Google Analytics Training Part 1: Access, Overview, and Basic Navigation
If you've ever logged into Google Analytics and felt overwhelmed by all the reports, charts, and data, you're not alone.
Many business owners, Realtors, marketers, and even agency teams know they should be using Google Analytics, but they aren't always sure where to start or what information actually matters.
That's exactly why we created our new Google Analytics Training Series.
In Part 1, we walk you through the fundamentals, including:
How to create a Google Analytics account
How to add Google Analytics to your website
How to add client websites to your account
How to request access from a client
Understanding the basic dashboard layout
Where to find the most important information
Whether you're managing your own business website or working with multiple clients, this training will help you build a solid foundation and gain confidence using one of the most powerful marketing tools available.
The goal isn't just to collect data. The goal is to understand what your website visitors are doing so you can make smarter marketing decisions and generate better results.
This is the first video in an ongoing series where we'll continue covering traffic sources, lead tracking, conversions, SEO reporting, landing page analysis, and more.
Watch the training today and start learning how to turn website data into actionable business insights.
Watch the Video Now and Begin Your Google Analytics Journey.
1. Understand the purpose of the training 0:00
This is Part 1 of a Google Analytics training series.
The goal is not just to install Google Analytics, but to understand the data so you can make better marketing decisions.
The training is useful for:
Agency owners
Client managers
White-label marketers
Anyone trying to understand website analytics
2. Keep the client’s marketing context in mind 0:47
The example account is a client site that launched less than 90 days ago.
There is no PPC or LSA running, so the data is mostly organic.
There may be a little email activity, but otherwise marketing activity is limited.
When reviewing analytics, always ask:
What marketing is currently being done?
What traffic sources might be driving results?
Are there gaps in the strategy that you can help fill?
3. Make sure you are logged into the correct Google account 1:50
To access a client’s Google Analytics, the client must be logged into the correct Gmail/business email.
Google often signs users in and out of different accounts, so confirm the profile icon shows the right email.
If the wrong account is active, the user will not be able to view the data or grant permissions.
4. Open Google Analytics and select the correct property 2:47
Go to Google.com and search for Google Analytics.
Click a valid Google Analytics domain link.
Sign in again if prompted.
Once inside, use the account selector in the upper-left corner to choose the correct business account.
This is especially important if the user manages multiple properties.
5. Go to Admin to manage access 3:37
Click the Admin gear in the bottom-left corner.
This opens the admin settings page.
From here, you can manage account-level settings and permissions.
6. Add users and assign permissions 4:0
In Admin, open Access Management.
Add a user by entering their email address.
Choose whether to notify them by email.
Select the appropriate role, such as:
Administrator for full access
Viewer for read-only/reporting access
The speaker recommends asking for administrator access so you are not restricted.
After clicking Add, the user should appear in the access list and receive an email notification.
7. Review the Home dashboard for a quick overview. 6:44
Click the Home icon to see the main overview dashboard.
This page shows:
Alerts or warnings
Recent activity
Month-over-month snapshots
Quick access to admin features and events
The speaker recommends comparing to the previous month because the current month is still in progress.
8. Use the Home dashboard to spot key trends. 7:08
Review top pages by title to see which content is getting the most views.
Look for the green up arrow or red down arrow to understand performance changes versus the previous period.
Check breakdowns by:
Country
Traffic source
Channel type
This helps identify whether traffic is coming from:
Email
Paid ads
Organic search
Social media
Direct traffic
9. Use the AI prompt feature for quick answers 9:08
In the upper-right corner, there is an AI feature you can use to ask basic questions.
Example questions include:
How many users did I have last week?
What are my top pages doing?
The tool returns a quick snapshot of the answer.
These results can be:
Screenshotted
Added to PDFs
Used in reports
The speaker also mentions Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) for building more polished reports.
10. Explore the Reports section for deeper analysis 9:59
Click Reports on the left-hand navigation to dig deeper into the data.
Here you can review:
Active users
New users
Engagement time
Event counts
Top pages by views
Bounce rate
Session source
Users by city
The date range matters, so the speaker prefers using the previous month for cleaner reporting
11. Check Search Console integration 11:22
If you have access to the client’s Google Analytics, you should also have access to Google Search Console.
Search Console can integrate with Analytics.
When connected, you can review Search Console data directly from the Analytics interface.
12. Understand how Google Analytics is connected to a website 11:49
If Analytics is not already set up, you can add a domain and follow the prompts.
A tracking code must be added to the backend of the website.
Once installed, Google Analytics begins collecting data from that point forward.
There is usually a few-hour delay before data starts appearing.
Historical data is not retroactive unless tracking was already in place.
13. Wrap-up and next steps12:45
The video ends with an invitation to ask questions and subscribe.
The next training video will cover how to navigate and understand the platform more deeply.
The speaker also points viewers to the company website for more Google Analytics tips and resources.
