Verify Installation

Confirm that Ghost Metrics is correctly tracking your website.

Method 1: Real-Time Visitors (Recommended)

The quickest way to verify your installation:

1. Open your Ghost Metrics dashboard
2. Navigate to Visitors → Real-time
3. Open your website in a new browser tab (use incognito/private mode for best results)
4. Browse a few pages on your site
5. Check the Real-time report — you should see your visit appear within seconds

If you see your visit, your installation is working correctly.

Method 2: Browser Developer Tools

Check that the tracking script is loading properly:

1. Open your website in your browser
2. Open Developer Tools:
   • Chrome/Edge: Press F12 or right-click → Inspect
   • Firefox: Press F12 or right-click → Inspect
   • Safari: Enable developer tools in preferences, then press Cmd+Option+I
3. Go to the Network tab
4. Refresh the page
5. Filter by typing container_ or your Ghost Metrics domain
6. Look for a request to your container JavaScript file

What to look for:

• Status should be 200 (success)
• The file should load without errors

Method 3: Check Page Source

Verify the tracking code is present in your HTML:

1. Open your website
2. Right-click anywhere on the page
3. Select View Page Source (or press Ctrl+U / Cmd+U)
4. Press Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to search
5. Search for ghostmetrics or _mtm
6. Confirm your tracking code appears in the source

Method 4: Console Check

Verify the tracking object is available:

1. Open your website
2. Open Developer Tools (F12)
3. Go to the Console tab
4. Type _mtm and press Enter
5. You should see an array object returned

If you see undefined, the tracking code hasn’t loaded properly.

Common Issues and Solutions

No Data in Real-Time Report

Possible causes:

• Tracking code not installed: Check page source to confirm the code is present
• Wrong container ID: Verify you’re using the correct tracking code from your dashboard
• Caching: Clear your site’s cache and try in an incognito window
• Ad blocker: Disable any ad blockers temporarily and test again
• JavaScript error: Check the browser console for errors

Tracking Code Not in Page Source

Possible causes:

• Code not saved: Re-save your tracking code in your CMS or plugin
• Caching: Clear all caches (plugin cache, CDN, browser)
• Wrong location: Make sure code is in the header, not footer
• Theme issue: If using functions.php, verify the child theme is active

Network Request Failing

Possible causes:

• Domain typo: Double-check the Ghost Metrics domain in your tracking code
• CSP blocking: Your Content Security Policy may be blocking the script
• Firewall/proxy: Corporate firewalls may block analytics domains
• CORS issue: Rare, but contact support if you see CORS errors

Partial Tracking (Some Pages Missing)

Possible causes:

• Tracking code not on all pages: Verify the code is in a shared header template
• Single Page Application: SPAs may need additional configuration for route changes
• Conditional loading: Check if any code is preventing the script from loading on certain pages

Testing Tips

Use Incognito/Private Mode

Browser extensions and cached data can interfere with testing. Always verify in a fresh incognito window.

Check Multiple Pages

Don’t just test the homepage. Navigate through several pages to ensure tracking works site-wide.

Test Different Devices

If possible, verify tracking works on both desktop and mobile devices.

Wait a Few Minutes

While real-time data usually appears within seconds, give it 2-3 minutes before troubleshooting.

Still Having Issues?

If you’ve tried everything above and tracking still isn’t working:

1. Take a screenshot of your browser’s Network tab showing the tracking request
2. Note any errors in the Console tab
3. Contact Support with these details

We’re happy to help you get tracking working properly.