Google Analytics

This is a basic setup guide for the Google Analytics integration. Google Analytics only tracks data on initial checkout orders and does not track data on recurring order processes. It tracks data on the shipping and transaction pages when a user completes the checkout. For more robust Google Analytics reporting, we recommend using Littledata - Google Analytics for Recharge. Littledata has an automated Google Analytics audit and set-up for sites using Recharge, including phone support and reporting. Enabling GTM automatically disables Google Analytics Tracking, refer to enabling Google Tag Manager with Recharge.

Before you start

• By default, Google leads you into creating a Google Analytics 4 property, however that version is not yet compatible with Shopify or Recharge at this point. When creating a property, make sure to select both a Google Analytics 4 property and a Universal Analytics property.

  This should help with the mandatory transition to GA4 that Google will implement by July 2023.  

• Note: Data tracking with the Google Analytics integration is minimal. If you are looking to track conversion rates or revenue, including transaction information or sales data, consider working with a third-party partner like LittleData or Elevar.

Setup the Google Analytics Integration and your Google Analytics Account

1. Install the Google Analytics integration from the App settings in your merchant portal dashboard.
2. Create your Google analytics account.

   Note: All new account users setting up Google Analytics for the first time will default to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) IDs.

3. Follow the steps for the Google Analytics integration using UA-IDs.

Note: Alternatively, you can opt to support both Universal Analytics and Google Analytics 4 via Google Tag Manager, but this is not compatible with the current Google Analytics Integration. Take precautions if you choose this option.

Setup Universal Analytics

Step 1 - Retrieve your UA-ID

1. When creating a property, select “Both a Google Analytics 4 property and a Universal Analytics property” option.

   

   Note: Once finished, a Web stream details page will show but you can disregard this, since it is related to the Google Analytics 4 ID.

   

2. Make sure your Universal Analytics property is selected, to retrieve the UA-ID from Property settings.

   

Step 2 - Set the Google Analytics integration in Recharge

1. Select Universal as the Google Analytics type.

   

2. For Google Analytics ID, enter the UA-ID.
3. Click Save.

   

Note: For this setup to work properly, you also need to have the same Google Analytics tracker in your Shopify store.

Step 3 - Save the UA-ID in Shopify

1. Go to your Shopify admin portal. Under Online Store select Preferences.
2. Scroll down to Google Analytics and paste your UA-ID.

   

3. Scroll to the bottom and click Save.
4. On the same page, check the box to enable Use Enhanced Ecommerce.
5. Click Save again.

   

Using both Universal Analytics and Google Analytics 4

If you want to use both Universal Analytics and Google Analytics 4, for example to leverage the new Google Analytic 4 tracking properties but still keep your Universal Analytics data history, this can be done with tag managers via Google Tag Manager.

Set up a goal funnel in Google Analytics

You need to create goal funnels to start tracking data. After setup, you should run a test transaction to trigger the goal. Data typically shows up in the next 24 hours.

When the customer goes from /cart to /r/checkout, they will be switching from your ecommerce domain to the Recharge domain.

Marketing attribution

If you want to see which marketing campaigns resulted in paying subscriptions, Google Analytics needs to stitch together the first page of the user journey (which has the campaign UTM parameters) with the last page with the payment information. This is easily disrupted, see the troubleshooting steps below.

Using this integration it is possible to see channels and campaigns for most of your payments. However, for full attribution including repeat subscriptions, you will need to use Littledata - Google Analytics for Recharge.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble seeing the user journey in Google Analytics, check the following:

• Has the Google Analytics property ID been added in Recharge's Apps section, and is it set to the correct Universal type?
• Can you see traffic to the checkout pages and not the ecommerce conversion tracking? Or is it not showing any traffic at all?
• Is the ecommerce information missing for all orders or only some of the orders?

Common Enhanced Ecommerce Issues

Below are a few common issues merchants experience with Enhanced Ecommerce. 

Support

• The Recharge team can only offer limited assistance. Refer to Google's Help Center.
• See the Littledata - Google Analytics integration for Recharge for further support or help with custom reporting.
• You may also want to review the Elevar integration, which has experience handling more complex ecommerce tracking.