Creating custom reports in Google Analytics allows you to tailor your data analysis to specific business goals and metrics that are most relevant to your website or app. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create custom reports:
Step 1: Sign in to Google Analytics
- Sign in: Go to Google Analytics and sign in with your Google account credentials.
- Select Your Account and Property: Choose the account and property for which you want to create a custom report.
Step 2: Navigate to Customization
- Access Customization: In the left-hand sidebar, click on “Customization”. This is where you can create custom reports, dashboards, and segments.
Step 3: Create a New Custom Report
- Click on Custom Reports: Under the Customization section, click on “Custom Reports”.
- New Custom Report: Click on the “+ New Custom Report” button to start creating a new custom report.
Step 4: Configure Your Custom Report
- Report Name and Tab Name:
- Enter a descriptive name for your custom report in the “Report Name” field.
- Optionally, specify a “Tab Name” if you want to organize your reports into tabs within the Custom Reports section.
- Metrics and Dimensions:
- Metrics: Choose the metrics (quantitative data) you want to include in your report. Examples include sessions, bounce rate, conversion rate, etc. You can select up to 10 metrics per report.
- Dimensions: Select the dimensions (attributes of your data) by which you want to segment your metrics. Dimensions can include things like source/medium, landing page, device category, etc. You can add up to 5 dimensions per report.
- Filters (Optional):
- Apply filters to include or exclude specific data in your report. For example, you can filter by a specific region, traffic source, or user behavior.
- Views:
- Choose the views (data views from your Google Analytics account) that you want to include in your custom report. You can select one or more views to include in your report.
- Save and Preview:
- Click on the “Save” button to save your custom report configuration.
- Optionally, click on “Preview” to see a sample of the data that your report will display based on your current settings.
Step 5: Customize Report Layout (Optional)
- Add Graphs and Charts:
- Customize the layout of your report by adding graphs, charts, or tables to visualize your data. You can choose from various visualization options, including pie charts, line graphs, and tables.
- Arrange Metrics and Dimensions:
- Drag and drop metrics and dimensions to arrange them in the order you want them to appear in your report.
Step 6: Apply Advanced Configurations (Optional)
- Add Calculated Metrics:
- Create calculated metrics based on existing metrics to derive custom insights. For example, calculate average session duration or conversion rate based on specific criteria.
- Segmentation:
- Apply advanced segmentation to analyze specific subsets of data within your custom report. Segments allow you to filter and compare data based on user behavior, demographics, or other criteria.
Step 7: Save and Share Your Custom Report
- Save Changes:
- Once you’re satisfied with your custom report configuration, click on the “Save” button to save your changes.
- Share Report:
- Share your custom report with colleagues or stakeholders by clicking on the “Share” button. You can share the report via email or generate a shareable link.
Step 8: Access and Use Your Custom Report
- Navigate to Custom Reports:
- To access your custom report in the future, go to Customization > Custom Reports and click on the report name you created.
- Analyze and Export Data:
- Use your custom report to analyze data trends, identify insights, and make data-driven decisions. You can also export report data to Excel, PDF, or other formats for further analysis or sharing.
Creating custom reports in Google Analytics allows you to focus on specific metrics and dimensions that matter most to your business objectives. By tailoring your reports to your unique needs, you can gain deeper insights into user behavior, campaign performance, and overall website or app performance.