# Setup There are three steps for setting up the Google Analytics Popular Posts plugin. 1. Create a Google Developer project 2. Connect the Google Analytics Popular Posts plugin to Google's APIs 3. Connecting a Google Analytics Profile Networks only need to complete step 1 and 2 once. Each blog on the network must complete step 3. --- ### 1. Create a Google Developer project To allow Google to monitor usage on its API, every call must be authenticated with a Client Secret and Client ID. No special account is necessary for this. Log into [console.developers.google.com/](https://console.developers.google.com/) and create a new project for the plugin. ![Screenshot of the google developer console](img/google-developer-console.png) Name the project something like "Google Analytics Popular Posts." ![Creating a project named Google Analytics Popular Posts in the google developer console](img/new-google-dev-project.png) You'll see a list of available Google APIs. Find the **Analytics API** link: ![Analytics API link in the google developer console](img/analytics-api-link.png) Click the **Analytics API** link and then click the button to enable it on the next screen: ![Enabling the analytics API](img/enable-analytics-api.png) Before you can use the API you'll need to create credentials for it so click the **Go to Credentials** button to open the Credentials Wizard: ![Go To Credentials button in the Google Developer Console](img/go-to-credentials.png) You're now in the credentials wizard but you can skip it and just click the "client ID" link: ![client ID link in the Google Developer credentials wizard](img/Credentials-wizard-Google-Analytics.png) On the next screen just click the "Configure Consent Screen" button: ![Configure Consent Screen button in the Google Developer Console](img/configure-consent-button.png) Enter a product name and, if you wish, other optional pieces of the consent screen. Only the "Product name shown to users" field is required. ![Adding a Product Name in the Consent Screen of the Google Developer Console](img/ga-popular-posts-credentials-consent-screen.png) When you're done, save consent screen options. On the next screen, select "Web application" as the Application type, then enter an "Authorized redirect URIs" in the format: http://your-domain.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=analytic-bridge If you're installing the Google Analytics Popular Posts on a network of sites, every subdomain and custom URL on the network must be defined on additional lines. ![setting credentials for the Analytics API](img/setting-credentials.png) Google should provide a Client ID and Client Secret on the next screen: ![Analytics API client keys](img/oauth-client-keys.png) Copy these keys and keep them safe for the next step. --- ### 2. Connect the Google Analytics Popular Posts plugin to Google's API Now it's back to the WordPress dashboard to connect to the Analytics API with your keys. Go to **Settings > GA Popular Posts**. Depending on whether your blog is a network or single site, input the Client Secret and Client ID on the appropriate options page. > ___For Networks:___ If you are the Site Administor of a network, paste Client Secret and Client ID into the Network Options page for the Google Analytics Popular Posts. or: > ___For Single Sites:___ If you do not have a WordPress network install (or are not an administor of your network), enter the Client Secret and Client ID on the options page for the Google Analytics Popular Posts (Settings > Google Analytics Popular Posts). Note that the "Connect to Google Analytics" button will be greyed-out and inactive until you Save Changes after entering the Client Secret and Client ID. It will then turn blue and become active: ![Google Analytics Popular Posts plugin in the dashboard](img/ga-popular-posts-settings.png) **STOP**. If you have already attempted to connect this client ID and client secret to your Google Account, or you see the application you created listed [in the list of apps connected to your account](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3466521?hl=en), you must remove the application's permission to access your account. ![How to remove the permissions for an app in the Apps Connected To Your Account screen of the Google Settings](img/google-account-remove-permissions.png) Removing permission is necessary. If you do not remove permissions, Google will not give you Google Analytics Popular Posts install the `refresh_token` that is needed to complete the installation process. If you do not see the application you created listed in the list of apps connected to your account, proceed. In the Google Analytics Popular Posts settings screen, click the "Connect to Google Analytics" button and select a Google account to be associated with this application. After connecting the Google account you'll return to the Settings screen. Press the "Save Changes" button, and move on to the next step: --- ### 3. Connecting a Google Property View ID Find the View ID that corresponds to the Google Analytics table tracking your site, and save it in the Property View ID field. You can find the View ID in your Google Analytics account > Administration > View Settings: ![Google Analytics Administration dashboard](img/analytics-admin-dashboard.png) The View ID is a nine-digit number: ![Google Analytics Administration View Settings](img/analytics-view-settings.png) Now go back to your **WordPress dashboard > Settings > GA Popular Posts** and enter the prefix `ga:` followed by your View ID. The result should be something like `ga:123456789` ![Google Profile ID entered in the Google Analytics Popular Posts plugin settings](img/ga-popular-posts-settings-3.png) Click the **Save Changes** button and you are done setting up the GA Popular Posts plugin.