Google Analytics 4 is not the future anymore—it’s the present. But in 2025, it’s flying at full speed and changing how businesses understand their websites and apps. If you’re confused about what to track and why, don’t worry! We’re going to break it all down in a simple, fun way.
Why GA4 Matters in 2025
Let’s face it. The old Google Analytics (Universal Analytics) is yesterday’s news. GA4 is the shiny new superhero taking over. And boy, it’s powerful!
Here’s why GA4 is a big deal:
- It tracks both websites and apps together.
- It uses events, not just pageviews.
- It works better with cookies going away (hello, privacy!).
- It helps you understand the full customer journey.
Excited now? Good! Let’s explore what you should track in GA4 and why it matters in 2025.
First, What Is an “Event”?
In GA4, everything is an event. Seriously. Clicking a button? Event. Watching a video? Event. Scrolling to the bottom of a page? Yep, that’s an event too.
Unlike the old system, you don’t have to tag everything manually. GA4 is much smarter and comes with something called Enhanced Measurement.
Some events GA4 tracks automatically include:
- Page views
- Scrolls
- Outbound clicks
- Site search
- Video engagement
- File downloads
In 2025, if you’re not using these, you’re missing out on easy insights.
Top 10 Things to Track in GA4 in 2025
Now for the fun part. What should you track? Let’s dive into the top things that really matter this year.
1. Engaged Sessions
Don’t just count visits. Count engagement. An engaged session happens when someone:
- Stays for 10 seconds or more
- Views 2 or more pages
- Has a conversion event
This tells you who’s actually interested and not just passing by.
2. Conversions
These are your money-makers. A conversion can be anything you decide is important, like:
- Submitting a contact form
- Making a purchase
- Signing up for a newsletter
Create custom conversion events in GA4 to track what matters most to you.
3. Click Events
Want to know what buttons people press? Track click events. This helps with:
- Figuring out which CTAs (calls to action) are working
- Improving your website layout
GA4 can even tell if someone clicked a link to leave your site. Super handy!
4. Video Engagement
Do you have videos on your site? Great! Track:
- Plays
- 75% watched
- Completions
This shows which videos grab attention and which ones just get skipped.
5. Scroll Depth
GA4 shows how far down your page people scroll. If they never reach the bottom, maybe your content needs a shake-up.
This matters a ton for blogs and long-form pages.
6. Site Search Terms
What are people typing into your site’s search bar? GA4 can track that. It’s like seeing inside your visitors’ brains.
Use those insights to create better content or improve your navigation.
7. User Retention
Tracking how often people come back is critical in 2025. Are they loyal or just one-time visitors?
User Retention reports help you build long-term relationships—not just one-night stands.
8. Custom Events
Got something special? Maybe an online quiz, calculator, or game? You can track anything with custom events!
This makes your analytics super personalized—and mega useful.
9. Cross-Device Behavior
People go from phone to laptop to tablet all day. GA4 connects the dots.
Track how users behave across devices to make smoother journeys for them.
10. Revenue (For E-commerce)
If you run an online store, stop everything. You must track revenue and purchases.
GA4 gives you full views of user paths, abandoned carts, and what’s making you money.
Tools That Make GA4 Even Better
Here’s the secret sauce: not everything happens inside GA4. Use it with other tools to level up.
- Google Tag Manager (GTM): Makes setting up events easier without touching code.
- BigQuery: For those who love deep, nitty-gritty data dives.
- Looker Studio: Create beautiful reports you’ll actually enjoy reading.
Pro tip: Automate GA4 reports in Looker Studio. You’ll never have to answer “How’s our traffic doing?” again!
How to Know What to Track
Feeling overwhelmed? Start with your goals. Ask yourself:
- What do I want my visitors to do?
- How do I measure success?
- What info helps my team take action?
Use those answers to guide your tracking. Don’t track everything just because you can.
The Future of GA4 Is Smarter
In 2025, GA4 is not just tracking visits—it’s predicting future actions. The platform is using machine learning to help you:
- Spot new trends
- Find high-value audiences
- Optimize marketing automatically
It’s like having your own data scientist, but without the fancy salary.
Final Tips for GA4 Champions
Becoming good at GA4 is not just about numbers. It’s about reading signals. Making decisions. Learning what users want and giving it to them.
Here are some last golden nuggets:
- Check your GA4 regularly. Not just once a month.
- Set up alerts for major changes (like a sudden drop in traffic).
- Test often. Small tweaks in your events can lead to big insights.
Conclusion
GA4 in 2025 is your analytics treasure map. It’s loaded with clues about your audience, your site, and your success story. Use it wisely. Track with purpose. And always stay curious.
Because every click, scroll, and interaction tells a story. GA4 helps you read it.