Web Design

How to Set up Google Analytics & Google Search Console (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

Founder CJ typing on her laptop

TL;DR

To track how people are finding and using your website, you need Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
They’re free, easy to set up, and give you real insights you can use to grow traffic and conversions—fast.

Keep reading for the step-by-step guide!

Before you try to get more visitors to your site, let’s make sure you can actually track the ones you already have.

Because when you know where your traffic is coming from—and what people are doing once they land—you can stop guessing and start growing.

Enter two free tools from Google that do all the heavy lifting: Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

What’s the Difference?

Google Analytics = Shows you who’s visiting, how they got there, and what they’re doing on your site.


Google Search Console = Shows you how your site is performing in Google search (including what people are typing in to find you).

Together, they give you the full picture.

Step-by-Step: Set Up Google Analytics

  1. Go to analytics.google.com and sign in with your Google account (yes, you need a google account but it can be a free one!)
  2. Click “Start Measuring” and follow the prompts to name your property (your website).
  3. Choose your time zone and currency.
  4. Set up a “Data Stream” (choose “Web” if you’re tracking a website).
  5. Copy the tracking code and add it to your site’s header.
    • If you’re using WordPress, try the Site Kit by Google plugin.
    • On Squarespace, Showit or Wix? Drop it in the “Code Injection” section.
  6. Click “Next” and boom—you’re tracking.

Step-by-Step: Set Up Google Search Console

  1. Go to search.google.com/search-console and log in.
  2. Choose “Domain” or “URL Prefix” (if unsure, start with URL Prefix—it’s easier to verify).
  3. Add your full website URL (including https://).
  4. Verify ownership:
    • If you used Google Analytics above, you can verify instantly.
    • Or, copy the provided HTML tag and paste it into your site’s <head> section.
  5. Once verified, let Google do its thing—it’ll start collecting data.

How to Use These Tools (Without Getting Lost)

Start by checking:

  • In Google Analytics:
    • Your top 3 traffic sources (where people are coming from)
    • Your most-viewed pages
  • In Search Console:
    • Your top 5 search terms
    • Any pages with high impressions but low clicks (room for improvement!)

Remember to Check In Weekly!

Even a quick weekly peek can tell you:

  • What content’s working
  • Which traffic sources are worth your energy
  • If SEO changes are moving the needle

Want Someone to Just Do It For You?

If this all sounds great—but you’d rather not DIY your setup, optimization, or ongoing tracking—I’ve got you.

Our Website Optimization Retainer is built exactly for this.
We handle your analytics, SEO, conversion tweaks, and performance tracking—so your site actually works like a marketing machine.

Or, just reach out here and let’s chat about what you need.

Founder CJ of Ivingo Creative

Hey! I’m CJ.

Web designer turned conversion strategist—aka your go-to for websites that actually do something.

Before Ivingo Creative, I was running a tent & event rental business with my husband (yep, weddings, festivals, the whole nine). I learned how to get us to the top of Google without an agency—and realized I kinda loved the strategy side more than the setup.

Now? I help businesses and service pros build websites that work harder—optimized for conversions, SEO, and real results.

When I’m not fine-tuning CTAs or obsessing over UX, I’m recharging with my family, a strong marg, and a break from my screen—because balance matters, too.

Let’s make your website the hardest-working part of your business so you can relax, too.

Your Website Deserves Better

Stop leaving money on the table with a website that’s not pulling its weight.

Our Monthly Optimization Package is designed to fix that—improving SEO, increasing conversions, and driving growth.

Ready to get started?

Hire Us

More insights, more leads, more growth.

Check out these related topics!

Before You Jump: What to Know About SEO When Moving from WordPress to Shopify

Thinking about moving your site from WordPress to Shopify? Before you make the leap, learn how to protect your SEO—so you don’t lose rankings, traffic, or years of hard work. This guide walks you through everything from redirects to metadata, with practical tips for a smooth, search-friendly migration.

More Email Signups = More Sales (Here’s How to Get Them)

Getting traffic to your website is great—but if you’re not turning visitors into subscribers, you’re leaving money on the table. In this post, we break down 3 simple strategies to grow your email list and turn those signups into paying clients. From irresistible lead magnets to smarter forms and automated follow-ups, here’s how to make your email list your most powerful sales tool.

Most Pages Leak Traffic. Here’s How to Tell If Yours Does

Getting traffic to your website is great—until you realize those visitors are bouncing without taking action. In this post, you’ll learn how to spot a traffic leak, align your content with search intent, and turn more of your clicks into conversions.

The Best Pages for SEO on a Website (Hint: It’s Not Your Homepage)

If you’ve been pouring your energy into optimizing your homepage for SEO—pause right there. While your homepage is important for brand presence, it’s rarely the page doing the heavy lifting in Google search results. If you want to attract more of the right visitors to...

Old Ivingo Creative Logo
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.