FBGAT – Facebook Google Analytics tracker

FBGAT is a free and opensource tool created by Webdigi to work around Facebook’s Javascript restriction on Facebook fan pages which prevents Google Analytics from working correctly.  There are two key parts to this tool.

1) The code generator: This helps users generate a code for each individual areas that has to be tracked on Google Analytics
2) The tracker: This instructs Google Analytics on each page load to log visits, IP address, browser,  country, etc.

Here are general instructions on how to setup Google Analytics on your Facebook pages.

The hosted version
The hosted version of FBGAT is free to use (no plans to charge for usage). We will try to keep this up-to-date with improvements we make and will try to ensure that it runs without any downtime. We also relying on this server to track our Facebook fan pages. However, there are no guarantees of any sort that this will also be available. If you are more comfortable hosting your own version of FBGAT. Please feel free to grab a copy and run it on your server.

To download and setup on your own server
You will need an externally accessible webserver running PHP to install FBGAT and run it by yourself. There is nothing to configure and there is no requirement of a database, etc. Please feel free to share your ideas back to us and back to the community at large if you make any improvements.

FBGAT Download

Version 1.1 (download) released on Feb 22, 2010.

* You are free to do whatever you want with these files, respecting other licence agreements. We have seen Chinese and German translations of this tool popup. We would be happy if you could link back to our original work but that is also entirely your choice.

17 Comments

Steve C.
Mar 25, 2010 at 2:11 am

I’m attempting to use this free service, which by the way i appreciate. However, the instructions are a little vague. I’m installing this on my own web server btw. Is there a certain directory these files need to be uploaded to. Also, how do I run it?


 
iphp
Mar 25, 2010 at 8:02 am

This page was not intended to give out instructions. This is the central area for file updates and news on FBGAT. Here are the instructions:

1) How to setup Google Analytics for Facebook pages

2) View Fan/Non-Fan visits, Funnel visualisation, Goals, Tracking page activity

@Steve, you don’t have to upload FBGAT into a specific directory. Just upload it anywhere and then use the link generator.


 
vamsee
Mar 25, 2010 at 9:08 am

Good initiative…keep up the good work!!!


 
Barbara Feldman
Mar 25, 2010 at 3:00 pm

I’ve uploaded the scripts, and started to test them. However, when GA showed no traffic, I tried to load one of the created tracking images in a browser.

I am getting an Parse Error, Galvanize.php on line 23 when testing the img in a browser. I am using PHP 4.3.8

Any thoughts?

Thanks!


 
iphp
Mar 25, 2010 at 3:24 pm

@Barbara, you will need to use PHP versions greater than version 5 ideally. This is because it uses PHP classes and the public and protected access modifiers work only in PHP 5 or greater.


 
How to Add Google Analytics to Your Facebook Fan Page | KDI Media
Mar 25, 2010 at 3:55 pm

[...] there is a new solution.  Using free and opensource FBGAT (Facebook Google Analytics Tracker), you can get Google Analytics working on your Facebook fan page. Now you can track visitor [...]


 
Track your Facebook Page with Google Analytics
Apr 7, 2010 at 12:58 pm

[...] FBGAT is is a free tool that can generate a the code necessary to bypass the Javascript limitations on Facebook. [...]


 
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Apr 16, 2010 at 9:21 pm

[...] down to FBGAT – The FaceBook Google Analytics Tracker. You can download and host your own version of this [...]


 
Joe
Apr 21, 2010 at 10:58 pm

I don’t have access to php version 5. I tried to change the code to work on php4 and I get it to work, but unfortunately I haven’t seen a single hit come through on Google. Matter of fact in Google they’re still showing a yellow icon instead of a green one.

Can you suggest anything?


 
Amit
May 14, 2010 at 2:10 pm

hey, i have the code on my server when i generate the link and add it to my facebok page i get an x for image. What am i doing wrong? if i add the code for hosted version it works fine

Thanks


 
Tracking Facebook Fanpage Stats « UPSU Marketing
May 19, 2010 at 8:47 pm

[...] there is a new solution.  Using free and opensource FBGAT (Facebook Google Analytics Tracker), you can get Google Analytics working on your Facebook fan page. Now you can track visitor [...]


 
Google Analytics for Facebook « Games Women Play
May 20, 2010 at 6:52 pm

[...] lies behind this is a little tool called FBGAT. FBGAT is a free and opensource tool created by Webdigi to work around Facebook’s Javascript [...]


 
James Moreira
May 30, 2010 at 11:11 pm

I got the code, but where do I put it on my site? where do i enter it? I realize I have FBML but, isn’t that only for tabs? or pages within?


 
Akar Jonas
May 31, 2010 at 11:53 am

Thanks for the wonderful tip. I managed to follow the instructions in detail and setup my first user interaction tracking. I cant thank you enough! :)

This method works beautifully with facebook pages and google analytics.


 
maya
Jun 7, 2010 at 4:00 pm

When i download the FBGAT v 1.1 it only shows me picture icons and no files. Help


 
iphp
Jun 7, 2010 at 4:36 pm

@James, please read the original article here http://www.webdigi.co.uk/blog/2010/google-analytics-for-facebook-fan-pages/

@Amit, I think you have a different version of PHP, we need versions above 5.

@Akar Jonas, Excellent!

@ maya, you need to upload all the files to your server to setup your own hosted version. The code files are in there with extension php, js, etc. You can also use the hosted version as described here http://www.webdigi.co.uk/blog/2010/google-analytics-for-facebook-fan-pages/


 
Facebook Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations « Planeta Feliz's Blog
Jul 7, 2010 at 4:04 pm

[...] people visit your Facebook Page, then sign up for a free Google Analytics account. Next download FBGAT. Then follow the steps here to add the tracking code to your Facebook Page. Basic HTML knowledge is [...]


 

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