How to Configure Cross Domain Tracking in Google Analytics

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What is Cross Domain Tracking and Why Does It Matter?

Cross Domain Tracking in Universal Analytics (UA) vs. Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

How to Configure Cross Domain Tracking for Your Tixr Group in Google Analytics 4

How to Configure Cross Domain Tracking for Your Tixr Group in Universal Analytics

What is Cross Domain Tracking and Why Does It Matter?

Cross-domain tracking is the ability to track user interactions across multiple domains or websites. It is essential for businesses that have multiple websites or use different domains, and need unified measurement across those domains (i.e. an event website and Tixr's domain for ecommerce purchases). Cross-domain tracking allows for a unified gathering of data about user behavior and conversions as users move between these domains.

• Per Google’s support page:
  • Without cross-domain measurement, new cookies with new IDs are created for each domain a user visits. As a result, a single user visiting different root domains (e.g. www.websiteA.com and www.tixr.com) on the same device will be identified separately (two users and two sessions instead of one user and one session).
  • With cross-domain measurement, the cookies retain the same IDs as they are passed from one domain to another via a URL parameter (_gl) when the user navigates between domains through a link or a form. As a result, Analytics identifies just one user and one session.

Cross Domain Tracking in Universal Analytics (UA) vs. Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

The main difference between UA and GA4 cross-domain tracking is the shift from using client IDs (CID) to Measurement IDs. GA4's approach simplifies the implementation process and offers more flexibility in tracking user interactions across domains.

In UA, cross-domain tracking is typically implemented using the following components:

1. Tracking Code: The Universal Analytics tracking code (analytics.js) needs to be installed on all the domains you want to track. This code generates a unique client ID (CID) for each user.

2. Cross-Domain Linker: The Cross-Domain Linker JavaScript plugin helps in associating the user session across domains. It appends the CID and other necessary information to the links that lead to another domain, ensuring the continuity of the user session.

3. Configuration: In the UA Admin interface, you need to configure the domains you want to track as "Referral Exclusion" or "Cross-Domain Tracking" depending on the scenario. This ensures that session data is shared correctly between the domains.

GA4 uses a different approach to cross-domain tracking:

1. Measurement ID: Instead of relying on the traditional methods used in UA, GA4 utilizes a new concept called "Measurement ID."
2. Configuration: Each domain or property in GA4 is associated with a unique Measurement ID, and all Measurement IDs can be linked within the GA4 interface.

How to Configure Cross Domain Tracking for Your Tixr Group in Google Analytics 4

1. In Admin, click Data Streams in the Property column.

2.  Click Web and then click a web data stream.

3.  In the web stream details, click Configure tag settings (at the bottom).

4.  In the Settings section, click Configure your domains.

5.  Under Include domains that match ANY of the following conditions: Conditions are evaluated using OR logic.

• • Choose a match type:
  • Under Domain, enter the identifier for the domain you want to match (e.g., tixr.com).

1. • Click Add condition to add the next domain. Then, add each domain you want to include in cross-domain measurement.
2. Click Save. Once you’ve saved changes, we recommend testing the setup to ensure the correct final result. Here's how:
   • Navigate to your website (ex: domainA.com) and click a link on your site that points to a domain you configured for cross-domain measurement (ex: tixr.com event page)
   • Once redirected, check the URL. Verify that the URL in the destination domain contains the linker parameter _gl; for example: https://www.example.com/**?_gl=1*abcde5***

How to Configure Cross Domain Tracking for Your Tixr Group in Universal Analytics

For instructions on how to set up cross domain tracking in Universal Analytics, refer to this support article.