The following article gives a clear explanation of Google’s improved tracking method by using asynchronous tracking. The steps to upgrade your WordPress site are very simple, especially if you use one of the two plugins mentioned in the article.
If you don’t use the new tracking code yet then I recommend doing it as it will make your web pages load faster and enhance the collection of analytics data.
Nearly every WordPress site has Google Analytics tracking code on it in order to capture valuable information about website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Google has made improvements to its tracking method within the past year and you will need to upgrade on your end in order to take advantage of the new asynchronous tracking.
Asynchronous tracking is an improvement to Google’s previous tracking code. It takes advantage of browser support for asynchronous JavaScript to enhance the speed in which the tracking code is loaded. This means the analytics tracking can be done at the same time as rendering other content, so that the tracking code will not cause delays on your page. Essentially, it helps your pages to render faster. Google lists the advantages as:
- Faster tracking code load times for your web pages due to improved browser execution
- Enhanced data collection & accuracy
- Elimination of tracking errors from dependencies when the JavaScript hasn’t fully loaded
If you’re still using the old tracking method, there’s no reason to put off switching. It’s very easy to change to asynchronous tracking, whether you’re adding the snippet yourself or using a plugin.