What Are Events in GA4?
- In Universal Analytics, tracking was focused on sessions (all actions taken in a visit).
- In GA4, every action a user takes is considered an event.
Examples of default events in GA4:
- Page View
- Session Start
- First Visit
- User Engagement
- Scroll
- Click
Key Events vs. Conversions
- Not all events are considered conversions.
- In GA4, you can mark certain events as Key Events to track specific actions that matter to your business.
Default vs. Custom Events
Default Event Tracking
GA4 automatically tracks several interactions without additional setup, such as:
- Form tracking
- Scroll depth
- File downloads
- Outbound clicks
Custom Event Tracking
If you need to track specific interactions beyond what GA4 provides by default, you can set up custom events. Examples include:
- Tracking clicks on specific elements (e.g., buttons, product links).
- Tracking interactions with FAQ accordions.
- Tracking advanced search queries.
How to Set Up Custom Events
There are three primary ways to set up custom events:
- Ask your developer to configure events in your website’s code.
- Use Google Tag Manager to track events without coding.
- Use the GA4 Interface to modify and create new events.
Viewing Events in GA4
To see your event data in GA4:
- Open Google Analytics 4.
- Navigate to Reports > Engagement > Events.
- Review the different user interactions being tracked.
Conclusion
GA4’s event-based tracking provides a more detailed understanding of user behavior. While it differs from Universal Analytics, it offers powerful insights into interactions that matter. You can use default events or set up custom tracking to tailor the data to your needs.