As website owners become increasingly concerned with data privacy and ownership, alternative analytics tools are gaining popularity as an alternative to Google Analytics. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using alternative analytics tools for WordPress and provide step-by-step instructions on how to integrate them into your website.
Popular Alternative Analytics Tools for WordPress
Matomo/Piwik
Matomo (formerly known as Piwik) is a popular alternative to Google Analytics that provides similar features while keeping your data on your own server. Some of the benefits of using Matomo/Piwik include:
- You own your data and have complete control over it
- More privacy-friendly than Google Analytics
- Offers a wide range of analytics features
To set up Matomo/Piwik in WordPress, follow these steps:
- Install the Matomo plugin for WordPress
- Set up a Matomo account and create a new website
- Copy the tracking code from Matomo and paste it into the plugin settings
- Configure the plugin settings to your liking
Fathom Analytics
Fathom Analytics is a privacy-focused analytics tool that provides simple yet effective analytics features. Some of the benefits of using Fathom Analytics include:
- It doesn’t use cookies or collect personal data
- It’s lightweight and won’t slow down your website
- Provides clear and concise analytics data
To set up Fathom Analytics in WordPress, follow these steps:
- Install the Fathom Analytics plugin for WordPress
- Create a Fathom Analytics account and add your website
- Copy the tracking code from Fathom Analytics and paste it into the plugin settings
- Configure the plugin settings to your liking
How to Integrate Alternative Analytics Tools in WordPress
To integrate alternative analytics tools in WordPress, you’ll need to install the corresponding plugin for the tool you’ve chosen. You can easily find these plugins by searching the WordPress plugin directory. Once you’ve found the plugin, click on “Install Now” and then “Activate” to start using it.
Setting up the Plugin
After installing the plugin, you’ll need to set it up and configure the tracking code to start collecting analytics data. The specific steps will vary depending on the tool you’ve chosen, but generally, you’ll need to follow these steps:
Configuring the Tracking Code
In the plugin settings, you’ll find a section where you can input the tracking code provided by the analytics tool. Simply copy and paste the code into the designated area and save the settings. This will start collecting data and sending it to your analytics tool.
Customizing the Analytics Dashboard
Most alternative analytics tools for WordPress will provide a dashboard where you can view and analyze your website’s data. You can customize this dashboard to your liking by selecting the metrics you want to track and adjusting the display settings.
Conclusion
Integrating alternative analytics tools in WordPress is a great way to take control of your website’s data ownership and privacy. By using tools like Matomo/Piwik and Fathom Analytics, you can get valuable insights into your website’s performance without sacrificing privacy. Follow the steps outlined in this article to set up and configure these tools in WordPress and start analyzing your website’s data today.