Google Analytics and The Random Reading Challenge

In need of some technical advice today, so I thought I would pick the brains of all my very intelligent and knowledgeable book buddy friends ( is that grovelling enough to get you to help me?). I have discovered Google Analytics, but I am buggered if I know how to use it. I registered, put my address in and everything, then it asked me to put a tracking code in, but I really don't understand where to put the tracking code. Do I put it before every post, do I put it somewhere within my layout or perhaps my setting? Where, where, where, I cry in desperation as I attempt to pull my hair out.

I really want to be able to see what goes on with my blog, when I am not around. I love to get comments, as we all do, but I know that other people do visit and it would be nice to get an idea of what posts are more popular than others.

So if you could possibly explain it to me, in dummy English, I would be much appreciated.

I have to say a big thank you to Nymeth who helped me to add my lovely blog roll to my blog. I think it looks fabulous and I couldn't have done it without her help.

Also, another begging offer of your expertise, I would like to put my name in fancy writing on the bottom of each post, but I just haven't got a clue how to do that either. I just want to make my blog look pretty and to put my real name, which is Vivienne, instead of Scrap girl. Scrap girl is left over from a scrapping blog I was going to originally set up and I can't get rid of it now. I don't mind being called Scrap girl, but I want to put my own name in fancy writing too.

Thank you in anticipation of all your help, you are such lovely people I am sure you won't mind giving me a wee hand.

Grovel, grovel, grovel!!!!

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I am going to join yet another challenge this week as I just can't resist it.

This one is organised by Wendy at Caribousmum and is called The Random Reading Challenge.

Here is the information straight from Wendy's site as I think she explains it better than me.

August 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010
Are you stuck in a rut? Do you always find yourself reading from set lists or feeling committed to reading one book while another book screams at you from your TBR mountain? Has your reading become completely scheduled? If so, the Random Reading Challenge may be just the thing to put the spontaneity back into your reading.
For this challenge, readers will be choosing books randomly from their TBR stacks. You may select one of three levels of participation:
Level I:
You are just a tad compulsive about your reading – you love your lists and schedules. Being spontaneous is not something that comes naturally to you. To complete the challenge, force yourself out of your rut and read just six books.
Level II:
You really want to break away from all those lists, but you do still have a responsibility to your reading groups, other challenges and all those review books. Six books is too little, but twelve is too much. Stretch a little and read nine books for the challenge.
Level III:
Throw away the lists, don’t look at your schedule, bring on the joy that comes with the freedom to chose books randomly. Read twelve books for the challenge.
Rules (come on, you didn’t think I would be THAT random did you?!?!?):
NO lists allowed. Books for the challenge are chosen one at a time when the mood strikes.
Sign up at any time during the challenge period using Mr. Linky below. Please give me a direct link to your blog post about the challenge. If you do not have a blog, no worries. Simply enter your name and leave the URL box on Mr. Linky blank.
Book reviews are not required, but if you want to write a review I will be providing a review Mr. Linky after August 1st.
Books are selected one at a time using the following procedure:
Randomly select any number of books from either your physical OR your virtual TBR pile (I don’t care how you do this, but it must be random…no “cherry picking” allowed)
Assign a number to each book based on how many books you selected (ie: if you selected 14 books, assign each book a number from 1 through 14; if you selected 28 books, assign each book a number from 1 through 28…you get the idea)
Go to THIS SITE and use the TRUE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR located in the upper right hand corner of the page to randomly select the book you will read. NO CHEATING – whatever the random number generator generates is the book you must read!
Each time you select a book for the challenge, you will use this procedure. You many select different books each time, choose a different amount of books each time, etc…have fun, mix it up, keep it random.
I have decided to draw names for at least one prize during the challenge period (I may do more, but I haven’t decided yet). I will be drawing names from the sign up Mr. Linky and I will announce it on my blog – so if you don’t have a blog link in Mr. Linky and are not subscribed to my blog and have no interest in checking back here…then leave me a comment with a way to contact you if I draw your name.
Ready to get random!??!? Challenge begins August 1st!

Doesn't that sound good, I like the idea of randomness, so I am going for the Level 3 (12 books!).

If you want to join in, then click on Caribousmom under the cat picture.