Simple Google Analytics - Support

[phil99]

Ok here is a question...

I want to set up a funnel to track buyers through my checkout flow all the way to the thankyou page (my goal)

I use 3 3rd party payment processors....

Paypal express checkout module, google checkout module, and nochex....

Paypal and google leave my site straight from the shopping cart and miss out most of the zen account fuss.

I see you can add code to track 3rd party payment processors, changing the links etc... but this is starting to look like a LOAD of hassle!??

It is possible... have you done it??

[smap]

I use not only Google AdWords but also Yahoo Search Marketing and Microsoft AdCenter PPC.

I want to make sure I am able to track conversions for both those advertising channels as well and I'm not sure how to go about that.

I've searched this thread but I'm still confused. I don't think I want to use Google's cross-channel tracking as is mentioned in this thread because I use a different URLs for my keywords and I *think* that means it would be very difficult for me to setup inside AdWords.

Basically I'd be happy knowing where to stuff the Yahoo and Microsoft javascript code ... I would like to track order value as well.

Any help?

[econcepts]

Hi there no... even now after 48 hours google say they cant detect the code... but the analytics is working nicely....

Guys here is a link to an article I wrote addressing this issue. I researched it on the internet a while back and found that there is no rhyme or reason for it. The link to the article is here:

http://www.zencartoptimization.com/2...ting-for-data/

Hope it helps.

[econcepts]

Ok here is a question...

I want to set up a funnel to track buyers through my checkout flow all the way to the thankyou page (my goal)

I use 3 3rd party payment processors....

Paypal express checkout module, google checkout module, and nochex....

Paypal and google leave my site straight from the shopping cart and miss out most of the zen account fuss.

I see you can add code to track 3rd party payment processors, changing the links etc... but this is starting to look like a LOAD of hassle!??

It is possible... have you done it??

I use Goals and Funnels on ALL sites I run. Zen Cart included. The data that reporting provides plays an important role in determining where problem spots may be.

Hhaving said that, there is no easy way around setting up funnels and goals.

You have to have use the proper url of each page you want to track during the process with the end result being the "goal". You also have to make sure you set the proper "Match Type" from within your Funnel or the recorded data will be inaccurate.

The Google Analytics Workbook in my signature shows an exact "copy and paste" example of exactly how you would do this for Zen Cart sites (and it works for others as well).

Keep in mind that if you are using third party processors, there will be no way to track them once they leave your site to pay (as in the case of Google Checkout or PayPal IPN). There will also be no guarantee that the action will track properly as in each of these cases, the users must "complete" the transaction by usually clicking a link on the "thank you" page of the third party processor (PayPal or Google).

Upon clicking that link, they are taken back to your site (the checkout success page) and providing you have the correct url setup as your goal, the action is actually recorded.

So what does this all mean? Well, it means that more than likely you'll have to get creative in reading what your funnel is telling you because right around the point at which the user is taken away from your site and to the third party processor, it will look like they abandoned the checkout process in your funnel.

In fact, they may not have. They may have paid and completed the transaction.

So, be careful not only in how you setup goals and funnels, but how you read them as well.

[econcepts]

I use not only Google AdWords but also Yahoo Search Marketing and Microsoft AdCenter PPC.

I want to make sure I am able to track conversions for both those advertising channels as well and I'm not sure how to go about that.

I've searched this thread but I'm still confused. I don't think I want to use Google's cross-channel tracking as is mentioned in this thread because I use a different URLs for my keywords and I *think* that means it would be very difficult for me to setup inside AdWords.

Basically I'd be happy knowing where to stuff the Yahoo and Microsoft javascript code ... I would like to track order value as well.

Any help?

I track all three on most of my sites (Google, Yahoo, and MSN). You can install the Google Tracking Module (Simple Google Analytics) and still install the Yahoo, and MSN tracking codes.

The key is, you will have to manually insert the Yahoo and MSN codes into the proper pages for them to work. And furthermore, if you want to dynamically include order totals etc.. into the mix, then you'll have to custom code that using PHP.

Finally, you'll want to make sure you account for both Secure and Non-secure connections, and dynamically utilize the proper tracking code based on that (https:// vs. http://). I like to use the standard PHP function to detect secure vs. non-secure connections to do that.

The file you'll want to add the information to are the tpl_main_page.php page (within your custom directory). I don't even include it on the checkout success page because I try to keep the code in the fewest locations.

What I do is create an if then statement that I include on the tpl_main_page.php page. It dynamically checks the page name (to determine if it was a successful sale or not and therefore add the proper "conversion tracking code" if so) and also checks the https vs/ http connection to include that proper code. If you don't account for that, then users will get the old message "some things on this page are not secure ... do you want to continue?" and you don't want that as it can decrease conversion beyond all belief.

Hope that helps.

[phil99]

Thanks for the reply.... thats what I was worried about!...

I have paypal express and google checkout on the shopping cart page..... this would be the start of my funnel and like you say people who want to express checkout abandon my cart immediately!!!

I guess to be fair i cannot change the pages after this point if people chose to use these express checkouts anyway... and they are very good funnels anyway so not to worry.

However i can still change and track my checkout funnel, so that once people are in that i can see if they stay or go. Like you say it will seem as if alot of people abandon the cart when they chose express checkout...but dont worry....

I guess you could subtract from 'cart abandonments' your total express checkout payments to get an idea of who really abandoned at the cart page.


Shame it cant be done better...

[smap]

Hope that helps.

It does help a lot Eric - thanks. I have one question regarding what you wrote though - you mention not including the code on the checkout success page and instead including it on tpl_main_page.php - that confuses me.

I think maybe you're saying you check the page's title to see if they're on the checkout success page? I don't understand though what the advantage of doing that vs. putting the code in the checkout success template itself.

Maybe since you mentioned you use the code for more than conversion tracking - goals, etc. you need the code in every page?

[econcepts]

It does help a lot Eric - thanks. I have one question regarding what you wrote though - you mention not including the code on the checkout success page and instead including it on tpl_main_page.php - that confuses me.

I think maybe you're saying you check the page's title to see if they're on the checkout success page? I don't understand though what the advantage of doing that vs. putting the code in the checkout success template itself.

Maybe since you mentioned you use the code for more than conversion tracking - goals, etc. you need the code in every page?

The tracking code must be on every page for it to work (in the case of Google Analytics). In the case of "conversion" tracking type codes (usually only appear on the "thank you" page), I check to find out what page is being called by the script (checkout_success) and if it is an order confirmation, I include that line of code onto the page.

I only use the tpl_main_page template so as to keep everything under "one roof". It's much easier to manage that way (I run numerous tracking scripts and affiliate programs that need to track sales). The other option is to include the code in the "footer" template. I use to do that, but found it works better for me (management wise) leaving it in only one file.

Here is a link to an older post on the way I do it.

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=255

[smap]

Here is a link to an older post on the way I do it.

Awesome Eric - thanks! I'm on it now...

[phil99]

So far I have to say google analytics has not been much use.

After the code detection errors... (they have emailed me to say they have problems at the moment) my ecommerce results do not display all my sales.

I think this is because I use a third party payment processor, if people dont click to come back to my site the code wont pick them up as a sale... As it is I have 7 sales yesterday, and google picks up 2...I guess somehow you need to add the tracking code to yur 3rd party payment processors...(this is becoming alot of work!)

It is still useful for track your adwords, and I guess with your sales report you can manually work out your sites conversion rate, but I am glad I am not paying for this.

Its important to track and measure you site yes... but to trust and act on inaccurate stats is not... make sure and be carefull that you have thought about and are happy with your stats before you act.