Add Google Analytics tracking to Timely

 Disclaimer: While we can help you with the initial setup process with Google Analytics, we aren't able to provide any support around accessing and using Google Analytics. We recommend taking a course to get the most value out of Google Analytics, Google offer free courses through their  Google Analytics Academy.

How it works and what you can track  

When you connect Google Analytics to Timely, you will be able to record a client's progress across the online booking process, including when an appointment has been successfully booked.

We record each step of the online booking process as a separate URL/link for you to see and track in your Google Analytics account. This allows you to track: 

• How many people start the online booking process.
• How many people complete the booking process.
• What step people are dropping off (which step has the least views).
• How many times people have abandoned the payment process (only available if online payments are enabled).
• How many times people have reached the failed payments page (only available if online payments are enabled).

Tracking page views

To track online bookings with Google Analytics, you will need to head to the Reports> Examine user behaviour> Pages and screens report and select Page path and screen class in the drop-down.

Please note: it can take up to 48 hours before events are available in this report. 

When the client successfully completes an online booking via Timely, they won't be taken to a unique landing page. Because of this, there isn't a single URL you can use to track successful online bookings. 

This also means that it's not currently possible to set up as a goal for a completed booking i.e. using the conversion tracking functionality in Google Analytics. 

Instead, you would look for the /Booking/Confirmation URL (see above) to see how many bookings have been successfully made. You can also use this report to see how many times customers have made it to each step of the booking process.

Tracking referrals

When you use Google Analytics with Timely, you will also notice that there are two main sources:

• Direct will indicate that they headed to the website/URL directly.
• Referral will identify that they came to the booking process from another link.

To identify where the client originated from, you require something called cross-domain tracking - the ability to track someone across different websites/domains. Unfortunately, this isn't something that's currently supported in Timely, so the exact referral source can't be recorded.

 Using Google Adwords with Timely

At the moment, using Google Adwords with Timely isn't supported. There are two key puzzle pieces required to do so: cross-domain tracking (the ability to track a visitor across different websites) and a field to allow a snippet of code to be added directly to the completed step of the online booking process.

If you are wanting to track ROI with Google Adwords, we are keen to hear your feedback! Please submit a feedback form at our Help Centre to register your interest for this functionality.

Create a free Google Analytics account

If you aren't already using Google Analytics, then you can create a free account to add your Timely bookings to. Alternatively, if you have an existing Google Analytics account, skip the section below and follow these instructions.

1. Head to the Google Analytics page: https://www.google.com/analytics/analytics/
2. Click Get started today to create a new account.
3. You'll be prompted to sign in with your Gmail address: 

   

4. When you reach the landing page, click the Start measuring button: 

   

5. You'll then be prompted to enter some information:
   1. Add an Account name (e.g., Your business name).
   2. Add a Property name (e.g., Timely online booking). Can also update to your Reporting time zone & currency here.
   3. Enter your Business information (relevant Industry category, Business size, etc) and click on Create. 
6. You will be taken to the Start collecting data page. In the Choose a platform area click on the Web button.  
7. You'll then be prompted to Set up data stream
   1. Set the Website URL to: bookings.gettimely.com (you'll also want this to be set to https://).
   2. Enter a Stream name 
   3. Click on Create stream button.
8. You'll then be taken to your Web stream details. You can copy the Measurement ID (e.g., G-XXXXXXXXXX) from the top of the page:

Add Timely to an existing Google Analytics account

If you are already using Google Analytics, then you can set up a new property to track your Timely bookings:

1. Go to your Google Analytics home page: https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web
2. Go to the Admin page and click Create property:

   

3. You'll then be prompted to enter some information:
   1. Add a Property name (e.g., Timely online booking). Can also update to your Reporting time zone & currency here.
   2. Select the relevant Industry category.
   3. Choose relevant business objectives and click on Create. 
4. You'll then be prompted to Set up data stream
   1. Set the Website URL to: bookings.gettimely.com (you'll also want this to be set to https://).
   2. Enter a Stream name 
   3. Click on Create stream button.
5. You'll then be taken to your Web stream details. You can copy the Measurement ID (e.g., G-XXXXXXXXXX) from the top of the page:
   

    

Add Google Analytics to Timely

Now that you have your Measurement ID in hand, you can add this to your Timely account.

1. In Timely, head to Setup > Analytics tools: 

   

2. Select Google Analytics tab and GA4 in the Analytics type section: 
3. Add your Google Analytics Measurement Id in the ID field provided: 

   

4. Select how you would like your booking steps to be recorded into your analytics account. The options include:
   
   1. Simple (recommended): A distinct page address excluding any query-string for each booking step. Use this one to track confirmations.
   2. Full:  A distinct page address including any query-string for each booking step. This will also show you a unique link for every service/date range selected - the services aren't named and use a bunch of numbers and letters, so not super handy!
   3. Default: The default page address as detected by the analytics script. Note this may result in multiple booking steps being recorded under the same page address.
5. Click Save to apply.

Google analytics can take up to 48 hours before the reports start showing any activity so check back the following day. You can also head back to the tracking info page at Google analytics in a few hours to see if Google has verified your tracking code!