Install Google Analytics 4 on WIX + 4 Things to Configure NOW

Hey there, fellow web enthusiasts! Today, we’re embarking on a journey that might sound like a techie expedition—connecting your Wix website to Google Analytics 4. If you're running a Wix site, adhering to sites design and analytics is crucial to ensure your masterpiece is not just live on the web but also working effectively to your advantage.

When you choose to walk with us through this process, know there’s a pleasant view waiting at the summit: insight. Insight into your visitor behaviors, popular content, and a gazillion metrics that help you optimize your site. But don’t hit the pause button just yet! Stick around till the end where we unravel the must-do’s every time you set up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) on your Wix playground. Allow me to introduce myself; I'm the friendly narrator on this quest and I hope to make your analytics setup as breezy as it can be.

And hey, after soaking up all the goodness here, don’t forget to join us at NewForm for leveling up your design game with some of the coolest resources and industry connections out there!

First Things First: Get Your Wix Premium Plan Together

Connecting GA4 means stepping up from the freebies. You gotta upgrade your Wix site to any Premium plan. You see, analytics only tie the knot when you have your website boasting its own custom domain. So, buckle up and make sure your site has its unique web address stamped!

Getting Started: Hunting for the Right Measurement ID

Now that we've ensured your site is dressed in Premium wear, head onto the next pit-stop: Google Analytics. Swing over to analytics.google.com. If newbies could do a cartwheel right now, this page would encourage it because it's time to create an account and a property. Consider a property as your personal “House of Metrics.”

Create Your Property and Gather the Measurement ID:

- Step 1: Once you’re in the property list of Google Analytics, initiate the "create property" command. Name it something catchy, like “My Awesome Wix Site”.

- Step 2: Determine your shine/sprinkle settings, like time zone and currency.

- Step 3: Next up, nail down that data stream. The source? Your beloved website, of course! Input your custom domain name.

Copy that elusive Measurement ID—a string starting with G- (no, not James Bond, but powerful nonetheless)—and hop over to Wix.

Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty: Connect That ID

In Wix, navigating to [Marketing and SEO] > [Marketing Integrations] feels like unearthing treasure. You’ll bump into a plethora of tools, but the unicorn you’ll want is Google Analytics Integration. Click connect, seal the deal by pasting that Measurement ID you snagged from GA4, and hit save. Voila! Let those data streams flow.

A Quick Test

Head back to Google Analytics to check your setup fame. Pop into the Debug View for a sneak peek at real-time data. If things are quiet, wake them up by refreshing your site with the Google Analytics Debugger extension enabled in Chrome. You should see events rolling in code-red on Google’s dashboards. If you’re an excitement-seeker, these are good signs!

The Four Must-Dos You Can’t Ignore

Ah, as we promised, here lies the goldmine of configurations that are absolutely essential:

1. Extended Data Retention: It’s a bit like holding onto vintage teacups—you want your data for more than two months. Flip the switch to 14 months in your GA account settings to cherish those memories longer.

2. Custom Dimensions Setup: GA4 gives you building blocks to craft custom dimensions. Ensure that event actions are properly recorded by adding categories like `event_category`, `event_action`, and `event_label`.

3. Suppressed Built-in Form Tracking: GA4 loves generating false alerts on form submissions, like overzealous party invitations. Go right to enhanced measurement settings, and bid farewell to built-in form tracking. Don’t worry, your “generate lead” metrics will still be chirping!

4. No Site Search Adventures: Disable the automatic site search feature. The tracking is unreliable and often catches false positives in Wix land. If searches are essential, consider rolling with Google Tag Manager here for accuracy.

Wrapping Up and Inviting You to NewForm

Setting up Google Analytics 4 can initially feel like navigating a sea of data, but with these streamlined steps and configurations, you’re steering the ship to effective analytics and insights. It might take a few tweaks and observations, but, hey, where’s the fun in having it all figured out immediately, right?

Before you go test those analytics waves, an invitation! Over at NewForm, we offer a vibrant community for creatives like you—a space with opportunities to learn, enhance, and connect with leading professionals. Join our monthly web design challenges with cash prizes and grow through our skill-building events, all within an environment tailored to amp up your design capabilities.

So, sharpen those design skills and jet-set onto new possibilities. And remember, success in web design is only a surf away with analysis and creativity at your fingertips.

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Catch you next time in NewForm’s bustling community of designers and achievers! 🌟

Hope you enjoy discovering the nuances of Google Analytics 4 with your Wix site. Now, let's make some web magic happen!