The Guide to Google Analytics for Search Engine Optimization
Sponsored by Inbound Factor.
Introduction:
We’ve all heard about Google analytics from time to time. Now we will dive deep into GA and how to use it .Whether it’s for tracking SEO performance or to scale your website traffic, get more leads, and rank higher in search engines. In this article, we’ll walk you through a simple, step-by-step guide to tracking SEO success using Google Analytics. We’ll also include tips specifically for Arabic websites, especially those targeting Saudi Arabia and Egypt. By the end of this guide, You’ll be able to have a better understanding of Google Analytics .
How to unlock your website’s full potential via Google Analytics (GA).
Why Google Analytics? Google Analytics (GA) shows:
- Where your traffic is coming from.
- Which pages are performing well.
- How users behave on your site.
- What SEO efforts are bringing the most value.
With this data, you can:
- Optimize your content.
- Improve your rankings.
- Increase conversions.
- Now let’s get into the steps!
Step-by-Step Guide to Track SEO Success with Google Analytics
Step 1: Setting Up Your Google Analytics:
Here we will walk through the first steps into creating your GA Account.
- Go to analytics.google.com
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Click “Admin” and set up an account, a property (your website), and a data stream.
- You’ll get a Measurement ID (starts with G-). Install this on your site using:
- Google Tag Manager, or
- Direct code in the <head> section, or
- Your CMS plugin (like in WordPress using a GA plugin)
- Once it’s installed correctly, GA will start tracking visitors.
Step 2: Connect Google Search Console (GSC):
Here we set up your Google Analytics where you have to connect it to your google search console to be able to see your organic keywords and click data together.
- Open Google Analytics then connect it
- Go to Admin > Product Links > Search Console > Link.
- Select your GSC property and link it.
- Now you can see your organic keywords and click data inside GA, which is vital for SEO tracking.
Step 3: Create Organic Traffic Reports:
On the third step we explore some of the most key metrics into telling us where we should improve and optimize.
- Go to Reports > Acquisition > Traffic Acquisition.
- Look for Session Default Channel Group.
- Filter or look for “Organic Search”.
- This tells you:
- How many users came from search engines?
- How long did they stay?
- What pages did they visit?
- Bounce rate and conversions?
Step 4: Analyze Landing Pages:
This step is where we start getting a bit technical because we need to audit our landing pages to see where it’s performing and where it’s lacking.
- Go to Engagement > Pages and Screens.
- Set the dimension to Landing Page.
- Apply a filter: Session source = Google (optional, for Google traffic only).
- This shows which pages are attracting the most traffic from search.
- Look for high-performing pages (to replicate their success), Or pages with high bounce rate or low engagement (to improve)
Step 5: Set Up Conversions
This is when potential customers turn into buying customers so it’s one of the most important stages for business owners.
.
- Form submissions
- Button clicks
- Purchases
- Email signups
To set up a conversion:
- Go to Admin > Events > Create Event.
- Define your event (e.g., form_submit).
- Once GA tracks it, mark it as a Conversion.
- Now you can see which SEO pages are actually bringing business results.
Step 6: Use UTM Parameters for SEO Campaigns:
If you’re doing off-page SEO or sharing your website on other platforms (forums, directories, press releases), use UTM links to track them.
Example:
You’ll be able to track those exact visitors in GA under: Acquisition > Traffic Acquisition >
Session source/medium
SEO Success KPIs to track Here’s what to look for in Google Analytics to measure SEO:
| Metric | What It Means | What It Matters |
| Organic Sessions | Visitors from search engines | Main SEO traffic |
| Landing Page Views | Popular entry pages | Content success |
| Engagement Rate | % of users interacting | Content quality |
| Conversions | Leads, purchases, etc. | Business results |
| Bounce Rate | % who leave immediately | Possible UX/intent mismatch |
| Average Engagement Time | How long users stay | User interest |
Tips for Arabic Websites (Saudi Arabia & Egypt)
Use Arabic Language & Localization: make sure your content is fully in Arabic if you’re targeting Arabic speakers.Use proper localization like:
- “الرياض” instead of “Riyadh”
- Local currencies (SAR, EGP)
- Local expressions
Use Region-Specific Keywords: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find local keywords in Arabic. For example:
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find local keywords in Arabic. For example:
- بدل “digital marketing”، استخدم “التسويق الرقمي”
- أو بدل “SEO services”، استخدم “خدمات تحسين محركات البحث”
- Google Analytics + Search Console will show you which keywords work best.
Track Country-Level Data In GA:
- Go to User > Demographics > Country
- Filter by Saudi Arabia or Egypt
- This shows how your site performs in your target market.
Monitor Device Usage: In countries like Saudi and Egypt, mobile usage dominates. Check:
- Tech > Tech details > Device category
- Make sure your website is mobile-friendly for better SEO performance.
Analyze Arabic Landing Pages: Create a segment for Arabic users and check:
- What Arabic pages are ranking
- How long users stay
- Which content converts
- This helps you create more effective Arabic content.
How Inbound Factor Can Help
At Inbound Factor, we specialize in SEO for Arabic and international markets, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Whether you’re a small business, startup, or enterprise, we help you:
Track and improve your SEO performance using Google Analytics and other tools.
- Build Arabic content that ranks and converts.
- Understand data and turn it into results.
- We don’t just do SEO—we make SEO work for your real business goals.
- Contact Inbound Factor today and let’s grow your organic traffic the smart way.
Many world known firms offer SEO firms listing and provide comprehensive information about SEO Agencies. We have worked with Design Rush and choose them as a strategic partner for our Search Engine Optimization efforts. Visit Design Rush to learn about Local SEO for your business.
Conclusion
Google Analytics may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right approach, it becomes a powerful tool for measuring your SEO success. According to Google, its Analytics tools can increase your business ROI,Make your data work for you and connect insights to results.Your SEO efforts can drive long-term growth. And if you ever need expert guidance,Inbound Factor is here to support you on the journey.
