How to create custom dimensions and metrics on Google Analytics

Log into your Google Analytics account and navigate to the Admin section in the bottom left corner. Select the appropriate Account and Property from the dropdown menus to ensure you're working with the correct GA4 property.

In the Property column, scroll down and click on Custom definitions. This section contains both Custom dimensions and Custom metrics options. You'll see a list of any existing custom definitions you've already created.

Click Create custom dimension and fill out the required fields:

• Dimension name: Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "User Type" or "Content Category")
• Description: Add a clear description of what this dimension tracks
• Event parameter: Enter the parameter name that matches your tracking code
• Scope: Choose between Event, User, or Item scope based on your tracking needs

Click Save to create the dimension.

Click Create custom metric and configure the following:

• Metric name: Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Video Watch Time" or "Download Count")
• Description: Describe what this metric measures
• Event parameter: Enter the parameter name from your tracking implementation
• Unit of measurement: Select from Standard, Currency, Distance, or Time

Click Save to create the metric.

Update your website's tracking implementation to send the custom data. For custom dimensions, use:

gtag('event', 'page_view', {
  'custom_parameter_name': 'your_value'
});

For custom metrics, send numerical values:

gtag('event', 'video_complete', {
  'watch_duration': 120
});

Replace the parameter names with those you defined in GA4.

Use the Realtime report in GA4 to verify your custom dimensions and metrics are being collected correctly. Go to Reports > Realtime and trigger the events on your website while monitoring the real-time data. You can also check the DebugView if you have debug mode enabled.

Navigate to Explore in the left sidebar and create a new exploration or custom report. Add your custom dimensions and metrics to the report by selecting them from the Dimensions and Metrics sections. Configure your report layout and apply any necessary filters to analyze your custom data effectively.