DNN comes with a built-in module "Google Analytics" for web analysis. You can find it under Admin > Google Analytics in every DNN installation. Setting it up is easy: Just enter your Google Analytics Tracking ID and your page views will be tracked. You can optionally disable tracking of admins (which is quite useful as you probably don't want to distort your reports). Evoq Content - DNN's enterprise version - comes with "Google Analytics Professional". In addition to DNN's standard module, the Professional version features options for segmentation.
However, DNN and Evoq are limited to page view tracking. Tracking events such as downloads, search requests, and dead links (404) is not possible with either of them. This is why we developed
DNN Google Analytics Advanced.
Below you can find information about how to install DNN Google Analytics Advanced in your DNN environment and a short introduction about the events that will (automatically) be tracked after the setup is complete.
Setting up DNN Google Analytics Advanced
Installing DNN Google Analytics Advanced is easy, it just takes the following steps:
- Download the latest version of the module from weweave.net.
- You can try the module for free on localhost and *.local-domains. If you want to use it on a production site, you can easily purchase a license key by buying the module in DNN Store.
- Install the module under Host > Extensions (as usual).
- As DNN Google Analytics Advanced extends DNN's standard Google Analytics module, please enter your Google Analytics Tracking ID under Admin > Google Analytics.
Full-size view - Set up your (purchased) license key under Host > Google Analytics Advanced.
Full-size View
That's it. All supported events will be tracked in realtime now. You can view these events under Real-Time > Events. Historical events can be viewed under Behavior > Events.
Need information about Google Analytics' Events? Click here.
Tracking downloads
All downloads are tracked in realtime without configuration - independent from the site or module they are contained in.
The following properties are sent to Google Analytics in the tracking events:
- Event Category: Download
- Event Action:
- DigitalAssets: File was downloaded via the Digital Assets module (click right on file and select "Download").
- LinkClick: (Protected) file was downloaded via the LinkClick handler (download links using the pattern http://your-domain.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=X....
- Standard: (Non-protected) file was downloaded via a direct link.
- Event Label: File name (incl. relative path) of the downloaded file.</li>
Tracking search requests
All search requests submitted from the search page and from the quick search in the header bar are tracked in realtime without configuration - independent from the site or module they are contained in.
The following properties are sent to Google Analytics in the tracking events:
- Event Category: Search
- Event Action:
- Preview: Search request was submitted via quick search in header bar.
- Standard: Search request was submitted via search page.
- Event Label: Query string
Tracking 404 requests (resource not found / dead link)
All 404 requests are tracked in realtime without configuration - independent from the site or module they are contained in.
The following properties are sent to Google Analytics in the tracking events:
- Event Category: Not Found
- Event Action: Referrer (if known) or "No Referer" - useful for finding the source of dead links.
- Event Label: URL that produces the 404 error.
More information
From time to time, we publish some HOWTOs and tips in our blog. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
