How to Control Who Sees the ExactMetrics Dashboard Widget

Many WordPress site administrators use the ExactMetrics dashboard widget to get a quick, at-a-glance view of their Google Analytics data. A common question that arises is how to control which user roles on the site can see this valuable information. This guide will explain the permissions system for the widget and show you how to configure it for different user roles.

Why User Roles Matter for the Dashboard Widget

By default, the ExactMetrics dashboard widget is often configured to be visible only to users with the Administrator role. This is a security and privacy measure. Since the widget can display sensitive site performance and visitor data, restricting access prevents lower-level users, like Subscribers or even some Editors, from viewing information they may not need to see.

How to Configure Dashboard Widget Permissions

Based on community discussions and official documentation references, configuring which roles can see the widget is a built-in feature. Here’s how you can manage it:

1. Navigate to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to ExactMetrics (or Google Analytics) in the left-hand menu.
3. Click on Settings.
4. Look for a tab or section labeled "Backend Settings," "Dashboard Widget," or similar. This is typically where permissions are managed.
5. In this area, you should find options to enable or disable the dashboard widget for specific user roles. You can check the boxes next to the roles you want to grant access to, such as Editor, Shop Manager, or a custom role.
6. Save your changes.

Once saved, users with the roles you selected will now see the ExactMetrics widget on their WordPress dashboard.

Important Considerations and Limitations

• Google API Quotas: A frequent request is to display multiple widgets or to show the widget data on the front end. The ExactMetrics team has stated that these features are not possible due to technical constraints, specifically the quota limits imposed by the Google Analytics API to protect its ecosystem. Adding multiple widgets would exponentially increase API calls and could cause the site to hit these limits.
• Front-End Display: The widget is designed exclusively for the WordPress admin dashboard. There is no official shortcode or method to display this specific widget on the front end of your website for logged-in users.
• User Preferences: It's worth noting that individual user view preferences (e.g., which report is displayed) are saved per browser, so different users can have their own default view without affecting others.

Conclusion

Granting access to the ExactMetrics dashboard widget for user roles beyond the Administrator is straightforward through the plugin's backend settings. This allows you to provide valuable insights to your editors, managers, or other trusted team members while maintaining security by restricting access for other roles. For more complex requests like front-end display or multiple widgets, users should be aware of the technical limitations imposed by Google's API.