Update: gaAddons v2 is available at http://gaAddons.com

I'm currently alpha testing gaAddons v2.0 on my blog and my site - and you can help me simply by visiting any of my sites and click on outbound links, downloads and email links!
What is gaAddons?
It's a collection of useful enhancements to extend and improve upon the default Google Analytics implementation. It actually leverage the popular jQuery light-weight and powerful JavaScript library.
I had created a first version a while ago - still available here - but you are really better off waiting for v2!
What's in v2?
- Use the new async calls
- Track outbound, downloads and email links using events ("fake" pageview mode also supported)
- Track real bounce rate by triggering an event after 30 seconds on a page (default)
- Avoid affecting bounce rate when events are on 1st page view of a visit (default)
- Easily customize the default options
- Use a tagging syntax identical to Google Analytics style
Example
You will notice the code bellow is a slightly modified version of the default GA tags:<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(
['_setAccount', 'UA-XXXXX-X'],
['_trackPageview']
);
var gaAddons = gaAddons || [];
gaAddons.push(
['_trackOutbound'],
['_trackDownloads'],
['_trackMailto'],
['_trackRealBounce']
);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
var gaAddons = document.createElement('script'); gaAddons.type = 'text/javascript'; gaAddons.async = true;
gaAddons.src = 'gaAddons-2.0.min.js';
s.parentNode.insertBefore(gaAddons, s);
})();
</script>
That's all you'll have to do to start getting additional metrics under Content/Event Tracking.
Warning!
Wait for my signal before using this code on your own site - I'm currently alpha-testing and there are chances you might screw up your Google Analytics data - and I will not support you!There will be a beta-test phase where you will be invited to test it on your own site.
Alpha-testing:
- Head to the gaAddons v2.0 page and look for the Test Cases at the bottom of the page
- Click on a couple of outbound links, downloads and mailto
- That's all I need from you to help me out!

Named one of the most influential industry contributors by the Digital Analytics Association. With over twenty years’ experience empowering organizations to analyze and optimize their online channels, Stéphane has cemented his position as a leading voice for online analytics and optimization.


15 comments:
It's very interesting post, I have a question.
In the code you're shooting a few variables (trackOutbound, ..), this means that analytics is labeled all outbound links using the categories, download, mailito? Or are you already have analytics categories.
Drupal and Wordpress use these categories.
I used the asynchronous code for some project and now everything works correctly.
thanks for post
jlseom: by default, gaAddons will use outbound, download and mailto but you can easily change those default categories by passing the option {category:'yourlabel'} with the call.
Nice to see you taking this to the next phase Stephane. I particularly like the the event call after 30 seconds to better understand bounce... :)
THANKS for making this, can't wait!
This is awesome. Can't wait until it's perfected :)
This will be great, Stephane, thanks for your work on this. We await your signal that it is out of alpha!
Hi Stephane,
I implemented the gaAddon script with the trackoutbound, trackmailto, and trackdownloads calls on our dev site for testing. I'm not seeing any entries in my top content report. I'm not sure if I just implemented it wrong or if my CMS (SiteCore) is causing the problem. How should I go about testing this?
Thanks,
Alanna
Alanna: make sure to visit http://gaAddons.com and get v2.0.7 or later. _trackOutbound are tracked with events by default, so you won't see them in Top Content. If you still have issues please enter a Support request and provide the URL of the page you are testing and I'll have a look.
Hi! Stephane!
It's very interesting and useful addon for most of GA users.
I'm so happy to find it!
But, I wonder whether or not you recommend to install gaAddons v2.0.
In the download page, you say "Current stable version: 2.0.7".
On the other hand, a waring message has been still shown in this page:http://blog.immeria.net/2010/07/gaaddons-v20-now-with-async.html
What do you think now?
Thanks,
Tappy
Tappy: Good point! gaAddons is now much more stable and you can go ahead and use v2.0.7. I'm working on a site revamp with more info, documentation and examples. Plus I'm already working on v2.1 which will include some very cool stuff!
Thank you for reply.
I'll try!
Tappy
I would like to know how to install this script in my wordpress blog...I placed the js code in the footer but no event is tracked..please help
Gus Place I haven't checked into gaAddons for Wordpress, maybe it's something I will consider for future releases.
did you consider integrating with wordpress...that would be great!
Can I implement this addon version on my website? Is it a GO?
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