Skip to main content

Analytics

Note:

Analytics is available in stories and briefings.

Analytics provide metrics about a published ArcGIS StoryMaps item. As an author, you can use analytics tracking to understand your audience and how they engage with your content. Demographic metrics—such as location and language preferences—can help you decide how to communicate your message and which points to emphasize. You can also track metrics such as the number of views, time spent on the page, and device types.

You can collect analytics by configuring Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics in the ArcGIS StoryMaps builders or by implementing your preferred analytics provider using Advanced embedding.

License:

Configuring analytics in the ArcGIS StoryMaps builders is available only to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise users with organization subscription accounts.

Important:

When using ArcGIS Online, configuring analytics in the ArcGIS StoryMaps builders is available only if your organization participates in the Esri User Experience Improvement (EUEI) program. If your organization is not participating in EUEI, or if you want to use a provider other than Google or Adobe, you can use Advanced embedding to collect analytics.

When using ArcGIS Enterprise, an administrator must enable analytics in the Organization settings before you can configure it for individual ArcGIS StoryMaps items.

Choose an analytics service

The table below compares the key aspects of the available analytics options for use with ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Google Analytics Adobe Analytics Advanced embedding
ArcGIS StoryMaps content types Stories
Briefings		 Stories
Briefings		 Stories
Briefings
Collections
Available in ArcGIS Online ✅ ✅ ✅
Available in ArcGIS Enterprise ✅ ✅ ❌
Requires EUEI participation (Online) ✅ ✅ ❌
Tracks page views ✅ ✅ ✅
Tracks session duration ✅ ✅ ✅
Tracks device type ✅ ✅ ✅
Tracks location and language ✅ ✅ ✅
Custom event tracking ❌ ✅ Depends on provider
Requires service configuration ✅ Property ✅ Report suite Depends on provider
Data access location Google Analytics dashboard Adobe Analytics Report Suite Manager Depends on provider

Add Google Analytics

Complete the following steps to track metrics for an ArcGIS StoryMaps item using Google Analytics:

  1. Sign in to your Google Analytics account and create a new property.

  2. Open the item you want to track in its ArcGIS StoryMaps builder.

  3. In the header, click More actions (⋯), and then click Settings.

  4. On the Analytics tab, do the following:

    1. Turn on Enable Analytics.

    2. From the Analytics options drop-down menu, choose Google Analytics.

    3. In the Tracking ID field, enter the Google Analytics ID from the property you created.

    4. Optionally, write a consent message and format the text using the toolbar.

    5. Click Save.

  5. Publish the item.

Google Analytics is now configured. You can view metrics in your Google Analytics account.

Legacy:

ArcGIS StoryMaps items with Google Analytics configured before July 14, 2021, will continue to track analytics even if the organization is not participating in the EUEI program.

Authors or administrators can remove tracking at any time from the item Settings options.

Add Adobe Analytics

Complete the following steps to track metrics for an ArcGIS StoryMaps item using Adobe Analytics:

  1. Sign in to your Adobe Analytics account.

  2. Create a report suite and configure it to capture events using the Adobe Analytics property mappings.

  3. Open the item you want to track in its ArcGIS StoryMaps builder.

  4. In the header, click More actions (⋯), and then click Settings.

  5. On the Analytics tab, do the following:

    1. Turn on Enable Analytics.

    2. From the Analytics options drop-down menu, choose Adobe Analytics.

    3. Enter the Report suite ID and Tracking server values from the report suite you created. Optionally, enter the SSL tracking server value.

      For more information, see Adobe Analytics: How to identify your analytics tracking server and report suites ID.

    4. Optionally, write a consent message and format text using the toolbar.

    5. Click Save.

  6. Publish the item.

Adobe Analytics is now configured. You can view metrics in the Adobe Analytics Report Suite Manager.

Best practices

Use the following tips to get the most value from your analytics data:

  • Set clear goals—Decide what you want to measure before enabling analytics (for example, audience reach, engagement time, or device usage).

  • Track over time—Compare metrics across weeks or months to identify trends.

  • Segment your audience—Use location, language, and device data to tailor your content for different reader groups.

  • Test and refine—Make small changes to your story or briefing and monitor how they affect engagement.

  • Combine with feedback—Use analytics alongside reader feedback to get a complete picture of audience needs.

  • Respect privacy—Clearly communicate any data collection through a consent message.

Related topics

Additional resources

Back to top