Google Analytics is one of the most popular web analytics tools available today. It is a powerful tool that provides website owners and marketers with valuable insights into their website traffic and user behavior. One of the key features of Google Analytics is Goals. Goals allow website owners to track specific actions or events that users perform on their website. However, there are certain types of data that Google Analytics Goals is unable to track. In this article, we will explore What data is google analytics goals unable to track.
What data is google analytics goals unable to track?
Offline Conversions
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track offline conversions, such as phone calls, in-person visits, and purchases made at brick-and-mortar stores. This is because Google Analytics requires a tracking code to be placed on the website in order to track user behavior. If a user makes a purchase or visit in-person, there is no way for the tracking code to collect data on that behavior.
However, there are ways to track offline conversions by using other tools such as Google Ads or third-party software. For example, if a website owner runs a Google Ads campaign, they can set up conversion tracking to track phone calls made from the ads.
Individual User Behavior
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track individual user behavior. This is because Google Analytics tracks behavior using cookies, which are small text files that are stored on a user’s device when they visit a website. Cookies are used to identify a user’s device and track their behavior on the website.
However, cookies do not provide information on the individual user behind the device. This means that Google Analytics cannot track the behavior of a specific individual across multiple devices.
User Demographics
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track user demographics such as age, gender, and income. This is because Google Analytics does not collect personal information from users. Instead, it tracks user behavior based on the data collected from cookies.
However, there are ways to get an idea of user demographics by using other tools such as Google Ads or Google Search Console. For example, Google Ads allows website owners to target ads based on user demographics, while Google Search Console provides data on the age and gender of users who visit a website.
Third-Party Websites
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track user behavior on third-party websites. This is because the tracking code is only installed on the website that is being tracked. If a user visits a third-party website, there is no way for the tracking code to collect data on that behavior.
However, there are ways to track user behavior on third-party websites by using other tools such as Google Tag Manager. For example, website owners can use Google Tag Manager to track clicks on external links that lead to third-party websites.
Ad-Blocker Users
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track users who use ad-blockers. Ad-blockers are browser extensions that prevent ads from being displayed on a user’s device. This can also prevent the tracking code from being executed and collecting data on user behavior.
However, there are ways to get around ad-blockers by using other tracking methods such as server-side tracking. Server-side tracking involves sending data directly to the server rather than through the user’s browser.
Historical Data
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track historical data. This means that if a website owner sets up a new goal, it will only track data from the point at which the goal was set up. It will not be able to provide historical data on the goal.
However, website owners can use the data collected by Google Analytics to create historical reports on user behavior. For example, they can create reports on the number of conversions or page views over a specific period of time.
User Intent
Google Analytics Goals is unable to track user intent. This means that it cannot determine why a user performed a specific action or goal on the website. For example, if a user completed a form on a website, Google Analytics can track that the form was completed, but it cannot determine why the user completed the form.
However, website owners can use other tools such as surveys or user feedback to get an idea of user intent. This can provide valuable insights into why users are performing certain actions on the website and help website owners improve the user experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google Analytics Goals is a powerful tool for tracking user behavior on a website. However, there are certain types of data that it is unable to track, such as offline conversions, individual user behavior, user demographics, third-party websites, ad-blocker users, historical data, and user intent.
Despite these limitations, Google Analytics Goals remains an essential tool for website owners and marketers to track and analyze website data. By understanding the limitations of the tool, website owners can use other tools and methods to gain a more complete picture of user behavior and improve the overall user experience on their website.