Where to Paste Google Analytics Code in Blogger?

Connecting Google Analytics to your Blogger site is one of the best moves you can make to understand your audience and grow your blog. Instead of guessing what content resonates, you gain hard data on what works. This guide will show you exactly where to paste your Google Analytics code in Blogger using two simple methods so you can stop guessing and start tracking.

What is the Google Analytics Tracking Code?

Before we jump into Blogger, let's quickly clarify what we're looking for. The Google Analytics tracking code is a unique snippet of JavaScript that tracks activity on your website. When a user visits your blog, this code sends information back to your Google Analytics account, tracking which pages they viewed, how much time they spent, and their geographic location.

As of today, Google Analytics 4 is the standard, replacing the older Universal Analytics (UA) system. In GA4, your primary identifier is the Measurement ID, which looks like G-XXXXXXXXXX. You might also need the full tracking script, called the Global Site Tag (gtag.js).

Don't worry - we'll cover how to use both.

How to Find Your GA4 Measurement ID & Global Site Tag

First things first, you need to grab your ID or code from your Google Analytics account. If you haven't created an account or a property for your blog yet, you'll need to do that first.

Here’s how to find what you need:

1. Log in to your Google Analytics account.
2. Click on the Admin gear icon in the bottom-left corner.
3. In the middle "Property" column, make sure your blog's property is selected.
4. Under the Property column, click on Data Streams.
5. Select the appropriate data stream for your website. It should be labeled with your blog's URL.

On this screen, you'll find two key pieces of information:

• Your Measurement ID: This is displayed in the top right corner. It’s what you’ll need for Blogger’s integration. Just click the copy icon next to it.
• The Global Site Tag (gtag.js): To get the full code snippet, scroll down and click on "View tag instructions." Under the "Install manually" tab, you'll find a box containing the JavaScript code. Click the copy icon here to grab the entire thing.

Now that you have your G-ID and your full script handy, let's put them to work in Blogger.

Method 1: The Easy Way (Using Blogger’s Built-in Setting)

For 99% of Blogger users, this is the best and quickest way to connect Google Analytics. Blogger has a dedicated field just for your GA4 Measurement ID, making the setup process almost foolproof.

Here’s all you have to do:

1. Log in to your Blogger Dashboard.
2. On the left-hand menu, click on Settings.
3. Scroll down the settings page until you reach the "Basic" section.
4. Look for the setting labeled Google Analytics Measurement ID. Click it.
5. A popup window will appear. Paste your Measurement ID (the one that starts with "G-") into the text box.
6. Click Save.

That’s it. You’re done. Blogger will now automatically add the necessary tracking code to every page of your blog. This method is recommended because it’s simple, safe, and works perfectly with standard Blogger themes.

Method 2: The Manual Way (Pasting the Code into Your Theme)

While the first method is ideal, there might be situations where you want more control or need to place the full analytics script yourself. For example, if you're setting up advanced event tracking or if the built-in feature fails with a heavily customized theme, this manual method is your backup plan.

Note: This method involves editing your blog’s underlying HTML. While it's a straightforward copy-and-paste job, a small mistake could mess up your blog's layout. Always back up your theme before making changes.

Step A: Back Up Your Blogger Theme

First, let's create a backup so you can easily restore your blog if something goes wrong.

1. In your Blogger Dashboard, go to Theme.
2. Next to the "Customize" button, click the small dropdown arrow.
3. From the dropdown menu, select Backup.
4. Click Download to save a copy of your current theme file to your computer. Keep it somewhere safe.

Step B: Paste the Tracking Code

With your theme safely backed up, you're ready to add the code.

1. From the same Theme menu, click the dropdown arrow again but this time select Edit HTML.
2. Inside the theme editor, you will see your blog’s HTML code. Click anywhere inside the code box.
3. Press Ctrl + F (on Windows/Linux) or Cmd + F (on Mac) to open the search bar.
4. In the search bar, type </head> and press Enter. This will locate the closing head tag in your theme's code.
5. Now, paste your full Global Site Tag (gtag.js) code directly above the </head> tag.
6. Once the code is pasted, click the Save icon (it looks like a floppy disk) in the top right corner.

And you're all set! The Google Analytics script is now integrated directly into your theme and will load on every page of your blog.

How to Check If Google Analytics Is Working Correctly

After setting everything up, the last step is to confirm that Google Analytics is actually receiving data from your Blogger site. Note that while it can take 24-48 hours for data to start showing up in your standard reports, you can check your connection immediately using the Realtime report.

Use the Realtime Report in GA4

1. Go back to your Google Analytics account.
2. In the left navigation menu, click Reports and then Realtime.
3. With the Realtime report open, visit your live Blogger website in another browser tab (or on your phone). Click around to different pages. Be active on the site!
4. Return to the GA4 Realtime report window. After a minute or two, you should see the "Users in last 30 minutes" chart move from 0 to at least 1.

If you see your own visit pop up, congratulations! Your tracking is set up correctly.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Not seeing any data? Let it go for a few minutes while you navigate through another few articles on your Blogspot website. Still not working?

Relax and check these common culprits:

• Typos or Incomplete Copy: Make sure you've correctly copied everything. Did you copy only part of the Measurement ID?
• Code placed in the wrong area: The whole gtag.js code must be placed directly above the </head> tag.
• Cache issues: Try clearing your browser cache and then check again.
• Browser Extensions Blocking: Extensions that offer privacy protection, such as AdGuard, may block script tracking. Turn them off or use another device to verify.
• Wait some time: The Realtime report works immediately, but standard ones in Google Analytics can take up to 48 hours to start showing data.

Final Thoughts

Setting up Google Analytics on Blogger to track your blog is easier than you think. Whether you choose the built-in setup method or the full code manual method, the result is the same: data-driven insights about your readers' behavior.

While your Google Analytics starts collecting all of your Blogger data, the next step is to make sense of all that information. That's where a tool like Graphed can be invaluable. It connects your Google Analytics and helps you build custom-made visualizations using conversational requests. Give it a test drive and streamline your analytics experience.