Google Launches Autotrack To Help Sites Get More Out Of Universal Analytics

Last week, Google launched autotrack for analytics.js (aka Universal Analytics) to make it easier for marketers to get more out of Google Analytics without having to go through a big customization learning curve.

The autotrack library “attempts to leverage as many Google Analytics features as possible while requiring minimal manual implementation. It gives developers a foundation for tracking data relevant to today’s modern web,” explains Philip Walton, developer programs engineer at Google in the blog post announcing the launch.

Autotrack offers a collection of Universal Analytics plugins that can be enabled collectively or individually. Autotrack is designed for properties that do not already have customized tracking code.

One of the plugins included in the autotrack library automates outbound link and form tracking. Tracking user clicks or form submissions that go offsite has always been a bit of a pain to implement, requiring code customization. With this plugin implemented, it can happen automatically.

Another plugin simplifies tracking of events, such as click events, by adding attributes to the markup, rather than having to write out an event listener in JavaScript.

In addition to declarative event tracking and automatic outbound form and link tracking, the autotrack library includes plugins for media query and breakpoint tracking, enhanced session duration tracking, automatic and enhanced declarative social tracking and automatic URL change tracking for single-page applications.

To implement autotrack, you’ll need to load the autotrack.js script file on your page, then update the tracking snippet to require the autotrack plugin.

Full instructions and additional details are available on Github. If you’re not currently customizing your analytics tracking code, then autotrack could be a handy solution for getting more out of GA without the complexity of manually implementing each of these common tracking features.

About The Author

Ginny Marvin

As Third Door Media’s paid media reporter, Ginny Marvin writes about paid online marketing topics including paid search, paid social, display and retargeting for Search Engine Land and Marketing Land. With more than 15 years of marketing experience, Ginny has held both in-house and agency management positions. She provides search marketing and demand generation advice for ecommerce companies and can be found on Twitter as @ginnymarvin.

(Some images used under license from Shutterstock.com.)