigate to Online Store > Preferences and check this box. 

2. In your Google Analytics account on the Admin page, navigate to Ecommerce Settings in the right-hand column called View.  

3. Switch Enable Ecommerce to “ON”

4. Switch Enable Enhanced Ecommerce Reporting to “ON”

4. Click “Save” 

Done! Now let’s go verify Search Console and we’ll be ready to go. 

Verify Google Search Console on Shopify Store 

Once you’ve set up your Google Analytics account, you’ve done most of the heavy lifting. Using the same Google Analytics login information, you can head to Search Console and set up an account. 

1. While you’ll also find the “Add a new property” option in the upper left-hand dropdown menu, if you’re setting up a brand new Search Console account, you’ll probably see this: 

If you have access to the client’s domain provider, you can verify Google Search Console by connecting the two account. Assuming you don’t have access to the domain provider, you’ll need to verify the Search Console Property by the URL Prefix method.

2. Enter your full site URL and hit “Continue.” 

3. You’ll be given a few different verification methods you can use. Once you choose a method, Google will guide you through a step-by-step process that’s fairly painless. Choose the method “Verify by HTML tag” to keep things simple (it’s a quick copy-paste). 

4. Once you select “Verify by HTML tag,” Google will give you a snippet of code. Copy that. 

5. Head back to your Shopify admin and click “Online Store,” then click “Themes.” You should now be back the page showing a snapshot of your site and a dropdown menu called “Actions.” 

6. Click “Actions” and select “Edit Code.” 

7. Click into the theme.liquid file, the main template of your theme. 

8. Just under the <head> tag, paste your HTML tag.

9. Click “Save” 

10. Go back to Search Console and click “Verify” 

Verification doesn’t always happen instantly. If you click “Verify” and Search Console says it can’t verify your site, wait a few hours and try it again. If it doesn’t work after a few hours, troubleshoot your issue or try a different verification method. 

Now you’re done — for real this time. Happy analyzing!