How To Use Calculated Metrics In Google Analytics?

Gordon Choi
Author

Chapter 09 – Google Analytics Calculated Metrics

Google Analytics doesn’t by default include all the metrics you’ll ever need. But you can always create your Google Analytics Calculated Metrics.

You can select two or more standard metrics from Google Analytics, and put them into a formula (with rules). A new “calculated metric” will be created based on your selected metrics and rules. In any custom reports you create, you can include your Calculated Metrics.

Some examples of Google Analytics Calculated Metrics are revenue per user, transaction per user, etc.

This is how you’ll use Calculated Metrics in Google Analytics.

Create a New Calculated Metrics

To create a new Google Analytics calculated metric, go to Admin and select your Properties.

View -> Calculated Metrics -> +New Calculated Metric

Under the Add Calculated Metric screen:

Enter a new calculated metric name into the Name field.
Enter an External Name which always has a calcMetric_ prefix. An External Name may only contain alphanumeric and underscore characters.
Select a Formatting Type from one of the options: Float, Integer, Currency, Time, or Percent.
Enter a Formula for your calculated metric. When you start typing in this Formula field, a list of predefined metrics may show up which can be used to create your formula. Accepted operators for your formulas include plus (+), minus (-), multiplied by (*), and divided by (/). A formula is limited to a maximum of 1024 characters.

With the above steps, you must have successfully added a new Google Analytics Calculated Metric. But let’s examine the steps with the examples below.

Calculated Formula Example: Revenue per User

Name: Revenue per User
External Name: calcMetric_RPU
Formatting Type: Currency
Formula: {{Revenue}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: Profit per User

Assume your mobile website’s profit margin is 30%.

Name: Profit per User
External Name: calcMetric_PPU
Formatting Type: Currency
Formula: {{Profit}} / {{Users}} * 0.3

Calculated Formula Example: Transactions per User

Name: Transactions per User
External Name: calcMetric_TransPU
Formatting Type: Float
Formula: {{Transactions}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: User-based Ecommerce Conversion Rate

Name: User Ecom CR
External Name: calcMetric_EcomCRPU
Formatting Type: Percent
Formula: {{Transactions}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: User-based Goal Conversion Rate

Name: User Goal CR
External Name: calcMetric_GoalCRPU
Formatting Type: Percent
Formula: {{Goal Completions}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: User-based Goal Conversion Rate (for a specific goal)

Assume in your Google Analytics profile you have created multiple Goals and one of your Goals is named Registration.

Name: User Goal Reg CR
External Name: calcMetric_GoalRegCRPU
Formatting Type: Percent
Formula: {{Registration (Goal 1 Completions)}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: Search per User

Name: Searches per User
External Name: calcMetric_SearchesPU
Formatting Type: Float
Formula: {{Total Unique Searches}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: Sessions with Search per User

Name: Sessions Search per User
External Name: calcMetric_SessSearchPU
Formatting Type: Float
Formula: {{Sessions with Search}} / {{Users}}

Calculated Formula Example: Average User Duration

Name: Sessions Avg User Duration
External Name: calcMetric_AvgUD
Formatting Type: Time
Formula: {{Session Duration }} / {{Users}}

To use your newly created custom dimensions and/or custom metrics, create a new Custom Report and select the custom dimensions and/or custom metrics.

Previous Chapters

Chapter 08 – Google Analytics Enhanced Ecommerce Tracking

Next Chapters

Chapter 10 – Google Analytics Campaign Tracking
Chapter 11 – Track New Search Engines through Google Analytics
Chapter 12 – Google Analytics Custom Reports

Content on Gordon Choi’s Analytics Book is licensed under the CC Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International license.

Gordon Choi’s Other Books:
The China Mobile SEO Book
Mobile Website Book

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