Tracking PDFs and Images w/ Google Analytics

[Mikes_Jones]

So I noticed while viewing a PDF hosted on Marketo that there was no Google Analytics tracking taking place, is there a way to track clicks to PDFs or other files with Google Analytics?

[SanfordWhiteman · Accepted solution]

Malik, since PDFs can't themselves fire third-party (GA) tracking events but only the built-in (Marketo) Clicked Email event, you need to wrap a PDF download in a landing page.  The landing page can just contain a simple redirect to the PDF (so the person doesn't need to click anything else) but it can also fire off the GA event when it loads. 

[Mikes_Jones]

Ah, so have a page in between the landing page and actual PDF, that will trigger GA and let you know that it has been clicked?

If that's not correct, do you mind elaborating on "wrap a PDF", thanks Sanford!

[SanfordWhiteman]

That's right, Malik, an intermediate page.