Tracking file downloads in box

Google Tag Manager is often my go-to tool for tracking everything on a website, and download tracking is no different. I prefer using GTM because tracking is easy and fast to set up, making it possible to test tracking before going live. The first step for tracking downloads is to activate the built-in variable for Click URLs.

Like your blog, e-books or whitepapers have a specific URL i. To do this, you have to open Variables and enter Configure in Built-in Variables. Here you need to scroll down do find check of Click URLs. To create a trigger, enter Triggers and enter New. Here, select the Just Links-click trigger. This makes sure, that your tag fires on all pages of your site. Finally, you can configure the file extensions, which you want your trigger to fire upon.

I started by stating that you can track downloads e-books, images or whitepapers, but if you want to track mp3-downloads from your podcast, you can do this as well; all you have to do, is to add the file extension to the trigger.

To tell the trigger to fire on these extensions, you have to type the following. If you want to add more file extensions such as. Basically, just add more file extensions. With this setup, the trigger will record an event in Google Analytics every time a visitor downloads one of your images or e-books. Under tags, create a new tag and select Google Analytics Universal Analytics.

Next, select Event as a track type. Under action, you can dynamically configure this to show every URL. This way, Google Analytics will show you exactly which URL — and thereby which file extension — the user downloaded. To test your new tag, enter Real-time in Google analytics. Here, you can see all of your actions on your website in real-time.

Find one of your. Once it does, you will receive an event in Google Analytics. Google Tag Manager is a highly effective and valuable tool for your event- and conversion tracking. Kasper Gregersen has worked with online marketing since Today he is an independent consultant, specializing in Google Ads, as well as Facebook Ads, Google Analytics and tracking of websites. Feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Step by step guide: Track file downloads on your website. December 2, Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Share on email. WordPress will automatically create a shortcode block for you:.

Remember to protect your page using MemberPress rules if you want both the page and the file to only be accessible to members. You can view your download stats by visiting the MP Downnloads » Stats page. From here you will see the list of users who downloaded the file with a time stamp. If you need further instructions, then please refer to our step by step guide on how to create a membership site in WordPress. This method is for users who want to sell file downloads along with physical goods like shirts, swags, etc.

For this method, we will be using WooCommerce , which is the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It is perfect for users who want to sell file downloads or users who want to make an online store. WooCommerce can be used to sell both digital downloads and physical goods. You can also use it as your WordPress download manager to offer free downloads.

It also lets you easily track customers, manage downloads, and view stats. The first thing you need to do is install and activate the WooCommerce plugin. Upon activation, you should see the WooCommerce setup wizard. Then, WooCommerce will prompt you to enter details about your store. Just follow the on-screen instructions to finish the wizard. Now, go to the Products » Add New page to add your first file download as a product.

Go ahead and give your product a title and a description. You also need to enter the price. If you want, you can use the other options on the page.

For example, you can add product images, add a short description, select product category, and more. Your users can now go to the product page and add the product to their cart. If it is a free product, then they will be able to check out without adding payment information. Otherwise, they can pay as normal. To view how your file downloads are doing, just go to the WooCommerce » Reports page. From here you will see your sales by date, by products, and by categories:.

This shows you how many people have ordered your download. WooCommerce can show you the number of downloads, customers, and the files they bought. However, it will not show you what led the user to the conversion. This is really important information that helps you make important decisions about growing your business.

This is where MonsterInsights comes in. For step by step instructions, see our guide on how to easily set up WooCommerce conversion tracking. We hope this article helped you learn how to manage, track, and control file downloads in WordPress. You may also want to see our tips on the best email marketing services to better sell your digital downloads. If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials.

You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook. Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded , why it matters, and how you can support us. Trusted by over 1. Get FREE access to our toolkit — a collection of WordPress related products and resources that every professional should have! Can you advise a way?

Please, I want to set a Download counter for my files to tell my visitors how many downloads each has. I used the download monitor and download manager plugins but none gave me that. What should I do? Good tutorial. How can restrict sub-domain download link.

It would depend on the method you use. Very good article. But I am looking for a plugin with which I can make files available to my visitors for download.

Similar to a driver download page from a hardware supplier. Is there such a thing? Thanks for tips. Thanks for such an informative post. Would like to know the best plugins for limiting downloads per user. Really appreciate your suggestions on this. Thanks for choosing to leave a comment. Please keep in mind that all comments are moderated according to our comment policy , and your email address will NOT be published. Please Do NOT use keywords in the name field. Let's have a personal and meaningful conversation.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Don't subscribe All Replies to my comments Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. All Rights Reserved. On other hands, you might simply want to restrict certain files based on user roles.