Setting up custom alerts in Google Analytics allows you to monitor specific metrics and receive notifications when predefined thresholds are met. This helps you promptly identify and address issues affecting your website’s performance. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up custom alerts:

1. Access Google Analytics

Firstly, ensure you have access to your Google Analytics account and navigate to the property (website) you want to set up alerts for.

2. Navigate to Custom Alerts

• Go to Admin: Click on the gear icon at the bottom left to access the Admin section.
• Select View: In the View column, click on “View Settings” under the View you want to create alerts for.
• Navigate to Custom Alerts: Scroll down to the “Custom Alerts” section in the View Settings page.

3. Create a New Custom Alert

• Click on “+ New Alert”: This prompts you to create a new custom alert.

4. Configure Alert Conditions

When setting up a custom alert, you need to define the conditions that trigger the alert. Here are the key components to configure:

• Name: Give your alert a descriptive name so you can easily identify it later.
• Apply to: Choose the view (profile) within your Google Analytics account where you want the alert to apply.
• Period: Select the time period for which the alert should be checked (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly).
• Alert Conditions: Define the conditions that trigger the alert. These conditions can be based on various metrics such as sessions, pageviews, bounce rate, conversion rate, etc.
  • Example Conditions:
    • Metric: Choose the specific metric you want to monitor (e.g., Sessions, Bounce Rate).
    • Operator: Select a comparison operator (e.g., Greater than, Less than, Equal to).
    • Threshold Value: Set the numeric value that triggers the alert (e.g., 100 sessions, 70% bounce rate).
    • Alert me when: Define whether the alert triggers when the condition is met once, or if it continues to trigger as long as the condition is true.

5. Define Additional Options (Optional)

• Send me an email when this alert triggers: Check this box if you want to receive email notifications when the alert condition is met.
• Periodicity: Choose how often you want to check for the alert condition (daily, weekly, or monthly).

6. Save the Alert

• Click “Save”: Once you have configured all the alert conditions and options, click the “Save” button to create the custom alert.

7. Test the Alert (Optional)

• Test the Alert: You can test the alert to ensure it triggers correctly. Google Analytics provides a “Test Alert” button when creating or editing an alert.

8. Manage and Review Alerts

• View and Edit Alerts: You can manage and review your custom alerts under Admin > View Settings > Custom Alerts. Here, you can edit, pause, or delete alerts as needed.

Example Use Cases for Custom Alerts:

• Traffic Drops: Set alerts for significant drops in traffic compared to a baseline period.
• High Bounce Rate: Monitor when the bounce rate exceeds a certain threshold.
• Goal Completions: Receive alerts when there is a decrease in goal completions.
• Technical Issues: Set alerts for issues such as page errors or downtime detected through events or custom dimensions.

By setting up custom alerts in Google Analytics, you can proactively monitor your website’s performance and promptly address any issues that may arise, ensuring a smooth and optimized user experience.