Tracking File Downloads in Google Analytics
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10 December 2009 18:36pm
Hello,
I am trying to track file downloads. I added the following code but it still not tracking file downloads.
<a href="pdf/master.pdf" target="_blank" onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('pdf/master);">
Is there anything missing or wrong with this code?
Thank you,
Technical Project Manager (MBA, MBCS, CITP, CEng) at Naxtech.com
11 December 2009 02:17am
Hi,
The filename does not look right to me, but it's probably best to follow the instructions and example shown here.
I hope this helps.
regards,
Denis
www.naxtech.com - web development and online marketing
Also see:
- www.accommodation-center.com
- www.quick-flight.com
Search manager at THESITEBOX.COM
11 December 2009 17:32pm
Hello there,
I can see that you are using page view tracking (_trackPageview). For file download requests, I would use an onclick tracking, or more simply event tracking.
Hope that helps,
Sarah
14 December 2009 17:06pm
Hi,
We've developed a couple of free scripts to help track file downloads - works for pdfs, docs, mp3s and more, they're on our blog if you want to check them out:
Track file downloads in Google Analytics
We also did another post on how to analyse the results, you can find that here.
All the best!
Head of Ecommerce at Lovehoney
15 December 2009 11:37am
Yeah, I'd totally do this in TrackEvent rather than pageview - although, I can see that having a virtual pageview would allow you to work out a reverse goal path.
It would depend on how many files of differing types there were, but you could be sneaky, use TrackTrans and treat it as ecommerce.
If you have lot of types of files, and they represent differing levels of "engagement", you could assign an arbitrary yet relative amount to the value of having someone download that.
You could then seperate your files by, say category, content etc and report on them as if they were sweaters, shoes etc
Then, you can see what the most popular types are, how they found your content, and did anyone "abandon" before downloading?
Matt
Search manager at THESITEBOX.COM
15 December 2009 14:17pm
Mr Curry! TrackTrans!? I like it!! Good thinking batman etc
Head of Ecommerce at Lovehoney
15 December 2009 14:51pm
:- ) I live to serve.
(and grumble and pull faces a bit)