Analytics for Beginners: How to See Who is Visiting Your Google Site

Stop guessing and start growing. Learn the dead-simple way to connect Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to your Stride template so you can track your success with data.

How to See Who is Visiting Your Google Site

Running a website without analytics is like flying a plane with the windows painted black. You might be moving, but you have no idea where you are or if you’re about to land. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) tells you three vital things:

Who is visiting (General location and device).
Where they came from (Google, Instagram, or a direct link).
What they looked at (Which services are your most popular?).

The best part? Because you’re using Google Sites, you don't need to touch a single line of code to set this up.

Step 1: Create Your GA4 Account

Go to analytics.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
Click "Start measuring" and follow the prompts to create a "Property" for your business.
When asked for your platform, select "Web" and enter your website URL (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com).

Step 2: Copy Your "Measurement ID"

Once your property is created, Google will show you a "Data Stream." * Look for a code that starts with "G-" followed by letters and numbers (e.g., G-123456789).

Click the "Copy" icon next to this ID.

Step 3: Paste it Into Your Stride Template

Open your site in Google Sites.
Click the Settings (Gear Icon ⚙️).
Select Analytics.
Paste your "G-" code into the box labeled Measurement ID.
Make sure the "Enable analytics" toggle is turned on.

Step 4: The 24-Hour Rule

Google Analytics isn't "live" immediately. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours before data starts appearing in your dashboard. Don’t panic if you see zeros on the first day!

Step 5: The 3 Metrics You Actually Need to Care About

The Analytics dashboard can be overwhelming. As a small business owner, just focus on these:

Users: How many actual people visited your site.
User Acquisition: Did they find you via "Organic Search" (Google) or "Social"? This tells you where to spend your marketing energy.
Pages and Screens: If everyone visits your "Pricing" page but no one goes to "Contact," your pricing might be too high (or the "Contact" button is too hard to find!).

Useful Official Links from Google:

You now have the power to make decisions based on facts, not feelings. If your Instagram posts are driving 90% of your traffic, you know exactly where to keep posting!