Trying to make sense of all the data in your Google Analytics account can feel like a daunting task. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! What is a dimension in Google Analytics, and how does it work with other elements of the report? In this post, we’ll explain it.
So, What Is a Dimension in Google Analytics?
In simple terms, a dimension is an attribute or characteristic of your data. For example, the dimension “Country” tells you what country a user was in when they accessed your website.
Dimensions are typically used to group and filter your data in Google Analytics reports. So if you wanted to see what countries had the most website sessions, you could apply the “Country” dimension to your report. Dimensions can also be used to segment your data and see how different groups of users interact with your website. For example, you could view what pages are popular among new vs. returning users using the “User Type” dimension.
How Do Dimensions and Metrics Work in Google Analytics Reports?
As we mentioned, Google Analytics dimensions are attributes of your Google Analytics data. Campaign, source, medium, keyword, and landing page are examples of default dimensions. Google Analytics metric are the quantitative measurements. Google Analytics tracks five default metrics: sessions, users, pageviews, bounce rate, and Pages/Session. You can view dimensions and metrics in Google Analytics reports by selecting the report type from the left navigation menu.
No answer to the question “what is a dimension in Google Analytics” can evade report types. The most popular report types are: audience, acquisition, behavior, and conversions. Google Analytics also offer custom reports. You can create a custom report by selecting “Customize” from the reporting tabs at the top of any Google Analytics report page. Custom reports allow you to select the specific dimensions and metrics that you want to include in your report.
What Is a Custom Dimension in Google Analytics?
When wondering, “what is a dimension in Google Analytics”, it’s important to also understand what a custom dimension is. Custom dimensions are those that you define yourself based on information that is significant to your business. For example, if you run an ecommerce store, you might want to track the number of products added to cart or whether a user completed their purchase. Or if you have a membership-based website, you might want to track whether a user logged in or not.
By tracking this information as a custom dimension, you can see how it impacts other key metrics, such as bounce rate or time on site. Using custom dimensions can provide valuable insights into your website performance and help inform your decision-making.
To create custom dimensions, go to Admin > Property > Custom Definitions > Custom Dimensions and click “New Custom Dimension.” From there, you’ll be able to give your dimension a name and choose when it applies (e.g., all hits or only hits from specific pages). Once you’ve created your dimension, it will appear in the list under “Active” until you delete it or make changes to its settings.
Secondary Dimensions – Additional Information
The question “what is a dimension in Google Analytics” cannot be answered without discussing secondary dimensions. A secondary dimension is simply an additional piece of information that you can view alongside your primary dimension in a report.
For example, say you’re looking at a report that shows pageviews by country. You might want to add a secondary dimension so that you can also see the browsers used by visitors from each country. To do this, simply click “Secondary Dimension” above the report and select the dimension you want to add from the drop-down menu.
As you can see, dimensions and metrics play a crucial role in Google Analytics reporting. Understanding how to use them effectively can greatly improve your ability to analyze and understand your website data. So don’t hesitate to experiment with different dimensions and create custom ones to track the information that matters most to your business goals.
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