The issue of Google Ads traffic being misattributed as organic in #GA4 has been a recurring problem for several years. While there have been periods of relative stability, the problem seems to resurface periodically. The GCLID parameter seems to be a primary suspect in the persistent misattribution of Google Ads traffic as organic in GA4. Ad blockers, browser extensions, or server-side configurations might remove the GCLID before it reaches GA4. Other URL parameters could interfere with or overwrite the GCLID. Conflicts between auto-tagging and manual tagging can lead to misattribution of traffic sources. More >> linkedin.com/posts/bramvande…

What is the number 1 skill to have? The skill of all skills? Some people would say 'marketing'. Some would say 'conversion optimization'. Some would say 'copywriting'. Some would say 'public speaking'.... But here is the thing. None of these skills really matter if you don't have that one skill, the number 1 skill, the skill of all skills. That skill is 'digital analytics'. That's your foundation. Without adequate knowledge of digital analytics: 1) Your marketing won't work because you won't know what is working & not working in your marketing & where to spend time and money. 2) Your conversion optimization won't work because, without knowledge of math and statistics, all your tests will fail. 3) Your copywriting and/or public speaking skills will fail you because you won't know the desires and pain points of your target audience. So you won't be able to address them. So, if you are not ready to learn & master digital analytics, why are you even doing all these other things? What is the point? You are going to fail anyway. “What you are saying makes sense but .......[insert your excuse here]” - This is what most people/ businesses do. They refuse to listen, and then they are wiped out by the bad economy. The survival of the fittest. . . "People and communication skills are essential and at the core of so many business processes. I don't see how "analytics" can be "the number 1 skill to have". Here is how Wikipedia defines 'business processes': "A business process is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks by people or equipment in which a specific sequence produces a service or product for a particular customer or customers." Pay close attention to the word 'customers'. Whatever you do in the name of the business process is for the customer, the end user. Do you know your customers? Are you sure you are talking to your customers and not random people? Do you know what message, structured activities, or tasks resonate and/or work well for your customers? Does this somehow connect you to the fact that you need to know your customers? Well, knowing your customers really well is analytics. You can only scale a system or a process that you know and understand really well. No amount of people skills will scale your system/process if you don't understand how it works.

Server-side tracking setup via GTM is not a 'set up and forget it' type of tracking. It requires more maintenance than traditional client-side tracking, leading to higher management costs. Many businesses may not be fully aware of the maintenance requirements and higher management costs associated with server-side tracking setup via GTM. Without a deep understanding of how server-side versus client-side tracking operates, businesses might not fully grasp the ongoing maintenance needs. Some businesses might underestimate the level of technical expertise and resources required to maintain server-side tracking.  . . 1) Server-side tracking involves setting up and maintaining a server environment, which requires regular updates for security, performance optimization, and bug fixes. . . 2) Integrating with various analytics and marketing platforms may necessitate custom development work, especially for those not natively supporting server-side events. These integrations and the server-side code must be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure compatibility with the latest API changes and features. . . 3) Issues that arise with server-side tracking can be more challenging to diagnose and resolve, requiring a deeper understanding of both server and network operations in addition to traditional web debugging techniques. . . 4) To stay compliant, Cookie restrictions and privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA constantly evolve, demanding adjustments to your server-side tracking setup. . . 5) Successfully implementing and maintaining server-side tracking requires access to resources with expertise in server management, software development, and data privacy — more specialized and potentially costlier skills than those needed for client-side tracking management. While server-side tracking via GTM offers advantages like improved data privacy and reduced reliance on client-side processing, it also necessitates a higher level of ongoing technical maintenance, resulting in increased management costs.

Do not rely on and/or recommend standard #GA4 reports for data analysis and reporting. Do not waste time customizing reports and adding them to the library. Create and use exploration reports at every opportunity. They do not suffer from cardinality issues and provide access to raw event and user data. They provide advanced data visualization and manipulation capabilities. . . GA4 provides the opportunity to convert a standard report into an exploration report by just clicking on a couple of buttons. Use that feature at every opportunity. Exploration reports are the next best thing in GA4 after GA4 BigQuery Export data tables. If you can’t use GA4 BigQuery Export data tables for whatever reason, at least use the Exploration reports. . . Standards reports are meant for beginners who are just starting out and are getting their feet wet. Now, when I see a business operating a GA4 property with zero exploration reports, I know immediately that they need a lot of training and education.