What Data Is Google Analytics Goals Unable To Track?

Google Analytics makes monitoring user interactions and behavior on a website more accessible. Certain data types cannot be tracked through the platform’s goals feature.

1. Offline Conversions: Google Analytics primarily tracks online user interactions. It cannot directly track conversions through offline channels, such as phone calls or visits to brick-and-mortar stores. However, you can integrate Google Analytics with other tools or platforms to bridge this gap and measure the impact of offline conversions.
2. Customer Lifetime Value: While Google Analytics can provide valuable insights into individual user behavior on a website, it does not directly calculate or display the lifetime value of a customer. Calculating the lifetime value of a customer typically requires analyzing data from different sources such as CRM systems, transaction history, and marketing automation tools.
3. Non-Web Interactions: Google Analytics primarily tracks interactions on a website or mobile app, but it may not capture data from interactions on other platforms, such as social media or third-party applications. To measure and analyze these interactions, you may rely on the analytics tools provided by those specific platforms.
4. Data from Before Implementation: Google Analytics starts tracking data from the moment it is implemented on a website. It does not retroactively collect data from before the implementation date. If historical data is essential, having a backup or using other analytics solutions that offer this feature is crucial.

Google Analytics is an excellent tool for tracking and analyzing various online user interactions, but it does have limitations. Digital marketers can make better decisions about how to track and measure data by understanding these limitations. This will lead to a more comprehensive approach to analyzing user behavior and optimizing marketing efforts.