Using Site Kit for WordPress

Importance:

Marketing and communications professionals are using analytics to track how their websites are performing. Different tools give different insights about your audience, such as demographic information, what people search to find you, what buttons people click on your website and more. You can install multiple analytics tools, but if you use WordPress there is a plugin that can manage all of them together. This written training will show how to install and use Site Kit by Google for WordPress.

Target Audience:

  • Web Developers
  • Analytics Specialists

How-To/Instructions:

  1. Create accounts for your website in:
    • Google Analytics 4
    • Google Tag Manager
    • Google Search Console
  2. Install Site Kit by Google to your WordPress website
    1. Open WordPress and go to “Plugins”
    2. Click “Add New Plugin” at the top

      WordPress Plugins page with Add New Plugin button at the top
    3. Search for “Site Kit by Google” and click “Install Now”

      WordPress Add Plugins search page, first entry Google logo, Site Kit by Google - Analytics, Search, Console, AdSense, Speed with install now button
    4. Click “Activate”

      WordPress Add Plugins search page, first entry Google logo, Site Kit by Google - Analytics, Search, Console, AdSense, Speed with install now button text changed to Activate
  3. Sign In to Site Kit and Add Site
    1. Go to the Site Kit plugin

      SiteKit in the left appearing second in the WordPress Dashboard navigation or a start setup button in the same window after activation
    2. Check “Connect Google Analytics as part of your setup.”
    3. Click “Sign in with Google” — Be sure to use the Google account associated with your Google Analytics property.

      Within the Sit Kit plugin page, bottom center Sign in with Google button
    4. Choose the account to login, click “Continue,” “Continue.”
    5. Click “Verify” to verify site ownership

      Have Google verify ownership page, part 1 of 4, verify button at bottom, left of cancel button
    6. Click “Allow” to grant access to Google account data

      Turn on metrics in your dashboard, part 2 of 4, allow button at bottom, left of cancel button
    7. Click “Set up” to add Search Console

      Set up search console, part 3 of 4, set up button at bottom, left of cancel button
    8. Click “Next” to set up Google Analytics

      Set up google analytics, part 4 of 4, next button at bottom
  4. Connect Google Analytics — Either continue from your initial setup (skip steps A and B below), or, if you come back to the Site Kit plugin, you will click “Complete setup.”
    1. Go to Site Kit > Dashboard
    2. Click “Complete setup”
    3. Select the account you wish to link
      1. Options will be available if you set up GA4 using the same account as you used to set up Site Kit.
      2. Select the corresponding Property and Web Data Stream if you have already created those as well.
    4. Click “Enable enhanced measurement”
    5. Click “Complete setup”

      Site Kit plugin page, with account details form and complete setup button at the bottom

      • Note: If you had to set up a new Property/Web Data Stream, you’ll need to grant Site Kit permission and login again. Click “Proceed” or create them in GA4 directly.

        Additional Permissions required pop up

    6. Click “Ok, Got it!” to connect Tag Manager and Search Console

      Congrats on completing the setup for analytics screen
  5. Connect Google Tag Manager
    1. Go to Site Kit > Settings

      WordPress dashboard navigation under Sit Kit menu item, Settings
    2. Click “Connect More Services”

      Within Site Kit Settings, Connect more services top center
    3. Click “Set up Tag Manager”
    4. Select your Account and Container and click “Complete setup”
      • Note: As with GA4, if you have to set up a new Container, you must grant Site Kit permission.

        Additional permissions required pop-up
    5. Complete!

      Congrats on completing the Tag manager set up completion screen
  6. Connect Search Console
    • If you used the same account to set up Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager and Site Kit, Search Console should recognize that you are an Administrator for this Site and connect automatically.

Tips and Tricks:

  • It is best to install Site Kit to replace individual plugins or manually add tag codes to every page on your website.
  • Be sure to work with your developer(s) and inform your team leadership when installing plugins.
  • Check that your plugins are updated every month, or as soon as you see they require them. Test that the updates will not affect your website and then install them.

Contact:

  • Maggie Evenson, Analytics and Alignment Team, stratcomanalytics@illinois.edu
  • Rashmi Tenneti, Analytics and Alignment Team, stratcomanalytics@illinois.edu