With Google Analytics 4 (GA4) offering a more flexible and event-driven model than Universal Analytics, having a clear measurement plan is more essential than ever. A well-crafted GA4 measurement plan ensures you’re tracking the right data to support your business goals, without getting overwhelmed by noise or missing out on key insights.
A GA4 measurement plan is a blueprint that defines:
It aligns user behavior tracking with your business strategy, making data more actionable.
Follow these key steps to build your plan:
Define Goals:
Start with key objectives like product sales, lead generation, or content engagement.
Map to KPIs:
Attach each goal to metrics (e.g., "Product sales" → "Purchases").
Objective | KPI |
Increase sales | Total revenue, purchases |
Improve user retention | Returning users, session duration |
Grow email list | Signups, form submissions |
Determine what user actions need to be tracked in GA4 to support those KPIs.
KPI | Event to Track | GA4 Event Type |
Purchase | purchase | Recommended |
Form Submission | generate_lead | Recommended |
Video Engagement | video_progress | Custom |
Click on CTA | click_cta_button | Custom |
GA4 allows you to send extra details using event parameters and then register them as custom dimensions or metrics.
Example for purchase event:
Parameter | Description |
transaction_id | Order ID |
value | Total purchase value |
currency | Transaction currency |
coupon | Applied promo code |
Define where and how each event will be collected:
Step | Action |
1. Use the Same Event Names | Whether on the web or app, use consistent event names like purchase, sign_up, or add_to_cart. |
2. Standardize Event Parameters | Make sure both platforms use the same parameters (e.g., item_id, value, screen_name) to maintain consistency. |
3. Avoid Platform-Specific Variations | Don’t use screen_view in app and page_view on web as separate metrics if they serve the same purpose—define how you’ll treat them in your reports. |
4. Coordinate with Dev & Marketing Teams | Ensure both web and app teams refer to the same measurement plan document to avoid implementation silos. |
Event Name | Platform | Trigger Example | Parameters |
purchase | Web | After checkout confirmation page | transaction_id, value |
purchase | App (iOS/Android) | After successful in-app payment | transaction_id, value |
sign_up | Web + App | After registration form submission | method, user_role |
Category | Events Example |
Ecommerce | view_item, add_to_cart, begin_checkout, purchase |
Lead Gen | form_submit, generate_lead, click_contact_us |
Content | scroll, video_play, file_download, page_view |
Engagement | session_start, engagement_time_msec |
Custom | cta_click, menu_toggle, tab_switch |
A solid GA4 measurement plan connects your data to business goals—ensuring you collect meaningful insights that drive growth.