Google Analytics 4 Setup Guide

Step 1: Create Google Analytics Account

1. Go to Google Analytics
2. Click “Start measuring”
3. Sign in with your Google account
4. Follow the setup wizard

Step 2: Create a Property

1. Click “Create Property”
2. Property name: Sina Berk Golech - Academic Website
3. Reporting time zone: Europe/Berlin
4. Currency: Euro (€)
5. Click “Next”

Step 3: Configure Business Information

1. Business size: Small business
2. How do you plan to use Google Analytics: Select relevant options:
   • Understand my users
   • Improve my website
   • Measure user engagement
3. Click “Next”

Step 4: Create Data Stream

1. Platform: Web
2. Website URL: https://sinaberkgolech.github.io
3. Stream name: Academic Website
4. Click “Create stream”

Step 5: Get Your Tracking ID

1. After creating the stream, you’ll see your Measurement ID
2. It will look like: G-XXXXXXXXXX
3. Copy this ID

Step 6: Update Your Website

1. Open _config.yml in your website repository
2. Find the analytics section:

   analytics:
     provider: "google-analytics-4"
     google:
       tracking_id: "G-XXXXXXXXXX" # Replace with your actual ID
   

3. Replace G-XXXXXXXXXX with your actual Measurement ID
4. Save the file

Step 7: Test Analytics

1. Deploy your website to GitHub Pages
2. Visit your website
3. Accept the cookie consent notice
4. Check Google Analytics Real-Time reports to see if data is being collected

Step 8: Configure Academic Goals (Optional)

Set up Custom Events

Google Analytics will automatically track:

• Publication downloads (PDF files, papers)
• Project repository visits (GitHub links)
• CV downloads
• Theme toggle usage
• Academic profile clicks (Google Scholar, ORCID, PubMed)
• Research interest clicks

Create Custom Reports

1. Go to Reports → Engagement → Events
2. Look for custom events like:
   • publication_download
   • project_visit
   • cv_download
   • research_interest

Step 9: Privacy Compliance

Your website is already configured with:

• GDPR-compliant cookie consent
• Privacy policy page
• Opt-out mechanisms
• Data anonymization

Step 10: Monitor and Optimize

Key Metrics to Track:

• Most visited pages (publications, projects, skills)
• Research area interest (metabolomics, AMPs, computer vision)
• Geographic distribution of visitors
• Device types (desktop vs mobile)
• Referral sources (Google Scholar, LinkedIn, etc.)

Regular Reviews:

• Check analytics weekly/monthly
• Identify popular content
• Optimize based on user behavior
• Update privacy policy as needed

Troubleshooting

Analytics Not Working?

1. Check if tracking ID is correct
2. Verify cookie consent is accepted
3. Check browser console for errors
4. Ensure website is deployed with latest changes

No Data in Reports?

1. Wait 24-48 hours for data to appear
2. Check if ad blockers are disabled
3. Verify Google Analytics is enabled in _config.yml
4. Test with Google Analytics Debugger extension

Support

If you need help:

• Google Analytics Help Center
• Google Analytics Community
• Contact: berk.golech@gmail.com

This setup provides comprehensive analytics for your academic website while maintaining GDPR compliance and user privacy.