Congrats on your new website! Getting to this point is a major accomplishment and I'm sure you spent countless hours on your site content, photos, and getting all the details together - so before you launch it and forget about it, be sure your website is set up for success. Today I'm sharing the three items you need to take care of ASAP if you have a new website (or if you never set these things up for your existing site)! Keep reading to learn about the importance of Google Analytics, Google My Business and Google Search Console for your business.

1. Create a Google Analytics Account and Install Your Tracking Code
   Don't worry, none of these steps are super complicated - you just need to follow the directions. Start by visiting Google Analytics and follow the steps to create a new account if you don't already have one. From here, you'll need to add your website information and answer a few questions about your business. When you finish the set up, Google will provide you with a tracking code to embed on your website. Some web design platforms have a Google Analytics "tab" or section in the editing options that will only require you to paste in your tracking ID. It will look something like this: "UA-181326596-1". If your website doesn't have an option to add your Google Analytics tracking ID, you'll need to embed the Global Site Tag (or gtag.js) into the header section of your website. Simply copy and paste it. No one will see the code, it is only visible to Google.
   
   Why do you need Google Analytics? This allows you to see exactly who is using your website and how they're interacting with your content. With Analytics, you can run reports to learn about your user demographics, traffic referral sources and which pages people are clicking on most. Not only is this helpful for you to see what's working and what you might need to improve on when it comes to your website, you'll be able to get a better idea of what phrases people are searching for, based on which pages they're landing on first. It can take time for Google to begin collecting data, so get your account set up and give it 48 hours to populate.
   
   
2. Set Up a Google Search Console Account and Verify Your Website
   The next thing you need to do to help your website get found, is create a Google Search Console account. Google Search Console shows you exactly how your pages are indexed with Google and alerts you to any issues that might effect your search ranking or Google standings. When you add new content or pages to your site you can request your site be "re-indexed" to make sure the Google bots crawl your site and index the new pages. (Pages that are indexed are pages that Google can pull up in search results.) Having your website verified with Google Search Console will be a huge help as you grow your business and your website!
   
   
3. Complete Your Google My Business Listing
   Lastly, and most importantly if you have a local business, be sure to claim your Google My Business account. Google My Business is where you'll manage your Google Reviews, your business hours (as listed in Google search results), and things like your Google Maps listing. Google My Business is free and easy to use. Simply follow the instructions to claim or verify your business and edit your information. Google My Business is designed to help customers find your business or organization, and tell your story. 
   
   The Google My Business dashboard allows you to share photos and updates (remember Google+) and you can also create promotions that show up when people see your business in their local search results. For my local clients with brick and mortar locations, I recommend posting once a week and always making sure your business hours are up to date. Google will prompt you to edit your hours for holidays etc. Take advantage of this and use the platform to convey business information to your clients and customers. 

If all of this sounds way over your head and you're already thinking, "I have no idea how to do this" - don't panic. Take things one step at a time and if you get stuck, we're here to help. As a complimentary service we offer Google Analytics set up for each of our web design clients and if we didn't design your website simply ask about our Website Starter Kit. We know your website took countless hours to design and complete so don't let it sit there "collecting dust" - let's put it to work! Contact us today to get started.

Rachel