The most popular Google Analytics for WordPress plugin by Yoast will now support the new powerful Google Universal Analytics (UA). This plugin is used by millions of websites powered by WordPress CMS. While Google has released its new Universal Analytics tracking code, this plugin seems to be outdated, and its authors did not communicate any update about a new release that will support the new Universal Analytics.
The community asked a bunch of questions about the compatibility with the new Google UA in the support forums, including whether or not it will support it in the future release of Google Analytics for WordPress plugin. The author does not seem to have an answer yet, but we do!
While I was surfing the web looking for a specific solution for an issue with this plugin, I started checking posts on Yoast’s website for any information on that, then I decided to take a look at their page’s source code -because I love codes-, but I was surprised!
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I found a javascript code snippet of a new beta 5 version of this plugin which they test on Yoast official website. That’s a good news for the community and so we hope to see a release soon. Apparently, the author does not want to give us any related information about this. We don’t know why, but we think he wants to surprise the WordPress community like he did with me.
We do really hope not to cause any problem with Yoast by revealing this information. We respect his decision not to tell the community about this new version of Google Analytics for WordPress that will support the Universal Analytics tracking code. Therefore, We decided to write this post because we not only love Yoast and his plugins, but also are excited about this new version.
Are you excited too about this new release of this plugin? Let us know in the comment section.
It’s not that I want to keep it a secret, it”s that there are serious issues with GA Universal account provisioning that I am trying to find a solution for before we make this switch. In particular I want to be able to create and manage custom dimensions through an API, as having people do that manually and then enter the dimensions numbers into the backend seems far too error prone to me.
Thank you for this precious piece of information. It is exactly what the community wants to know. They are actually faithful to your plugin, and they don’t want to switch to another. This update means a lot to us. By the way, we’re sure that the custom dimensions implemented in the GA universal need more time and efforts to be successfully integrated and start using the new tracking code. Please keep us updated. We wish you the best of luck.
Many thanks for the support Joost, am quite loyal towards your plugins and I do look forward for the integration with UA to happen smoothly. Right now I am using
https://stats.g.doubleclick.net/dc.js
for support of demographics, however I do not know what to do when the integration with UA happens.
Dave
This is great news. I can certainly understand that the way UA has moved so much to the GA servers rather than the site or the browser makes it harder to build plugins like this. In the long run it will be worth it, but it’s painful in the short term.
I’d be happy to pay for a pro version (more to the point, my clients would) — but how many people say that and then don’t follow through with the cash…
Thank you for the update as we are looking forward to the new version with Universal Analytic support.
Just a +1 here to say thanks Yoast for letting us know why it hasn’t been updated yet. Your answer makes complete sense and we appreciate it!
Any update on the release date? Have you worked through the issues with Universal analytic s provisioning?
Joost is too busy making custom, paid plugins and themes and making money than supporting his open-source community — the millions that rely on him for even the most basic of upgrades.
@MM
Working on paid products is a fair use of time – man gotta eat!
@MM
I’m pretty sure you’re allowed to fork the plugin on Github and propose your own fix 🙂
It’s easy to see what Joost is using in it’s own site.
He uses a beta version of the plugin (v5 beta) with Universal Analitycs. So I suposse that a new release of the plugin, supporting UA, it’s not so far away
Did you update your plugin already? 🙂