Analytics: Tracking
Guides analytics implementation: GA4 setup, event tracking, conversions, and data quality. Applies to web and app tracking across marketing channels.
When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1-2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
User ID
- Purpose: Cross-device, cross-session user identification
- Implementation: Set
user_id when user is identified (e.g., login); send to GA4
- Benefit: Accurate attribution across sessions; better audience building
CTA Attribution (Article ROI)
Track CTA clicks on key articles to measure content ROI:
| Action |
Purpose |
| Event per CTA |
e.g., cta_click with content_url, content_type |
| Conversion |
Mark as conversion in GA4 for attribution |
| Use |
Compare high vs low performers; optimize CTA placement and copy |
See analytics-seo-monitoring for article database and benchmark context.
Scope
- GA4: Web data stream, gtag.js, configuration
- User ID: Cross-device, cross-session identification
- CTA attribution: Per-article conversion tracking for content ROI
- Events: Recommended and custom events
- Conversions: Key events, parameters
- Quality: Naming, testing, validation
GA4 Setup
Prerequisites
- Google Analytics property and web data stream
- Google tag (gtag.js) on all pages
- Measurement ID (e.g.,
G-XXXXXXXXXX)
Enhanced Measurement
Enable in Admin > Data Streams > Enhanced Measurement for automatic tracking of:
- Page views, scrolls, outbound clicks
- Site search, file downloads
- Video engagement (YouTube)
Event Tracking
Event Types
| Type |
Description |
| Automatically collected |
page_view, first_visit, session_start |
| Enhanced measurement |
scroll, click, file_download, etc. |
| Recommended |
purchase, sign_up, search, etc. |
| Custom |
Business-specific actions |
Naming Conventions
- Length: <=60 characters
- Format:
snake_case, lowercase
- Verb first:
download_pdf, submit_form, video_play
- Context:
pricing_page_scroll vs generic scroll
gtag.js Syntax
gtag('event', '<event_name>', {
<parameter_name>: <value>,
// e.g. value: 99.99, currency: 'USD'
});
Place below the Google tag snippet. Events fire on page load or user action (e.g., button click).
Recommended Events
| Event |
Use |
Key Parameters |
purchase |
E-commerce |
value, currency, items |
sign_up |
Registration |
method |
login |
Login |
method |
search |
Site search |
search_term |
view_item |
Product view |
items |
add_to_cart |
Add to cart |
items |
Custom Events
- Focus on 15-25 meaningful events aligned with KPIs
- Add parameters for context (e.g.,
content_type, item_id)
- Avoid tracking everything; prioritize quality over quantity
Conversions (Key Events)
- Mark important events as conversions in GA4 Admin
- Use for attribution, audiences, and reporting
- Typical: purchase, sign_up, lead, contact
Testing & Validation
| Tool |
Use |
| Realtime |
See events as they fire |
| DebugView |
Detailed event/parameter inspection; requires debug mode |
| GA4 Debug mode |
gtag('config', 'G-XXX', { 'debug_mode': true }); or GTM preview |
- Test before launch; verify parameters and naming
- Check for duplicate events, missing values
Output Format
- Event list (name, trigger, parameters)
- Implementation notes (gtag or GTM)
- Conversion mapping
- Testing checklist
Related Skills
- analytics-traffic: UTM and source attribution
- analytics-ai-traffic: AI traffic in GA4
- analytics-google-search-console: GSC analysis (correlate with GA4)
- analytics-seo-monitoring: Article database, benchmark, full SEO monitoring framework
1---2name: analytics-tracking3description: When the user wants to set up, audit, or optimize analytics tracking (GA4, events, conversions). Also use when the user mentions "Google Analytics," "GA4," "event tracking," "conversions," "gtag," or "data layer."4---56# Analytics: Tracking78Guides analytics implementation: GA4 setup, event tracking, conversions, and data quality. Applies to web and app tracking across marketing channels.910**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1-2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.1112## User ID1314- **Purpose**: Cross-device, cross-session user identification15- **Implementation**: Set `user_id` when user is identified (e.g., login); send to GA416- **Benefit**: Accurate attribution across sessions; better audience building1718## CTA Attribution (Article ROI)1920Track CTA clicks on key articles to measure content ROI:2122| Action | Purpose |23|--------|---------|24| **Event per CTA** | e.g., `cta_click` with `content_url`, `content_type` |25| **Conversion** | Mark as conversion in GA4 for attribution |26| **Use** | Compare high vs low performers; optimize CTA placement and copy |2728See analytics-seo-monitoring for article database and benchmark context.2930## Scope3132- **GA4**: Web data stream, gtag.js, configuration33- **User ID**: Cross-device, cross-session identification34- **CTA attribution**: Per-article conversion tracking for content ROI35- **Events**: Recommended and custom events36- **Conversions**: Key events, parameters37- **Quality**: Naming, testing, validation3839## GA4 Setup4041### Prerequisites4243- Google Analytics property and web data stream44- Google tag (gtag.js) on all pages45- Measurement ID (e.g., `G-XXXXXXXXXX`)4647### Enhanced Measurement4849Enable in Admin > Data Streams > Enhanced Measurement for automatic tracking of:5051- Page views, scrolls, outbound clicks52- Site search, file downloads53- Video engagement (YouTube)5455## Event Tracking5657### Event Types5859| Type | Description |60|------|-------------|61| **Automatically collected** | page_view, first_visit, session_start |62| **Enhanced measurement** | scroll, click, file_download, etc. |63| **Recommended** | purchase, sign_up, search, etc. |64| **Custom** | Business-specific actions |6566### Naming Conventions6768- **Length**: <=60 characters69- **Format**: `snake_case`, lowercase70- **Verb first**: `download_pdf`, `submit_form`, `video_play`71- **Context**: `pricing_page_scroll` vs generic `scroll`7273### gtag.js Syntax7475```javascript76gtag('event', '<event_name>', {77 <parameter_name>: <value>,78 // e.g. value: 99.99, currency: 'USD'79});80```8182Place below the Google tag snippet. Events fire on page load or user action (e.g., button click).8384### Recommended Events8586| Event | Use | Key Parameters |87|-------|-----|----------------|88| `purchase` | E-commerce | value, currency, items |89| `sign_up` | Registration | method |90| `login` | Login | method |91| `search` | Site search | search_term |92| `view_item` | Product view | items |93| `add_to_cart` | Add to cart | items |9495### Custom Events9697- Focus on 15-25 meaningful events aligned with KPIs98- Add parameters for context (e.g., `content_type`, `item_id`)99- Avoid tracking everything; prioritize quality over quantity100101## Conversions (Key Events)102103- Mark important events as conversions in GA4 Admin104- Use for attribution, audiences, and reporting105- Typical: purchase, sign_up, lead, contact106107## Testing & Validation108109| Tool | Use |110|------|-----|111| **Realtime** | See events as they fire |112| **DebugView** | Detailed event/parameter inspection; requires debug mode |113| **GA4 Debug mode** | `gtag('config', 'G-XXX', { 'debug_mode': true });` or GTM preview |114115- Test before launch; verify parameters and naming116- Check for duplicate events, missing values117118## Output Format119120- **Event list** (name, trigger, parameters)121- **Implementation** notes (gtag or GTM)122- **Conversion** mapping123- **Testing** checklist124125## Related Skills126127- **analytics-traffic**: UTM and source attribution128- **analytics-ai-traffic**: AI traffic in GA4129- **analytics-google-search-console**: GSC analysis (correlate with GA4)130- **analytics-seo-monitoring**: Article database, benchmark, full SEO monitoring framework
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