How to Set up Goals in Google Analytics

Your website is an important part of your business. You need to keep track of it to understand how it is working. To keep track of any activity you are doing, for example, the number of downloads, you can set up goals in Google Analytics to know its success. With the help of this function, you can always monitor the progress.

 

Here comes the crucial part.

• Decide on goals that would fulfill your business objectives. 
• Learn the importance of every ‘goal type’. (You can scroll down the screen below.)

 

Let’s set up your goals. Scroll down.

Steps to Set Up Goals in Google Analytics

     1. Sign in to your Google Analytics account.

     2.  Go to “Admin”.

     3. Click on the “Goals” under the “View” column.

     4. Click on “New Goal”

 

Now the first step is Goal setup–

You get to choose between template, smart goal, and custom goal. 

Template – The options will show up under Template as per the industry you selected in the Property settings. 

Smart Goal – It is for AdWords and is used to optimize Google Ads bidding.

 

Now we move on to the second step i.e., Goal description- 

• Fill in the name.

Note: Keep in mind that the name should be enough to describe the aim of the goal, so the user doesn’t need to go into the details. 

• Select the Goal slot ID that is open.
• Select Goal Type that fulfills your objective.

 

There are four types 

1. Destination
2. Duration
3. Pages/ Screens per session
4. Event

 

Let’s see what goal you want to go for

1. Destination – You can use it for, thank you pages, confirmations pages, etc.

Under the “Goal details”, you have to fill in the URL and you have to choose from the drop-down menu: Equals to, Begins with, and Regular expression. 

 

Equals to: It would work for the exact match. The goal URL should be similar to the corresponding request URL. 

Begins with: The initial part of the goal URL would be similar to the corresponding request URLs. 

Regular expression: This is more flexible as you can use it for different URLs that are not similar.

Now you can put a monetary value to each conversion in Value. 

 

Goal Funnel: It lets you know the steps people take. When people leave the page and if a certain page needs some improvement. That’s very helpful. You can switch on Funnel. Now fill in Name and Screen/Page. You can click on the Required step if you want to count the people who have begun on step 1 and finished the goal.

Now, click “Verify this Goal” to find the goal conversion rate over the last seven days. Then save. Click Done.

 

• Duration – Use this ‘type’ to know for how long people stay on your site. 

To know this, click on Duration under “Goal Description”. Then click on “Continue”. Now fill in the length of time that you intend to track. Say you want readers to stay for 4 minutes so you set for 4 minutes. You can easily find how many people stay for more than 4 minutes. However, don’t set the time that everyone will reach, otherwise, you wouldn’t know where you need improvement. You can also assign monetary to conversion. You can verify this goal if you want to see the goal conversion rate over the last seven days.. Now Save and click Done. You’re done. That’s simple.

 

• Pages/Screens Per Session – It tracks how many pages people see before leaving. You can find where your website needs improvement.

 Let’s see how to set this goal –

Now, choose the Pages/Screens per session and click “Continue”. Then, choose the number of pages every visitor sees before leaving.

Assign monetary value if you wish to. You can verify the goal if you want.

Save and click Done. You’re done.

 

• Event Goals – 

They are a little difficult. You can track visitor interactions. You might have to add JavaScript code to the element that you intend to track. You can track events for example downloads, clicks on the email address, etc.

Let’s see how to set this goal – 

 Choose the Event goal type. Then, click “Continue”.

Fill in the event details. 

For example: 

Category: form

Action: Conversion

Label:

Value: 

 

Note: You can add in all four, but the event should match all four to activate the goal.

 

Use Equal to if value stays the same. 

Use Begins with if the values have the same initial part.

Use Regular Expression as it can work with different values.

 

Verify the goal. Now Save and click Done. 

 

What is a Goal Conversion in Google Analytics?

Goal Conversion happens when a person/visitor does an activity that you are tracking. Examples: Purchase or sign up for a newsletter. 

 

How do you calculate the goal conversion rate?

Goal conversion rate = Number of goal conversions/ Number of sessions * 100