Nayan Dhumal
The simplest way to add Google Analytics to WordPress is with Site Kit by Google, a free plugin from Google that connects your site to Analytics and Search Console without editing code. This guide walks through the setup, what to check afterwards and which reports to look at first as a beginner blogger.
Google Analytics shows how people use your blog: how many visit, which posts they read and where they come from. Search Console shows how your site appears in Google search. Together they answer most questions a new blogger has.
Adding them by hand means pasting tracking code into your theme. Site Kit does it through a guided setup instead.
Key takeaways
- Site Kit by Google is a free plugin that connects WordPress to Google tools.
- It can connect Search Console, Analytics, AdSense, PageSpeed Insights and Tag Manager.
- Setup happens through your Google account, with no code editing.
- Use only one method to add Analytics, so visits are not counted twice.
- Analytics shows visitor behaviour. Search Console shows search performance.
- Mention analytics in your privacy policy.
What Site Kit is
Site Kit is a WordPress plugin made by Google. Its plugin page says it “shows key metrics and insights from different Google products” inside your WordPress dashboard. The listed tools include Search Console, Analytics, AdSense, PageSpeed Insights and Tag Manager.
The plugin page also says: “The Site Kit plugin is free and open source, and will remain so.” The individual Google products follow their own terms. Analytics and Search Console are free to use for a typical blog.
Before you start
- You need a Google account. Use the one you want to manage your site with long term.
- You need admin access to your WordPress site.
- If you already added Analytics code another way, such as through a theme setting or another plugin, plan to remove it so visits are not counted twice.
Step 1: Install Site Kit
- In WordPress, go to Plugins, then Add New.
- Search for “Site Kit by Google”.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
Step 2: Connect your Google account
- Open Site Kit from your WordPress dashboard and start the setup.
- Connect Site Kit to your Google account and allow the permissions it asks for.
- Follow the instructions in the setup flow.
- Return to your WordPress dashboard when setup finishes.
If you already set up Search Console separately, Site Kit can use that property. My Search Console guide explains how Search Console works on its own.
Step 3: Connect Google Analytics
- In WordPress, go to Site Kit, then Settings.
- Find the option to connect more Google services.
- Choose Analytics and follow the prompts.
- Select an existing Analytics account and property, or let Site Kit help create a new one.
- Finish the setup and let Site Kit place the tracking code.
Data usually starts appearing after a short while. A brand new property may show little or nothing for the first day or two.
Pro tip
After setup, open your site in a private browser window and visit a couple of posts. Then check the real-time report in Google Analytics. If you appear as an active user, tracking is working.
Which reports to look at first
You do not need every report. As a beginner, start with these:
| Question | Where to look |
|---|---|
| How many people visit? | Analytics: users and sessions over time |
| Which posts are popular? | Analytics: pages and screens |
| Where do visitors come from? | Analytics: traffic acquisition (search, social, direct, referral) |
| Which searches bring people? | Search Console: Performance report, Queries tab |
| Which pages appear in search? | Search Console: Performance report, Pages tab |
Site Kit shows a summary of these inside your WordPress dashboard, and you can open the full reports in Analytics and Search Console.
Analytics vs Search Console
- Search Console shows what happens before the click: searches, impressions, clicks and your position in Google.
- Analytics shows what happens after the click: which pages people read, how long they stay and where they came from.
You will use both. When a post gets impressions in Search Console but few clicks, look at its title and description. When a post gets visitors but they leave quickly, look at the content itself.
Common setup problems
- Double counting: Analytics code added by both Site Kit and another plugin or theme setting. Keep one method.
- Wrong Google account: setting up with a personal account you later lose access to. Use a long-term account.
- No data: new properties take time. Check the real-time report first.
- Caching: if you use a caching plugin, clear its cache after setup.
Update your privacy policy
Analytics uses cookies and collects information about how visitors use your site. Mention it in your privacy policy. My guide on creating a privacy policy page in WordPress covers what to include.
Frequently asked questions
Is Site Kit by Google free?
Yes. The plugin page says it is free and open source. Individual Google products follow their own terms.
Do I need Site Kit to use Google Analytics?
No. You can add the tracking code another way. Site Kit simply makes setup easier without editing code.
Will Site Kit slow down my site?
It adds the Analytics tag to your pages, as any Analytics setup does. Keep only one method of adding Analytics to avoid duplicate code.
How long until data shows in Analytics?
The real-time report updates quickly. Standard reports for a new property can take a day or two to fill.
Should I use Analytics or Search Console?
Both. Search Console shows search performance. Analytics shows what visitors do on your site.