A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Amplitude Analytics on WordPress

Master Amplitude Analytics on your WordPress site with our step-by-step guide. We’ll show you how to unlock powerful user insights by using a plugin, Google Tag Manager, or adding the code directly.

Choose the method that works best for you:

• Using a Plugin: The easiest and fastest way.
• Using Google Tag Manager: The most flexible and powerful method for managing all your scripts.
• Manual Code: For advanced users who are comfortable editing theme files.

Before You Start: Get Your API Key

No matter which method you choose, you’ll need your Amplitude API Key first.

1. Create an Amplitude Account: If you don’t have one, sign up on the Amplitude website.

2. Create a Project: Inside your Amplitude account, set up a new project for your website.

3. Find Your API Key: Under Project general settings you can find the API key. 
4. API Key (a long string of letters and numbers). Copy this key, as you will need it below.

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Method 1: Use the Official WordPress Plugin (The Easy Way)

This is the recommended method for most users. It’s fast, safe, and requires no code.

1. Install the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for “Amplitude Analytics“. Install and activate the official plugin by Amplitude.

2. Add Your API Key: Navigate to the plugin’s settings (Settings > Amplitude). Paste your API Key into the required field.

3. Configure Settings: On the same page, you can enable features like Session Replay. If your business is in the EU, be sure to set the Server Zone to EU.
4. Save Changes. That’s it! Amplitude is now active across your entire site.

Method 2: Use Google Tag Manager (The Flexible Way)

This is the best method if you already use Google Tag Manager (GTM) to manage your website’s scripts.

Step 1: Add the Amplitude Template in GTM

1. In your GTM container, go to Tags > New.
2. Click Tag Configuration > Discover more tag types in the Community Template Gallery.

3. Search for “Amplitude Analytics Browser SDK” and select the official template by Amplitude. Click Add to workspace.

Step 2: Create the Initialization Tag

1. Click Tags > New again.
2. For the Tag Configuration, choose the Amplitude Analytics Browser SDK template you just added.
3. Paste your Amplitude API Key into the API Key field.

4. Under Triggering, choose the Initialization – All Pages trigger. This ensures Amplitude loads on every page.
5. Name the tag something clear, like “Amplitude – Initialization,” and save it.

Step 3: Publish Your GTM Container

Click the Submit button in GTM to make your changes live.

Method 3: Add Code Manually (Advanced Users)

Only use this method if you are comfortable editing your theme’s code. Warning: Always use a child theme to prevent your changes from being erased during theme updates.

Of course. Here is a more detailed, step-by-step breakdown of the manual implementation method, written to be as clear as possible for an advanced user.

Step 1: Getting the Code Snippet from Amplitude

1. Log in to your Amplitude Account.
2. Navigate to your project or organization where you want to send data.
3. Find the data sources section. You may see a notification prompting you to “Start sending data” or an option to “Add Data Source.” Click on it.

4. From the list of available sources, select Browser SDK. Amplitude uses this for all website-based tracking.

5. Amplitude will now generate and display a JavaScript code snippet. This block of code is unique to your project and already includes your specific API Key.

6. Click the “Copy” button to copy the entire snippet to your clipboard.

Step 2: Adding the Code to Your WordPress Theme

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. From the left-hand menu, navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor.

3. Edit the Header File: Find and open the Theme Header (header.php) file from the list on the right.

4. Paste the Code: Paste the full Amplitude code snippet just before the closing </head> tag.

5. Once the code is in place, click the “Update File” button below the editor to save your changes.

FAQs

Q: Which method is best?
A: For most users, the Plugin is the simplest and safest choice. For those managing multiple marketing and analytics tools, Google Tag Manager is the most powerful and organized solution.

Q: How do I make sure my data is accurate?
A: After setting up, open your website and click around. In your Amplitude project, look at the real-time event stream to confirm that your activity is being recorded.

Q: What else can I track?
A: You can track almost any user interaction: form submissions, video plays, page scrolls, and button clicks etc. Each action is tracked as a event that you define.