How to measure custom events in GA4: Step-by-step guide
If you want to learn how to measure events in GA4, Start by clearly defining what action you want to track, implement tracking with Google Tag Manager, verify in real time with DebugView, create custom dimensions for in-depth analysis and review reports for valuable insights into your users' behavior.
Table of Contents:
- 1. Define the objective and the customized event.
- 2. Create the custom event in GA4
- 3. View and verify the custom event
- 4. Create custom parameters, dimensions and metrics
- 5. Cardinality and limit considerations
- 6. Query and use the data in reports
- Important Notes
- Conclusion
Define the target and custom event: the first step in understanding how to measure events in GA4.
Before you begin implementation, it is essential to define exactly what interaction or action you want to measure. Do you want to track button clicks, user registrations or file downloads? Having clarity on the objective will allow you to set up your events more effectively. A good practice is to assign a descriptive name to the custom event, as this will make it easier to identify in GA4 reports. Examples of names include «user_registration» o «clic_boton_whatsapp».».
2. Create the custom event in GA4
There are several ways to create and send custom events to GA4:
Through Google Tag Manager (GTM)
This is the most flexible and recommended option for most cases. To implement it:
- Make sure you have Google Tag Manager installed on your website and that your GA4 property is configured.
- Create a new tag in GTM of the type “Google Analytics: GA4 Event”.
- Define the name of the event and the parameters you want to track, as well as the conditions that will trigger this event (for example, a click on a specific button).
- Publish changes in GTM (source).
Using gtag.js (on-site code)
If you prefer to have full control over the code, you can use gtag.js to dispatch events. To implement it, simply add the following function at the place where the interaction occurs:
gtag(‘event’, ‘event_name’, {
parameter1: ‘value1’,
parameter2: ‘value2’
});
parameter1: ‘value1’,
parameter2: ‘value2’
});
This method is ideal if you have access to the source code of your website. (source).
From the GA4 interface
In some cases, you can create custom events directly in the “Events” section of your GA4 property, modifying events that already exist. This can be especially useful if you want to adjust events without additional complications. (source).
3. View and verify the custom event
Once you have submitted your custom event, you need to wait up to 48 hours for it to appear in the “Events” section within your GA4 property. For immediate testing, use GA4“s ”DebugView" feature, which allows you to see in real time the events that are being sent to the platform. (source).
4. Create custom parameters, dimensions and metrics
If your events contain additional parameters, such as “button_type” or “purchase_value”, you will need to record these parameters as custom dimensions or metrics in order to analyze them in your reports.
To create custom dimensions in GA4, follow these steps:
- Go to Administrator > Custom definitions > Create custom dimensions.
- Complete the required fields:
- Name of dimension
- Scope (event or user)
- Description
- Event parameter (the exact name you used in the code or GTM) (source).
Remember that in standard accounts you can create up to 50 dimensions and 50 custom metrics per property. (source).
5. Cardinality and boundary considerations when learning how to measure events in GA4.
It is important to note that if your custom parameter can take more than 500 distinct values (such as dynamic URLs), the dimension will be of high cardinality. This may lead to reports grouping some of these values into a generic category called “other”, which will affect the accuracy of your analysis. (source).
Always check dimension limits and custom metrics to ensure that your reports will be correct and useful. (source).
6. Query and use the data in reports
Once your dimensions and metrics are set up, you will be able to analyze the events and their custom parameters in GA4“s custom reports and scans. In addition, custom events can be used to create conversions by marking the event as a target in the ”Conversions" section of GA4. (source).
Important Notes
Custom events in GA4 are critical, as the platform is based on an event model instead of the session model that Universal Analytics had (source). In addition, only the customized events require this additional step to record parameters for analysis in detailed reports. (source).
I recommend always setting up the “DebugView” in GA4 for immediate testing after implementation. (source).
Conclusion
Measuring custom events in GA4 is a process that, despite seeming technical, provides valuable information about user interactions with your website or application. Through proper implementation and data analysis, you can gain insights that will guide your marketing and conversion optimization strategies.
If you want to dive deeper into how to optimize your GA4 implementation, explore advanced tracking solutions, or need help with reporting in Looker Studio, don't hesitate to contact us. Visit our website to find out how we can help you maximize your digital performance - your analytics success starts today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a custom event in GA4?
A custom event in GA4 is any interaction recorded by the user that is not found in the default events offered by the platform.
Can I measure button clicks with GA4?
Yes, you can measure button clicks by setting up custom events through Google Tag Manager or gtag.js code.
How do I view my customized events in GA4?
Custom events can be viewed in the GA4 reports section, where you can also use custom dimensions and metrics for more detailed analysis.
