Google Analytics Integration

[econcepts]

I had the good folks over at OpenSourceHosting install this for me, and it shows up in Admin just fine. I entered my account number and everything, but Google still says I haven't installed the Analytics code. When I go to my page and view the source, I don't find any of the Google code. Is there something else I need to do?

Are you SURE they installed it correctly? There are a few items that need to be installed, and just because it is showing up in the Admin OK doesn't mean they got it all.

Make sure they made the proper adjustments to the tpl_main_page.php file etc... (and if you are using a custom template, those adjustments need to go in THAT template section. Not the classic or default one).

[Woodymon]

As I have gathered from reading the forums, a version was started by Andrew sometime ago I believe. It was taken over by Cuda somewhere along the line, or he created his own version, not sure which (if you read the forums you'll see some discussion regarding this).

As a result, Andrew no longer supports it (and says he won't). The version I pointed you to is "the" version in use now by most (supported by Cuda). I have it working on a 1.3.7 cart just fine.

This is not correct. This thread is in support of Andrew's version. Cuda copied Andrew's code and released it with a minor change as another version and which is supported in another thread. I do not believe Andrew has stated he would quit developing or supporting his mod version. And not sure how the numbers were generated to make the statement that Cuda's version is used by most? If you wish to learn about or discuss Cuda's version please do that in the other thread.

I use Andrew's version with Zen Cart 1.37 and it works just fine.

Woody

[Woodymon]

If you "directly inserting the google tracking script code" in template/common/tpl_footer.php:
1. You can't use page names in Google Analytics (you can use only title for a name of page if you add some code to tracking script);
2. You should add in a tracking script ssl checking;
3. You can't track e-commerce transactions;

Actually, you can track all of the following by inserting code (into two different files) into the tpl_footer.php file AND /includes/modules/pages/checkout_success/header_php.php

econcepts-

So the code patch you posted will track PayPal ecommerce transactions/conversions? How does that work if customer does not always wait to be redirected to the Zen Cart checkout_success page after making payment on PayPal site or when proper redirection does not occur?

Woody

[econcepts]

This is not correct. This thread is in support of Andrew's version. Cuda copied Andrew's code and released it with a minor change as another version and which is supported in another thread. I do not believe Andrew has stated he would quit developing or supporting his mod version. And not sure how the numbers were generated to make the statement that Cuda's version is used by most? If you wish to learn about or discuss Cuda's version please do that in the other thread.

I use Andrew's version with Zen Cart 1.37 and it works just fine.

Woody

Thanks for the Insight Woody. I read a post between you and Andrew that I could have sworn said he was not supporting it (he must have been talking about the other version).

I just read this about 2 weeks ago. Thanks for the clarification.

[econcepts]

econcepts-

So the code patch you posted will track PayPal ecommerce transactions/conversions? How does that work if customer does not always wait to be redirected to the Zen Cart checkout_success page after making payment on PayPal site or when proper redirection does not occur?

Woody

This isn't exactly a "code patch". The code I posted was code I always used before there was ever a plug-in version.

I track with it: Conversion, Analytics, Ecommerce, and Goals.

For PayPal, the only time you can ever track a conversion is if the user actually "clicks" that darned button at the end of their PayPal experience. Also keep in mind, that in order to track conversions, they must have first come from a Paid Search ad (which is the only thing "Conversions" track).

So, to answer it in short, the code I have there to track conversion will track PayPal sales if:

1) The user originally came from a click on a Paid Search ad
2) The user clicks the "Return to Merchant" (or what ever that PayPal button says at the end of the checkout) to return to the Zen site. This is needed because the conversion only happens on the "Checkout Success" page.

Does that answer your question?

[BlessIsaacola]

econcepts-

So the code patch you posted will track PayPal ecommerce transactions/conversions? How does that work if customer does not always wait to be redirected to the Zen Cart checkout_success page after making payment on PayPal site or when proper redirection does not occur?

Woody

Woody,

I thought I post my experience with Google Analytics here and hopefully this is not off topic.

I am using the Google Analytics instruction located here: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...alytics&page=4

However, I am using the optimized code posted on previous page of the link above which is post #30.

My Google Ecommerce data collects data about every single sales that terminated at checkout_success page. This is contrary to the post that said on sales from PPC are tracked. In fact the only sale that is not tracked right now are the ones where our customers use Google Checkout. Google provided instruction on how to do this but you know I am not savvy enough to do it :) Also, I am not sure if it's a feature with Paypal Express Checkout or what, but every single sale we've had since implementing Paypal Express Checkout is tracked by google analytics which means they all returned back to checkout_success. Perhaps that's an automatic process.

I have not update to Andrew's or eConcept's version yet. I will read up on it to see if there are added benefit to upgrading to either version.

Isaac.

[Woodymon]

Trying to keep this as basic as possible so I can understand...

When we refer to PayPal , we need to be specific as to which PayPal payment module/process:
1. IPN
2. PPEC (Express Checkout)

So as I understand Isaac reported Google Analytics is properly recording the Zen Cart based transaction when payment is made through PPEC, but not with IPN module.

Are there any solutions available for Zen Cart merchants to track IPN based communications?

And with the latest ZC PayPal IPN module now supporting PDT (Payment Data Transfer) are there solutions available for those types of communications?

Woody

[BlessIsaacola]

So as I understand Isaac reported Google Analytics is properly recording the Zen Cart based transaction when payment is made through PPEC, but not with IPN module.

Woody,

Actually, mine works flawlessly with both IPN and PPEC is just that we don't offer IPN on our website anymore so I didn't want to make a comment that it works for us since I haven't use IPN for about 2 months now. It's my understanding that the limitation of sales not being recorded if the customer did not return to checkout_success has been removed in 1.3.7 implementation of IPN. I could be wrong about this but that's my understanding.

To be clear, the version of the google analytics I am using support tracking all data including all sales generated EXCEPT for when the customer uses Google Checkout (it doesn't record the sale nor does it track it in Google Adwords as a conversion). This is not a technical problem, I just don't know how to integrate the code on the login page and shopping cart which is where they need to be for Google Checkout to function right.

Isaac.

[econcepts]

So as I understand Isaac reported Google Analytics is properly recording the Zen Cart based transaction when payment is made through PPEC, but not with IPN module.
Woody

Woody,

Google Analytics will track any sales as long as the user is returned to the merchant website after the transaction, and the tracking code is in place to track them.

[a_berezin]

Are there any solutions available for Zen Cart merchants to track IPN based communications?

I think that I know as it to do. I have two ideas of the decision, but I did not test them.