How to create your first tracking plan on PostHog

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Create a tracking plan on PostHog by navigating to Data Management > Event Definitions, then defining your events with clear names, descriptions, and properties. This helps standardize data collection across your team and ensures consistent analytics.

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Prerequisites

Active PostHog account
Admin or project access permissions
Basic understanding of event tracking concepts
Knowledge of your app's key user actions

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access Data Management

Log into your PostHog dashboard and navigate to Data Management from the left sidebar. Click on Event Definitions to access the tracking plan interface where you can define and organize your events.

Make sure you have the necessary permissions to modify event definitions in your organization.

Create your first event definition

Click the + New Event Definition button in the top right corner. Enter a clear, descriptive name for your event using snake_case or camelCase (e.g., user_signed_up or purchaseCompleted). Add a detailed description explaining what triggers this event.

Use consistent naming conventions across all events to make your data easier to analyze later.

Define event properties

In the Properties section, click Add Property to define the data points you want to capture with this event. Specify the property name, data type (string, number, boolean), and whether it's required. Include properties like user_id, plan_type, or revenue_amount.

Start with essential properties and add more later as your tracking needs evolve.

Set up property validation

For each property, configure validation rules by selecting the appropriate Data Type and adding Allowed Values if applicable. This ensures data consistency across your team. For example, set plan_type to only accept values like 'free', 'premium', or 'enterprise'.

Use property validation to prevent typos and inconsistent data entry from different team members.

Add tags and ownership

Assign relevant Tags to categorize your events (e.g., 'conversion', 'engagement', 'revenue'). Set an Owner from your team who will be responsible for maintaining this event definition. This helps with organization and accountability.

Create a tagging system early to make it easier to filter and find events as your tracking plan grows.

Configure verification settings

In the Verification section, set up alerts for when events don't match your defined schema. Toggle on Warn on schema mismatch to get notified when incoming events have unexpected properties or values.

Enable verification to catch tracking implementation issues early before they affect your data quality.

Document implementation guidelines

Use the Notes section to add implementation details, such as where in your codebase this event should be triggered and any specific timing considerations. Include code examples or links to your tracking documentation.

Clear documentation helps developers implement tracking correctly and saves time during code reviews.

Save and share your tracking plan

Click Save to create your event definition. Repeat steps 2-7 for additional events in your tracking plan. Once complete, share the tracking plan URL with your development team and stakeholders for review and implementation.

Start with 5-10 core events and expand your tracking plan gradually based on your analytics needs.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Cannot create new event definitions

Verify you have admin or project owner permissions in PostHog. Contact your organization admin to grant you Data Management access if the option is grayed out.

Event validation warnings not appearing

Check that Warn on schema mismatch is enabled in your event definition settings. Ensure your PostHog SDK is updated to the latest version that supports schema validation.

Properties not showing expected data types

Review your event implementation code to ensure properties are being sent with the correct data types. Use PostHog's Live Events view to inspect incoming event payloads in real-time.

Team members cannot see the tracking plan

Verify that team members have appropriate project access. Go to Organization Settings > Members and ensure they have at least read access to the project containing your tracking plan.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official PostHog website before purchasing.

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