Google Analytics 4 (GA4) offers a wealth of features and flexibility when it comes to building data streams. Data streams are the gateway for all data entering GA4, and it's important to have them set up properly to ensure accurate tracking and reporting. Here, we'll explore the different types of data streams available in GA4, and walk you through how to configure your web stream for optimal performance. We'll also look at other ways to use data streams, and provide tips for optimising your settings.
Types of Data Streams
When you create a GA4 property, you'll be given a data stream to work with. There are three types of data streams available: iOS app, Android app, and web. We'll focus on web streams since they have the most options.
Configuring your web stream in Google Analytics 4 is an important step in tracking your website's performance. Here are some tips to help you get started:Configuring Your Web Stream
- Access your web stream from the Admin section of your GA4 property
- Explore the configuration options available, such as enhanced measurement settings, connected site tags, measurement protocol secrets, and more tagging settings
- Adjust settings for page views, site search, cross-domain tracking, referral exclusions, and session timeout to optimize your tracking
- Use parameters or IP address exclusions to filter out unwanted traffic
- Stick to one data stream per website unless you have multiple domains or subdomains that you want to report on in a single property
To optimise your settings:
- Use Google Tag Manager to deliver GA4 tags for optimal performance.
- Stick with one data stream for most websites, but it is possible to use more than one for multiple domains or subdomains.
- Filter by the stream ID when creating comparisons or dimensions in GA4.
- Experiment with your session timeout and timer settings to find the best configuration based on how people actually use your website.