1.8 How dimensions and metrics power your reports - Analytics Academy on Skillshop

Summary

This video provides an insightful overview of Google Analytics, focusing on how it collects and organizes data through user interactions termed events. Each event, triggered by actions like opening an app or watching a video, is enriched by event parameters and user properties such as location and device type. The data is then structured into reports using dimensions, which describe the data, and metrics, which quantify it. While Google Analytics offers default events, the importance of setting up custom events and registering unique dimensions and metrics is emphasized, allowing businesses to tailor their data collection to specific needs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Events in Google Analytics track user interactions with your website or app.
• 📊 Each event is accompanied by event parameters that provide context, such as video names and watch times.
• 🌍 User properties, like geographic location and device type, are also collected.
• 🔍 Data is aggregated into reports using dimensions and metrics.
• 📜 Dimensions describe data attributes, typically in text form, such as event names.
• 🔢 Metrics are quantitative measurements that allow for mathematical operations, like total event counts.
• 🔧 Google Analytics includes common events and parameters, but custom dimensions and metrics may need registration.
• 🚀 Enhanced measurement may require specific setup for tracking unique events.
• 📈 Data collection starts automatically upon setting up Google Analytics.
• 🔒 Tailored reporting can be achieved by setting up events specific to your business needs.

Q & A

What are events in Google Analytics?

Events are specific interactions on your website or app, such as opening the app, watching a video, or viewing a page.

What is the purpose of event parameters?

Event parameters provide additional context to events, detailing specifics like the name of a video or the duration it was watched.

What information is included in user properties?

User properties include data about the user, such as their geographic location and the device being used.

How does Google Analytics aggregate data?

Google Analytics aggregates data using events, event parameters, and user properties to generate reports.

What is a dimension in the context of Google Analytics?

A dimension is an attribute that describes your data, typically represented as text, such as the name of an event.

What is a metric?

A metric is a quantitative measurement of data, represented as a number, such as event count or average values.

Can you give an example of a common event in Google Analytics?

Common events include page views and purchases, which are automatically tracked by Google Analytics.

What is the difference between dimensions and metrics?

Dimensions are descriptive attributes (text), while metrics are quantitative measurements (numbers) that can be mathematically manipulated.

Why might a business want to set up custom events?

Custom events allow businesses to collect specific data relevant to their operations, enhancing the usefulness of reports.

What is required to use custom dimensions and metrics?

Custom dimensions and metrics must be registered in Google Analytics before they appear in your reports.