If you use Google tracking to monitor activity on your e-commerce site, setting up tracking tags allows you to collect information about how customers interact with your website. In the following video, we’ll walk you through how to create a Google tracking tag, choose where it will appear on your site, exclude specific URLs if needed, and add the Google-provided tracking code.
SOP: Create Google Tracking Tags in E-Commerce Settings
Objective
This SOP explains how to add Google tracking tags to an e-commerce website so customer activity can be tracked and analyzed in Google. Following these steps will help ensure the tracking code is placed correctly and applied to the intended pages.
Key Steps
1. Open the E-Commerce Settings Area 0:14
Navigate to E-Commerce in the admin area.
Click Settings at the bottom of the menu.
This is where tracking tag configuration is managed.
2. Access the Tracking Tags Tab 0:25
Select the Meta Tags tab.
Click the Tracking tab.
Open the Tags section to begin creating a new tracking tag.
3. Enter the Tracking Tag Details 0:39
Enter a clear name for the tracking tag, such as Google Analytics.
Add a short description to identify the tag’s purpose.
Set the tag status to Active so it will run on the site.
4. Choose Where the Tag Will Appear 0:47
Under Show Where, select All Pages if the tag should track the entire website.
If the tag should only apply to one page, choose Specific Page instead.
Enter the exact page URL when using the specific-page option.
5. Exclude Any Pages if Needed 0:57
Use the Exclude section to prevent the tag from loading on pages where it should not run.
Enter the URL of any page that should be excluded.
Leave this blank if no exclusions are needed.
6. Add the Google Tracking Code 1:08
Paste the Google-provided tracking code into the Header field.
Paste the appropriate tracking code into the Body field if required.
Copy and paste the code exactly as provided by Google to avoid errors.
7. Review and Save the Tag 1:38
Confirm the tag name, description, status, page targeting, exclusions, and tracking code are all correct.
Verify the setup matches your intended tracking scope.
Click Save to activate the tracking tag configuration.
8. Configure a Tag for a Specific Page Only 1:52
If the tag should only run on one page, return to Show Where.
Select Specific Page.
Enter the URL of the target page in the provided field.
Save the changes after confirming the page URL is correct.
Cautionary Notes
Ensure the tracking code is copied exactly from Google; missing or altered characters can break tracking.
Double-check whether the tag should apply to all pages or only a specific page before saving.
If using exclusions, confirm the excluded URL is correct so you do not accidentally block tracking on the wrong page.
Make sure the tag status is set to Active; inactive tags will not collect data.
Tips for Efficiency
Prepare the Google tracking code before opening the settings screen so you can paste it in quickly.
Use a consistent naming convention, such as Google Analytics - Main Site, to make tags easier to manage later.
Keep a record of which pages are included or excluded to simplify future updates.
After saving, test the site to confirm the tag is firing on the intended pages.