Leveraging Ajax with Google Analytics

Question

Leveraging Ajax with Google Analytics

Currently, I am working on a website that utilizes Ajax calls to update the main content. In order to integrate Google Analytics tracking code using the async _gaq method, I need to push a _trackPageview event with the URI to _gaq. There are two approaches I am considering:

1) Utilize an onclick property (or utilize JQuery to bind events) on links and forms to include the _gaq.push(....)

2) Given that my ajax code can process scripts upon receiving data from the ajax request, I could incorporate the _gaq.push(...) call within a script snippet when serving the ajaxed page.

The first option results in cleaner and more concise code but requires remembering to add the analytics code to all links and forms. Additionally, if used on a form with JS validation, the click will be tracked by GA even if validation fails.

The second option may seem less clean, but it resolves the aforementioned issues. It allows for a single GA code to determine whether we're serving ajax or normal pages and output a suitable JS snippet accordingly. Moreover, form submissions will only be logged when a form is successfully submitted.

I welcome any thoughts or feedback on this matter. Are there additional considerations or alternative methods that should be taken into account?

Thank you, Yaron

javascript ajax google-analytics

Answer 1

Answer №1

For those utilizing jQuery, there are more efficient methods available.

One approach is to utilize the ajaxSuccess event.

$(document).ajaxSuccess(function(e, xhr, opt){
  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview', opt.url]);
});

This setup ensures that all jQuery ajax calls will trigger this event and send the requested URL via Ajax to _gaq.

It's important to note that the URLs are pushed exactly as requested. For example:

$.ajax('http://www.mydomain.com/path')

In this case, http://www.mydomain.com/path will be added to the _gaq. This may not always be desired, so it's recommended to use .ajax in a different way:

$.ajax('/path');

With this method, only /path is sent to _gaq.

If you do need to include the entire domain, it's advisable to sanitize the URL before sending it to Google Analytics.

Answer 2

For those utilizing jQuery, there are more efficient methods available.

One approach is to utilize the ajaxSuccess event.

$(document).ajaxSuccess(function(e, xhr, opt){
  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview', opt.url]);
});

This setup ensures that all jQuery ajax calls will trigger this event and send the requested URL via Ajax to _gaq.

It's important to note that the URLs are pushed exactly as requested. For example:

$.ajax('http://www.mydomain.com/path')

In this case, http://www.mydomain.com/path will be added to the _gaq. This may not always be desired, so it's recommended to use .ajax in a different way:

$.ajax('/path');

With this method, only /path is sent to _gaq.

If you do need to include the entire domain, it's advisable to sanitize the URL before sending it to Google Analytics.

Answer 3

Answer №2

Sharing a fresh perspective with this new answer.

If you prefer not to rely on the global event ajaxSucess, you can take a manual approach by using deferreds.

$.ajax('/page').done(function(){
  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/page']);
}).done(function(response){
  // Handle the response accordingly
});

An inconvenience is that the done callback does not receive the URL, leading to redundant typing. To streamline this process for multiple occurrences, consider creating a helper function:

function GaAjax(url){
  return (function(u){
    return $.ajax(u).done(function(){
      _gaq.push(['_trackPageview', u]);
    });
  })(url);
}

You can now use this function instead of jQuery's .ajax when making an Ajax request intended for Google Analytics tracking.

GaAjax('/page').done(function(){
  // Handle the response accordingly
});

Answer 4

Sharing a fresh perspective with this new answer.

If you prefer not to rely on the global event ajaxSucess, you can take a manual approach by using deferreds.

$.ajax('/page').done(function(){
  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/page']);
}).done(function(response){
  // Handle the response accordingly
});

An inconvenience is that the done callback does not receive the URL, leading to redundant typing. To streamline this process for multiple occurrences, consider creating a helper function:

function GaAjax(url){
  return (function(u){
    return $.ajax(u).done(function(){
      _gaq.push(['_trackPageview', u]);
    });
  })(url);
}

You can now use this function instead of jQuery's .ajax when making an Ajax request intended for Google Analytics tracking.

GaAjax('/page').done(function(){
  // Handle the response accordingly
});

Leveraging Ajax with Google Analytics

Answer №1

Answer №2

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