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What You’ll Learn

  • Enabling required Google Cloud APIs
  • Creating and configuring a Service Account
  • Connecting Google Analytics to MainWP
  • Viewing visitor data across all child sites
Integration Add-on - This add-on extends MainWP to work with Google Analytics. Requires Google Analytics to be installed on your child sites.
The MainWP Google Analytics Extension gives you valuable insights into your visitor’s search and traffic patterns, your marketing campaigns, and much more, allowing you to optimize your strategy and the online experience of your users.

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Use this Extension To Track:

  • Views
  • Views by Page
  • Users
  • Users by Device
  • Users by Country
  • New Users
  • Average Engagement Time
  • Sessions by Source
NOTE: Due to the change in authentication method, users updating to version 4.1 of the extension will have to re-add their Google Analytics account by following the steps below.

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Establishing a connection with Google Analytics

First we will enable the 3 necessary APIs in Google Cloud Console.
1

Go to your Google Cloud Console: https://console.cloud.google.com

2

Create a new Project

Create a new Project\Google Cloud Console new project creation dialog
3

Navigate to APIs & Services > Enabled APIs & services

Navigate to APIs & Services > Enabled APIs & services\Animation showing navigation to APIs and Services in Google Cloud Console
4

Here we need to enable 3 APIs:

Here we need to enable 3 APIs:
  1. Google Analytics Admin API,
  2. Google Analytics API, and
  3. **Google Analytics Data API
    Google Cloud API Library showing required APIs to enable
    **Search for them one by one, and Enable them\ Animation showing how to search and enable APIs in Google Cloud
Next, we will create a Service Account which will be added as a viewer later on to desired GA4 properties.
  1. In Google Cloud Console, Navigate to APIs & Services, click the + Create credentials button, select Service Account
  2. Give it a desired name, and click Done\ Animation showing Service Account creation in Google Cloud Console
  3. Now click on the newly created Service Account, then KEYS tab
  4. Then click on the Add Key button, then Create new key, select JSON and click Create**
    Animation showing how to create and download a JSON key for Service Account**
  5. JSON file will be downloaded automatically to your computer
Next, we will add the Service Account as a Viewer to desired properties. The Service Account account can be added as a Viewer to the entire Google Analytics account in which case, it will have access to all properties within that account.
Or it can be added to individual GA4 properties which requires more upfront work but allows for more granular access.
1

Navigate to your Google Analytics Dashboard and open the Admin settings

Navigate to your Google Analytics Dashboard and open the Admin settings
2

Chose if you want to add the Service Account to the entire GA account or a single, currently selected, property

Chose if you want to add the Service Account to the entire GA account or a single, currently selected, property\Google Analytics Admin settings showing account and property access options
3

Click on the Add users button

Click on the Add users button\Google Analytics Access Management with Add users button
4

The email address we want to add can be found on the Credentials page on the Google Cloud Console

The email address we want to add can be found on the Credentials page on the Google Cloud Console\Google Cloud Console Credentials page showing Service Account email
5

Enter the email, set role as Viewer, and click Add

Enter the email address in the Email addresses field, set the role as Viewer, and click Add.Google Analytics Add users form with email field and Viewer roleIMPORTANT NOTE: If you decided to add the Service Account as a Viewer to a single property, repeat the steps above to all other desired single properties.
6

Now navigate to your MainWP Dashboard > Add-ons > Google Analytics > Add Account page, and upload the JSON file, which was downloaded automatically

Now navigate to your MainWP Dashboard > Add-ons > Google Analytics > Add Account page, and upload the JSON file, which was downloaded automatically\MainWP Google Analytics Add Account page with JSON file upload
7

The account should now be visible in the Manage Accounts tab

The account should now be visible in the Manage Accounts tab
Manage Accounts tab showing connected Google Analytics account
NOTE: Multiple Google Accounts can be added by repeating the same process.
Important Notes: The Google Analytics Extension doesn’t allow you to insert the Google Analytics tracking code on your child sites. To do that, you will need to add the code manually or use a 3rd party plugin.

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Assigning sites from your Google Account to Child Sites in your MainWP Dashboard

The add-on will automatically assign properties to Child Sites based on the Child Site’s URL. However, you can still manually assign properties to child sites, by doing the following:
1

Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites

Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites. Animation showing navigation to Manage Sites page
2

Locate the desired site, click on it's name and then open its Settings page

3

Find the Google Analytics section and select the matching Property

4

Click Save Settings.

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Google Analytics Visitor Data

After you connect your Google Analytics account and assign GA4 properties to your Child Sites, you will be able to see all Google Analytics data on the Extensions > Google Analytics > Visitor Data page**.** Animation showing Google Analytics Visitor Data page with analytics widgets You can disable and enable widgets in the Page Settings, and you can re-arrange them in any way you wish. Animation showing how to rearrange widgets in Page Settings To change the Child Site, simply select it from the dropdown menu. Animation showing Child Site selection dropdown for analytics data

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Widgets

Google Analytics widget will be added to the Overview page and on the Individual Child site Overview page. As always, the widgets can be enabled or disabled in the Page Settings, and they can be re-arranged however you wish. Google Analytics widget on the Overview page displaying visitor statistics

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Resolve the issue with account Disconnection

If the Service Account on the Google Cloud Console is temporarily Disabled, the connection may break in the MainWP Google Analytics extension. Google Cloud Console showing disabled Service Account status To reconnect the Google Analytics account, re-enable the Service Account, and navigate to KEYS. Then from the ADD KEY dropdown, select Create New Key and download the JSON Key file.\ Animation showing how to create a new JSON key from Service Account You can now upload that JSON Key file on the Add Account page to connect the account. MainWP Google Analytics Add Account page with JSON file upload