Most of us know we can use Google Analytics to see what search terms are bringing people into our site. But once they’ve arrived, how do we know what searches they perform while on our site? Google has a nifty tool called Google Site Search that can help you read your visitor’s minds track site searches by showing you exactly what visitors are entering via your WordPress search widget.
Knowing those keywords and search phrases is golden information! Over time you can use these search insights to change your site’s organization and help connect visitors to the content they want.
In 5 minutes, I’ll show you how to track your WordPress site searches with Google Site Search.
Go to your Google Analytics Account
Log into Google Analytics and select your site profile. From there, click on the Admin tab.
You’ll see a sub-tab for Profile Settings. Click on that to bring up the Edit Web Profile Information screen.
You’re Almost Done
These instructions are so easy I couldn’t draw them out if I wanted! Scroll down to the bottom the Edit screen to the Site Search Settings. For Pete’s sake, click the radio button to track Site Search!
Next you need to enter a query parameter. On a typical WordPress site, the query parameter is simply the letter “s”.
How can I be sure that’s the query parameter for my WordPress site??
If you go to your WordPress site and do a search via the search widget, you’ll notice the URL of the results page will look something like http://www.yourdomain.com/?s=search-phrase. Whatever’s happening between the ? and the = is your query parameter!
Wait for the results to come rolling in
It can take up to 48 hours for Google to starting tracking your site search, so be patient, grasshoppa. Of course, the more traffic your site gets, the more (and better) results you’ll have to go on.
To check the results, go back to your Google Analytics account. Go to Content > Site Search to get the scoop on search terms people use on your site!
Now you’re ready to track searches on your WordPress site! If you need any additional info, here’s the official article from Google on how to Set Up and Configure Site Search.
yankeerudy says
November 27, 2012 at 7:35 amThis is a pretty cool trick, and a good indicator not only of stuff you have that might be hard to find but also of stuff you don’t have that you need to have.
Carrie Dils says
November 27, 2012 at 7:38 amThat’s a great point, Rudy. I always enjoy a comment from the SEO man!
Jonathan says
November 27, 2012 at 7:38 amFreaking Awesome Article and Graphics too!!! =) I have to set something like this up, thanks for the info!!
Carrie Dils says
November 27, 2012 at 7:39 amThanks Jonathan!
Rich Senior says
April 27, 2015 at 4:10 pmWonderful article Carrie, so simple but inherently golden. I always wanted to be a mind reader. 😉 thank you.
Carrie Dils says
April 27, 2015 at 7:34 pm🙂
Leonard says
December 15, 2015 at 12:53 pmI guess since this was written in 2013, the setting on GA are different now. For all those looking to do this – you now have to navigate to Administration›View Settings, and there you will see ‘Site Search Tracking.’ Then follow the rest of the instructions explained above. Thanks for this article – couldnt have done it without your help!!!
Carrie Dils says
December 16, 2015 at 7:15 pmHey Leonard,
Thanks for taking the time to leave the updated details!
Cheers,
Carrie