# Google Analytics



The Google Analytics 4 (GA4) integration imports your traffic and engagement data into VitalSentinel. View analytics alongside performance monitoring for a complete picture.

## What You Get [#what-you-get]

With GA4 integration, you can view:

* **Sessions** and **users**
* **Pageviews** and **engagement**
* **Traffic sources**
* **E-commerce data** (if configured in GA4)
* **Geographic breakdown**

## Connecting Google Analytics [#connecting-google-analytics]

### Step 1: Connect Your Google Account [#step-1-connect-your-google-account]

1. Go to your workspace and click **Integrations** in the sidebar
2. Click **Connect Google Account**
3. Sign in with your Google account
4. Grant access to Analytics data

### Step 2: Link to Your Domain [#step-2-link-to-your-domain]

1. Open the domain you want to connect.
2. Click **Google Analytics** in the domain sidebar.
3. From the properties available on your connected account, pick the GA4 property to link.

After linking, the domain's **Edit** page shows the current property under **Google Analytics Property** with **Change** and **Remove** actions if you need to swap or unlink later.

<Callout type="info">
  The connected Google account must have at least Viewer access to the GA4 property for it to appear in the picker.
</Callout>

## Dashboard Overview [#dashboard-overview]

### Key Metrics [#key-metrics]

The dashboard displays four key metrics:

| Metric                   | Description                    |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
| Total Users              | Unique visitors                |
| Total Sessions           | Total sessions                 |
| Engagement Rate          | Percentage of engaged sessions |
| Average Session Duration | Mean session length            |

### Timeline Chart [#timeline-chart]

View trends over time with an interactive chart. Use the date range picker to analyze different periods, and turn on comparison to see how metrics changed.

### Detailed Metrics [#detailed-metrics]

Expanded metrics organized by category:

**User Metrics**

* Total Users, New Users, Active Users

**Session & Engagement Metrics**

* Sessions, Sessions per User, Engagement Rate, Average Session Duration

**Page View Metrics**

* Screen/Page Views, Views per Session, Views per User

**Conversion & Revenue Metrics** (if e-commerce is configured)

* Conversions, Transactions, Revenue, Add to Carts, Checkouts

<Callout type="info">
  Conversion and revenue metrics only appear if your GA4 property has e-commerce tracking configured.
</Callout>

## Traffic Sources [#traffic-sources]

See where visitors come from with three tabs:

**Channels**

* Organic Search, Direct, Referral, Social, Email, Paid Search, Display, etc.

**Sources**

* Specific traffic sources (google, facebook, newsletter, etc.)

**Campaigns**

* UTM campaign performance

## Geography [#geography]

View visitor locations:

**Countries**

* Traffic breakdown by country

**Cities**

* City-level data (if available)

**Languages**

* Browser language settings

## Browsers & Systems [#browsers--systems]

Understand your visitors' technology:

**Browser**

* Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, etc.

**OS**

* Operating systems (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, etc.)

**Device**

* Device categories (Desktop, Mobile, Tablet)

## Pages [#pages]

See which pages perform best:

**Top Pages**

* Most viewed pages

**Entry Pages**

* Pages where visitors land first

## Events [#events]

View GA4 events with:

* Event name
* Event count
* Event value (if applicable)

## Comparing with VitalSentinel Analytics [#comparing-with-vitalsentinel-analytics]

You can use both GA4 and VitalSentinel Analytics:

| Feature          | GA4 Import        | VitalSentinel Web Analytics |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------- |
| Historical data  | Up to 14 months   | Plan-dependent              |
| Cookies required | Yes (in GA4)      | No                          |
| GDPR compliance  | Requires consent  | Compliant by default        |
| Real-time        | No (daily import) | Yes                         |
| E-commerce       | Manual setup      | Auto-detect                 |

### When to Use Each [#when-to-use-each]

**Use GA4 when:**

* You need audience demographics (age, gender)
* You have complex marketing attribution needs
* You're already invested in the Google ecosystem

**Use VitalSentinel Web Analytics for:**

* Privacy-first tracking without cookies
* GDPR/CCPA compliance without consent banners
* Automatic e-commerce tracking (no manual setup)
* Unified view with performance monitoring (RUM, CrUX, Uptime)
* Cleaner, faster dashboard experience
* Full data ownership

## Data Freshness [#data-freshness]

| Data Type        | Freshness       |
| ---------------- | --------------- |
| Standard reports | Updated daily   |
| Historical data  | Up to 14 months |

VitalSentinel collects GA4 data once per day with a 7-day lookback window to ensure data accuracy. When you first link a property, it backfills up to 14 months of history; allow up to 24 hours for that initial collection to finish.

<Callout type="warn">
  Data in VitalSentinel may differ slightly from Google Analytics due to API limitations and different calculation methods (such as weighted averages). These differences are normal and do not indicate data quality issues.
</Callout>

## Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting]

### No Data Showing [#no-data-showing]

1. Verify GA4 is connected in workspace settings
2. Check that the correct property is linked
3. Ensure GA4 is receiving data from your site
4. Wait for data to sync (can take up to 24 hours for new properties)

### Wrong Property [#wrong-property]

1. Go to domain settings
2. Unlink the current property
3. Select the correct GA4 property
4. Re-link

### Connection Expired [#connection-expired]

Google connections expire periodically. To refresh:

1. Go to your workspace and click **Integrations** in the sidebar
2. Click **Reconnect** next to your Google account
3. Re-authorize access

## Best Practices [#best-practices]

### Link the Correct Property [#link-the-correct-property]

Make sure you're linking the GA4 property (not Universal Analytics) that corresponds to your domain.

### Verify Data is Flowing [#verify-data-is-flowing]

After connecting:

1. Visit your website
2. Check that GA4 is receiving data
3. Wait up to 24 hours for data to appear in VitalSentinel

### Use with Performance Data [#use-with-performance-data]

Combine GA4 insights with:

* RUM data for performance correlation
* CrUX data for SEO assessment

## Related Features [#related-features]

<Cards>
  <Card title="Web Analytics" href="/features/web-analytics">
    Privacy-focused analytics built-in
  </Card>

  <Card title="Google Search Console" href="/features/google-search-console">
    Search performance data
  </Card>

  <Card title="RUM Monitoring" href="/features/rum-monitoring">
    Real user performance
  </Card>
</Cards>