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Tracking Your Websites in SharpSpring

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Forest Myers
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SharpSpring's website tracking is made possible through tracking code.

This allows you to connect with the SharpSpring platform and take advantage of all the tools SharpSpring has to offer.

This article will detail how to utilize tracking codes in SharpSpring.


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Understanding Tracking Codes

Tracking codes are Javascript code snippets. Once added to the HTML of a web page, these code snippets track, collect, and send website user activity. This data is sent to a website analytics platform or service. SharpSpring utilizes its own tracking and analytics services, and it provides ways to utilize Google Analytics.

Tracking codes are generated automatically. That said, tracking codes are different for each website. This means that tracking codes must be installed on each page you want to track.

However, once you have added SharpSpring tracking codes to a website, microsite, blog or landing page, you will start generating leads in seconds. SharpSpring allows you to track as many sites as you would like and monitor them in one place.

  
Important: Tracking codes should be placed directly on pages in your website. Google Tag Manager does not currently work with SharpSpring tracking code.

Tracking in SharpSpring is cookie-based. For information on cookies and how SharpSpring uses cookies for tracking, refer to Understanding Cookies.


Adding Websites

To begin tracking your website in SharpSpring, you will first need to add it to SharpSpring and generate a tracking code.

When creating websites for use with Perfect Audience, you will not need to do anything special. SharpSpring site tracking code also contains Perfect Audience code, and it will not need to be modified for use with Perfect Audience.

To add your website to SharpSpring, do the following:

  1. In SharpSpring's top toolbar, click
    user.png  User Settings > Settings.
  2. In the left panel, under Tracking, click Sites.
  3. Click  12cog.png  Options > Add Site.
  4. Enter a short name for your website in the Short Site Name text field.
  5. Select one of the following website types from the Site Type drop-down menu:
  6. Enter the domain name URL in the Domain Name/URL text field.
  7. Optionally, click the Make Available in Landing Page Builder checkbox.
  8. Click Add Site.
   


Click to enlarge.
 
Important: Each unique domain will need to have a unique tracking code.
 
Important: If a site with the same domain name already exists in your account, either activated or deactivated, the generated website will not save. You cannot have two sites with the same domain name.
 


Deactivating Websites

You can deactivate website tracking at any time. To deactivate and disable tracking for a website, do the following:

  1. In SharpSpring's top toolbar, click
    user.png  User Settings > Settings.
  2. In the left panel, under Tracking, click Sites.
  3. Locate the desired tracked website.
  4. Click Deactivate.
  


Click to enlarge.

Deactivated sites are not deleted and are placed in the Inactive Sites list. 


Reactivating Websites

You can reactivate tracking for previously deactivated websites. To reactivate a deactivated website, do the following:

  1. In SharpSpring's top toolbar, click
    user.png  User Settings > Settings.
  2. In the left panel, under Tracking, click Sites.
  3. Click the Active drop-down menu.
  4. Select Inactive Sites.
  5. Locate the desired tracked website.
  6. Click Activate.
  


Click to enlarge.

Reactivated websites will be placed in the Active Sites list.


Copying Tracking Codes

Once you have added a website to SharpSpring, the website will be assigned a specific tracking code. This tracking code will need to be copied for use on your website. To copy a tracking code in SharpSpring, do the following:

  1. In SharpSpring's top toolbar, click
    user.png  User Settings > Settings.
  2. In the left panel, under Tracking, click Sites.
  3. Click the name of a tracked website.
  4. Click the Tracking Code tab.
  5. Copy the the tracking code.
  


Click to enlarge.

The tracking code will be located under the Domain and Tracking ID information.


Pasting Tracking Codes

Once you have added a site and copied that site's tracking code, you will need to paste the tracking code on your website. While each website is different, the general process is largely the same. To paste tracking code on a website, do the following:

  1. In another browser tab, open your website.
  2. Log in as an administrator.
  3. Open the page's code settings.
  4. Paste the copied tracking code immediately before the closing </head> tag.
  5. Repeat as necessary for every page or template on your site.
  6. Wait 24 hours.
   
Note: SharpSpring offers Professional Services to assist with custom coding.

Once you have properly pasted your code and waited 24 hours, you should see site traffic for this site in your instance under the Site Traffic tab. The orange Pending tag will turn green and say Active once tracking is live.


Tracking Wordpress Websites

Wordpress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows you to host web content. You can track Wordpress websites. To place tracking code on a Wordpress site, do the following:

  1. In a different browser tab, log in to Wordpress.
  2. From the menu on the left, under Appearance, click Editor.
  3. From the menu on the right, locate and click the header.php file.
  4. Paste your copied tracking code immediately before the closing </head> tag.
  5. Click Update File.
  


Click to enlarge.

For more information on tracking Wordpress sites, refer to Adding Tracking Codes to Wordpress.


Adding Anchor Tag Code to Single-Page Websites

Certain websites require different tracking methods. A single-page application (SPA) is a web application or website that fits on a single webpage with the goal of providing a more fluid user experience akin to a desktop application.

In order to track events for single-page websites, your webpage must use URLs that use the hashtag appended to the URL.

If you are looking to track events on a single page, your website must use anchor tags. To add tracking code via anchor tags, do the following:		  
Note: SharpSpring offers Professional Services to assist with custom coding.
  1. Add tracking code to your website.
  2. Paste the following code snippet below the tracking code:   
    <!-- TRACKING CODE GOES HERE -->

<!-- Script Example of Catching URL hash changes -->
<script type='text/javascript'>
    if ("onhashchange" in window) {
        window.onhashchange = function () {
            _ss.push(['_trackPageView']);
        }
    } else {
        var prevHash = window.location.hash;
        window.setInterval(function () {
            if (window.location.hash != prevHash) {
                prevHash = window.location.hash;
                _ss.push(['_trackPageView']);
            }
        }, 100);
    }
</script>
    This will run _ss.push(['_trackPageView']) when the URL hash changes, tracking a new page view. 

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