How To Track Conversions In Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics is the best free tool provided by Google. I am not saying this, but 90% of marketers consider it the one and only solution for their website tracking. 

GA4 has some extraordinary abilities to track performance, whereas Universal Analytics just can’t. 

Are you still sticking with Universal Analytics?

Well, it’s time to switch to GA4 as soon as possible because Universal Analytics is going to be shut down by Google in July 2023. 

So, it’s high time you switch to GA4.

Also, if you are not using Google Analytics 4 for tracking conversions, you are definitely losing a lot of useful information. 

In this blog, you are going to learn about how to set up a GA4 account and track conversions like a pro. 

So, let’s get started with how to track conversions in Google Analytics 4.

but, before you begin to understand how to track conversions in Google Analytics 4, you must understand what is conversion in Google Analytics 4.

What Is Conversion In Google Analytics 4?

Conversion is an important part of Google Analytics that needs to be measured. It is any action or engagement that happens on your website that can be tracked and is called “conversion.” 

Basically, it is a key element of your website. 

Some of them like 

• Booking strategy sessions 
• Videos played 
• Downloaded E-book
• Getting free trials
• Getting consultations

Basically, it is an action that is taken by the users on your website and is important for your business. You yourself can create events on your GA4 account and track them. 

Now, the question that might be buzzing in your mind is, “But what’s the difference between Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics?”

No worries! I am going to answer each and every question of yours. 

What Is The Difference Between The Conversion Tracking Of Universal Analytics And GA4?

Conversion Are Tracked As “Events” In GA4

In Universal Analytics, there conversions are counted when a user completes a goal. This is one of the most common goals for a lot of websites. 

That’s where when users visit a particular page, for example, the “purchased done page” or “thank you” page. 

Unlike, Google Analytics 4, it doesn’t have goals. Rather, it has conversions just as events. 

For example, if you wish to check how many people have booked for strategy sessions, you would have to check it through event tracking to check it out. 

But now, there is no difference between goals and events. Even, conversions will be tracked as an event. 

There Are Unlimited Conversion Events In GA4

In Universal Analytics, you could only check 20 reports. 

To see more than 20 reports, you had to create a new view for that property and remove a current goal to make room for something new. 

Of course, it is not good for websites that have many products or wish to have multiple conversions. 

However, the rules are different in GA4. there is no limit on views or events in GA4. 

That simply means marketers can track multiple events track and measure website performance. 

Conversions Are Allowed With Only One Condition In Universal Analytics

You can only create conversions with the following conditions, 

• pageviews
• events
• duration
• pageviews/screens per session

This is the biggest issue on universal analytics and that is, it limits the goal with conditions. 

Now, let’s see how to set up a GA4

How To Set Up GA4?

Setting up GA4 is not very much difficult. You will be able to set it up once you see how it is done. Check out below:

Step 1: Visit https://analytics.google.com/analytics after logging into your Google account.

Step 2: Select “Start Measuring” from the menu.

Step 3: Enter the account name as it is listed here.

After entering the company name, press “Next”.

Step 4: Enter a “Property Name” from the options.

Step 5: Click “Show Advanced Options” as seen in the image below to create a Universal Analytics Property in addition to a GA4 analytics property.

Now enter the URL of your website and choose whether to establish a Universal Analytics Property or merely a GA4 Property.

After choosing the suitable choice, press “Next.”

Step 7: Explain “About Your Business” in detail by choosing the options that apply to your company, such as the Industry Category, the size of the company, and how you want to utilize Google Analytics for your company.

After choosing all the necessary parameters, click “Establish” to create a new Google Analytics account and a GA4 and Universal Analytics Property.

Step 8: Tick the appropriate boxes to agree to the GDPR-mandated data processing terms and the measurement controller-controller data protection terms.

Click “I Accept” now.

Step 9: After accepting the conditions, you will be sent to the “Web Stream Details” screen, where the Measurement ID is located in the upper right corner.

Step 10: Go to tagging instructions there are 2 tag options available below:

You can see, there are 2 options, Global Site tag and the other one is, Google Tag Manager. 

I would choose the first one.

Step 11: Get the code copy from there and put it in the header section of your website. 

Go to settings

Click on insert header and footer.

Paste the code here that you copied from tagging instructions and click on the save button below.

And that’s how it is done.

Best Practices Of Track Conversion In GA4

You must have known that Goals are no longer a good option to track conversion. Here in GA4, you would require a custom event to turn into a conversion. 

Go on “configure” and then click on “events”.

Then, you will find different events that are predefined by Google Analytics 4.

• Click 
• first_visit 
• page_view
• scroll
• session_view

Here are two ways to set up a unique event to track conversions in Google Analytics 4.

• Create a new event based on an existing option
• Configure a new tag in Google Tag Manager

Create A New Event Based On An Existing Option

Let me start with this option.

1. Log in to GA4 property, go to “configure”> “Events”> “create events”

2. Name your custom event and set up the condition settings. Here the configuration will create a new conversion event whenever a user visits the “Thank You” page.

Configure a new tag in Google Tag Manager

Now, we will go with the second option. This method will help you have more control over your conversion tracking. 

1. Go to your Google Tag Manager and select “variables”

2. You need to click on “configure” to ensure that all boxes are checked in the form section when you are new to GTM.

3. Then, click on “triggers” and create a generic form submission trigger. This will help you see the form submission inside GTM. and that’s how you will know which ID to fire your tag and conversion event in GA4. 

4. Then, go to the “Tags”, click on “new” and give your tag a name. 

5. Click on “Tag configuration” and then click on “Google Analytics: GA4 Event” and finish the setup. 

In Event parameters, you can assign the value, which will show in Google Analytics every time. 

6. Click on the + in the top right corner. Then, select “form submission” and then “select forms” then fill up your “form ID”. once it is done, click on save. 

7. Then, go into the preview mode and check if the tag is fired correctly. If it is working correctly, work on another form submission. 

Best Practices Of Track Conversions In Google Analytics 4

Create Unique GA4 Events For Important Conversions

You must create a custom event for most of your web pages because, GA4 allows you to include, sessions and page views as an event, and that too in a new category. 

First, you can use a current event and enable it as a conversion. You can simply apply it to things like clicking on the links. 

This does not end here…

You can also mark some particular events as “Mark as conversion” in the “All events” report.

And if you wish to track something more deeply like, some specific page engagement, for that, you can create a new event in Google Analytics. 

And… this is very simple to do. 

Click on “Create Event Button”, name it, and set the conditions and it will be finalized as conversion. 

And… when any user is redirected to this page, it will be recorded as a conversion. 

Read More: Learn 11 Conversion Rate Optimization Hacks & 6 Avoidable Mistakes to Skyrocket Your Sales  

Connect Your Paid Ad Accounts To GA4

You can also track conversion from paid ads through Google Analytics 4. 

Yes, you read that right!

Let me explain:

You can set up the Google Analytics 4 property and add that with Google Ads. You can make some important changes through the Edit Option. 

GA4 also contains the web data stream to measure the data. 

You can easily set up the data of conversion. Check out below how can you do that. 

1. Set up the preliminary settings.

2. Sign in to your Google Ads Account

3. Tap on the settings icon.

4. Then, click on the “measurement” option, then, click on conversions, then click on the + button and finally click on the “import button” 

5. Add GA4 properties and click on “Web” 

6. Then, click on the “Continue” button

7. Enable the checkbox and then click on the “Import and continue” button. 

8. At last, click on the “done” option to finish the track settings.    

That’s how you can track detailed conversion data. 

Track The Whole Customer Journey With GA4 Events

It is always beneficial to track the whole customer journey. You can initially set events that suit best to your business needs. 

While there may be certain early occurrences you are aware of and desire to monitor, it is helpful for businesses to comprehend the entire client experience. 

Because GA4 makes it simple to toggle recorded events on and off, you may start by setting events that could be helpful before adjusting your tracking as you figure out what information your organization really needs to know.

By doing this, you will gauge the effectiveness of the entire sales funnel, rather than just the end conversion. With GA4’s simply customized funnel reports, it will be simple to locate the drop-offs in the funnel and get excellent insights for changes.

Use A Test Google Analytics 4 Account

Even though GA4 makes the setup for conversion monitoring simpler, it might be useful to confirm that you’re tracking your visitors’ actions the way you planned.

William Chin of Your Digital Aid says, “the best approach for configuring conversion tracking in GA4 is to ensure that your events that you put up as your conversions are configured appropriately.” “I prefer to check if the conversions actually work by running tests on events on a test GA account I’ve set up first, then browsing the website. ”

Conclusion

If you want to examine how well your marketing is working and how people are engaging with your website and content, tracking goal conversions in Google Analytics is essential.

Of course, working on marketing without having precise conversion information is just like shooting an arrow in the dark. 

A wonderful initial step to getting useful data that you can use to make wise decisions is setting up conversion events in your Google Analytics 4 account.

You can easily track your online conversions once you’ve set events. Use a platform like Ruler Analytics if you need more information about offline conversions like phone calls.