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Tracking Exit/Outbound Links through Google Analytics

Google Analytics Exit Link Screenshot
Google Analytics Exit Link Screenshot

Google Analytics is the enterprise-class web analytics solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features now let you see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way. With Google Analytics, you’re more prepared to write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites.

I use Google Analytics for my own site and other sites I work on.  I mostly use this tool to track the visitor and my popular post, keywords and also the click on Site Overlay. I had never tracked exit/outbound link with Google Analytics. One day, my client asked to me research about it and track the exit link.  Then my search for the exit link tracker begins. I fund lot of codes but non of them work properly. Finally, I was lucky enough to get read an article written by Jordi Romkema. But now I see that his site is not available. So, I am writing here again with reference to his code. If you are finding difficult to track the exit/outbound link then just follow the instruction below:

1) Create a Javascript file. For example let’s save it as exittracker.js and write the following code and save it.
var ExitTracker = Class.create({
initialize: function()
{
this.domain = document.location.toString().toLowerCase().split("/")[2];
$$("a").each(function(item)
{
if (item.href && (item.href != (document.location + "#")))
{
$(item).observe("click", this.track.bindAsEventListener(this));
}
}.bind(this));
},
track: function(e)
{
var el = e.element();
var exit_domain = el.href.split("/")[2].toLowerCase();
if (this.domain.toLowerCase().indexOf(exit_domain) == -1)
{
if (typeof pageTracker != "undefined")
{
pageTracker._trackPageview("/exit/" + el.href);
}
}
}
});

2) Now insert the following code to link the scripts. You should place the code right after your Google Analytics code:
<!-- Google Analytics code here -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="prototype.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="exittracker.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
new ExitTracker();
</script>

Note: Click here to download the prototype.js

If you find difficult to write the code then Click here to download the set of prototype.js and exittracker.js . Then you can just add the code to link these two file after your Google analytics code.

If there is any problem then just write a comment and then I will reply you back.

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Author: sakinshrestha

Hello. My name is Sakin Shrestha, and I am a technology entrepreneur from Nepal. I am passionate about helping this sector grow, for many reasons. The technology sector creates jobs for many young Nepalis who would otherwise migrate to foreign countries. It lets Nepali professionals develop skills for a fast-changing global workplace, and compete at a high level with anyone, anywhere in the world. If it grows, it will provide a viable career option for many young Nepalis, and help us reap the benefits of a global economy.

5 thoughts on “Tracking Exit/Outbound Links through Google Analytics

  1. Dear Sakin,

    I found your explanation valuable though not entirely clear considering the scripting for my webpage is not in my hands – though the analytics is. If possible, could you spare a few minutes for a skype conversation to clarify a few points about tracking exit links via GA? This would be most helpful in understanding. We could even include a link ono our site to your blog in exchange for your time.

    With warm regards,

    Brian
    [email protected]

  2. On my blog I added event tracking on onclick for the exit links and as the category I set them all to be Exit, then as action the href element for the outbound link and as the label I set the page url where the user is now, so now I can track exactly how many guys leave my site, to which sites they click and from what pages of mine. Of course, the post pages have the highest exit rate.

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