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Event tracking is one of the most important elements of any analytics software. By building an understanding of how customers interact with your website, you can facilitate superior user journeys and improve conversion rates.<\/span><\/p>\n With the arrival of Google Analytics 4, companies will have to adjust to new systems for event tracking to wrap their heads around. Our step-by-step guide will take you through everything you need to know about event tracking GA4, including the setup process.<\/span><\/p>\n Read on to improve your understanding of this all-important process.<\/span><\/p>\n Event tracking in Google Analytics 4 works by adding tags to your website which track user interactions on each page. The level of data customisation and detail will usually depend on how the data layer and individual tags are set up.<\/span><\/p>\n Tracking events via GA4 requires a tag manager. If you are using Google Analytics 4 in your setup, you will find Google Tag Manager is by far the most convenient option available.<\/span><\/p>\n Prior to setting up event tracking in GA4, you will need to take all the necessary steps to complete the initial integration with GA4 and your tag manager.<\/span><\/p>\n Another important element of GA4 event tracking is your data layer. A data layer allows you to create a single source of data to be used throughout your tech stack, increasing accuracy and flexibility between your applications.<\/span><\/p>\n For more information, check out our complete guide to configuring your data layer.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Table of Contents” use_icon=”on” content_max_width=”755px” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”ABeeZee|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” background_color=”#D4E3E9″ custom_padding=”|||14px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”4923.2px” custom_padding=”68px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-99px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”22px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_id=”g2″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are 4 different categories of events in GA4. 2 of these event types are automatically collected.<\/span><\/p>\n The other 2 events require setting up to take place for event tracking to begin. Find out more about each event category below.<\/span><\/p>\n Automatically collected events will be automatically tracked once the<\/span> initial GA4 setup<\/span><\/a> has taken place. You will be able to see data about these events without needing to take any additional steps.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many<\/span> automatically collected events<\/span><\/a> in GA4, allowing many users to have their analytics needs met without setting up many custom events.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples of automatically collected events include:<\/span><\/p>\n Enabling enhanced measurement events requires slightly more work than automatically collected events.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples of events that can have enhanced measurements include:<\/span><\/p>\n To enable enhanced measurement events, take the following steps:<\/span><\/p>\n Recommended events are events that must be specifically implemented. However, because they are commonplace, they have predefined names and parameters within GA4.<\/span><\/p>\n They can therefore be easily implemented with the additional necessary context. You can see a full list of recommended events and implementation information on<\/span> Google’s website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Some examples of recommended events include:<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, there are totally custom events. You must create and implement these events yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n You should only create custom events where no other type of event will suit your purpose. Custom events take much more effort to implement than other kinds of events, with more room for error if you implement them imperfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, custom events do not appear in most standard GA4 reports. You’ll have to set up custom reports to analyse your custom events.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-30px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”9px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_id=”g3″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Use the following steps to set up tracking for recommended and custom events in GA4. With an understanding of this process, you’ll find it simple to track the events you need to and reap all the benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, let’s go over the process of GA4 event tracking where a data layer is in use on the website. This enables you to create events and triggers that rely on variables within the data layer.<\/span><\/p>\n This helps to simplify the event tracking process and ensures all your tags are drawing on a single source of data.<\/span><\/p>\n Note that these steps also cover this process using Google Tag Manager.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-25px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”11px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_id=”g4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There are several key differences for setting up GA4 events without the use of a data layer. Most significantly, you must manually enter the parameters you want to track, and go through a longer process to configure your triggers.<\/span><\/p>\n Nonetheless, it is perfectly possible to conduct GA4 event tracking setup without a data layer.<\/span><\/p>\nHow does event tracking work in GA4?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Types of events in GA4<\/span><\/h2>\n
Automatically collected events<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Enhanced measurement events<\/span><\/h3>\n
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How to enable enhanced measure events<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Recommended events<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Custom events<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to set up events in Google Analytics 4: Step-by-step guide<\/span><\/h2>\n
How to set up GA4 event tracking with a data layer<\/span><\/h3>\n
1. Create a GA4 event tag<\/span><\/h4>\n
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2. Configure your GA4 event tag<\/span><\/h4>\n
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3. Create your trigger<\/span><\/h4>\n
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4. Preview and debug<\/span><\/h4>\n
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5. Publish<\/span><\/h4>\n
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How to set up GA4 event tracking without a data layer<\/span><\/h3>\n
1. Create a GA4 event tag<\/span><\/h4>\n
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2. Configure your GA4 event tag<\/span><\/h4>\n
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3. Create your trigger<\/span><\/h4>\n
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