Google Analytics and SSL

Posted by: Joey Marchy on Monday July 30, 2007

Here’s a Google Analytics tip that might save you a few headaches. If you use SSL anywhere on your site, even on a single page, you must use the secure Google Analytics tracking code. I discovered this when, simultaneously, our SSL certificate broke and Analytics stopped tracking certain pages. For a comparison, the only thing that differs between the two tracking codes is the url of the Analytics tracking script. See below:

Secure tracking url
https://ssl.google-analytics.com/urchin.js

Regular tracking url
http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js

It’s easy to select the secure tracking code during the site profile set up. Here are instructions on getting the secure page tracking code. Two interesting things to note:

You must follow the instructions above. You can’t just add the secure code to an existing site. It won’t work.
Google will serve you the correct tracking code during the Analytics profile setup if you use the “https://” protocol.

If your pages are set up properly Analytics can provide you with powerful ecommerce reporting. You can even use Analytics to track 3rd-party shopping carts and return buyers.

Filed under: Code, Resources