Building Reports & Dashboards in Google Analytics 4 in 2025
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) has become the cornerstone of modern web analytics.
As businesses transition from Universal Analytics, understanding GA4’s event-based data model is crucial for effective reporting. This guide will walk you through the essentials of GA4 reporting, helping you create insightful dashboards and reports in 2025.
Common GA4 Report Types
GA4 offers a range of default reports that provide valuable insights into various aspects of your website or app’s performance. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most commonly used report types:
1. Realtime Reports
Realtime reports allow you to monitor current user activity on your site or app. These reports are particularly useful for tracking the immediate impact of marketing campaigns, product launches, or live events. Key metrics tracked in realtime reports include active users, events, conversions, and traffic sources.
2. Life Cycle Reports
Life cycle reports provide a comprehensive view of the user journey, from acquisition to retention. These reports are divided into four main categories:
- Acquisition Reports: Analyze how users discover and engage with your site or app.
- Engagement Reports: Measure user interactions and behavior within your site or app.
- Monetization Reports: Track revenue, transactions, and other financial metrics.
- Retention Reports: Understand how well you retain users over time.
3. User Reports
User reports offer insights into the characteristics and behavior of your audience. These reports include demographics data such as age, gender, and interests, as well as tech details like devices, browsers, and operating systems used to access your site or app.
4. Exploration Reports
Exploration reports provide a flexible, free-form environment for analyzing your data. With these reports, you can:
- Conduct funnel analysis to identify drop-off points in the user journey.
- Perform path analysis to understand how users navigate through your site or app.
- Create custom reports tailored to your specific business needs.
For more information on exporting GA4 data to Excel, check out our dedicated guide.
Exporting Reports From GA4
GA4 offers several native options for exporting your reports, allowing you to share insights with stakeholders or perform further analysis:
- CSV Export: Export your report data as a CSV file for easy manipulation in spreadsheet software.
- Google Sheets Export: Directly export your reports to Google Sheets for seamless collaboration and analysis.
- PDF Export: Generate PDF versions of your reports for presentations or archiving purposes.
While these native export options are useful, they can be time-consuming and require manual effort. That’s where Coefficient comes in. Coefficient automates the process of exporting GA4 data to , providing real-time data sync, automated refresh schedules, and custom export formats.
Building Custom Reports in GA4
GA4 allows you to create custom reports tailored to your specific needs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to building a custom report:
- Navigate to the Reports tab in your GA4 property.
- Select “Custom Reports” from the left-hand menu.
- Choose the metrics and dimensions you want to include in your report.
- Set the desired date range for your report.
- Apply filters to refine your data, if necessary.
- Save your custom report and share it with relevant stakeholders.
For more details on connecting Google Analytics to Google Sheets, refer to our comprehensive guide.
Advanced Reporting Techniques in GA4
To take your GA4 reporting to the next level, consider leveraging advanced analysis techniques:
1. Segment Comparisons
Compare the behavior and performance of different user segments, such as new vs. returning visitors, mobile vs. desktop users, or customers vs. non-customers. This helps identify patterns and opportunities for optimization.
2. Custom Funnels
Build custom funnels to track user progression through specific paths, such as the checkout process or registration flow. Identify drop-off points and optimize the user experience accordingly.
3. User Journey Analysis
Analyze how users navigate through your site or app, identifying common paths, entry and exit points, and potential areas for improvement.
In addition to these techniques, creating interactive dashboards in GA4 allows you to visualize your data and share insights with stakeholders. For inspiration, check out our GA4 Landing Pages Report template.
Enhancing GA4 Reporting with Coefficient
Integrating Coefficient with your GA4 setup offers several benefits:
- Live Data Synchronization: Coefficient ensures your reports and dashboards always display the most up-to-date data from GA4.
- Automated Updates: Set up automated refresh schedules to keep your reports current without manual intervention.
- Custom Visualization Options: Leverage Coefficient’s wide range of visualization tools to create engaging and informative reports.
- Template Library Access: Save time by using pre-built report and dashboard templates from Coefficient’s extensive library.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Coefficient seamlessly integrates with both Google Sheets and Excel, allowing you to work with your preferred spreadsheet software.
Overcoming GA4 Reporting Limitations
While GA4 offers a robust reporting platform, it does have some limitations. Common challenges include:
- Data Sampling: GA4 may employ data sampling for large datasets, which can affect the accuracy of your reports.
- Limited Historical Data: When transitioning from Universal Analytics to GA4, historical data may not be carried over, limiting your ability to analyze long-term trends.
- Complex Interface: The GA4 interface can be overwhelming for new users, with a steep learning curve for advanced features.
Coefficient helps address these limitations by providing unsampled data exports, extended data retention, and a user-friendly interface for building reports and dashboards.
Free GA4 Reporting Dashboards
To help you get started with GA4 reporting, we’ve created a collection of free dashboard templates. These templates provide a solid foundation for your reporting needs and can be easily customized to fit your specific requirements.
1. Website Performance Dashboard
This comprehensive dashboard provides a complete view of your website’s traffic and performance metrics in one place.
Use Case: This template helps marketing teams and analysts track overall website health by combining key traffic, engagement and conversion metrics. The dashboard makes it easy to:
- Compare performance across different time periods
- Monitor traffic trends by source
- Analyze user behavior patterns
- Track conversion goals
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Total users and new users
- Sessions and engagement rate
- Bounce rate by page
- Top landing pages
- Traffic sources
- Goal completions
- Average session duration
Get the Website Performance Template
2. Landing Pages Analysis Dashboard
Track and analyze how your landing pages perform with visitors from different sources and regions.
Use Case: Perfect for content marketers and SEO specialists who need to understand which pages attract and retain visitors effectively. This dashboard helps you:
- Identify your best-performing landing pages
- Understand engagement patterns by region
- Spot pages that need optimization
- Track conversion rates by page
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Engagement rate by page
- Average engagement time
- New users per landing page
- Bounce rates by geography
- Sessions by landing page
- Conversion rates by page
- Geographic performance data
Get the Landing Pages Analysis Template
3. Content Group Performance Report
Analyze how different content categories perform and identify trends across your site sections.
Use Case: Ideal for content strategists and marketing managers who need to understand content performance at a category level. This report helps you:
- Compare different content types
- Track category-level engagement
- Measure content group conversion rates
- Identify high-performing content themes
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Users by content group
- Sessions per category
- Engagement rates
- Conversion tracking
- Time on page by group
- Bounce rates per category
- Event tracking by group
Get the Content Group Performance Template
4. Email Campaign Conversion Tracker
Monitor how your email marketing campaigns perform in driving website engagement and conversions.
Use Case: Essential for email marketers who need to measure campaign effectiveness and ROI. This dashboard helps you:
- Track email campaign performance
- Measure conversion rates
- Analyze user behavior from email traffic
- Compare campaign effectiveness
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Email campaign sessions
- Conversion rates by campaign
- Revenue from email traffic
- Email engagement metrics
- Campaign comparison data
- Goal completions
- User journey analysis
Get the Email Campaign Tracker Template
5. Content Decay Analysis Report
Track how your content performs over time and identify pieces that need refreshing.
Use Case: Crucial for content managers and SEO teams who need to maintain content freshness and performance. This report helps you:
- Monitor content performance trends
- Identify declining traffic patterns
- Prioritize content updates
- Track improvement impact
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Traffic trends by page
- Engagement rate changes
- Month-over-month comparison
- User behavior changes
- Content age analysis
- Performance decline rates
- Recovery tracking
Get the Content Decay Analysis Template
6. E-commerce Performance Dashboard
A comprehensive view of your online store’s performance, focusing on sales metrics and customer behavior.
Stop exporting data manually. Sync data from your business systems into Google Sheets or Excel with Coefficient and set it on a refresh schedule.
Get Started
Use Case: Essential for e-commerce managers and digital retail teams to track sales performance and customer shopping patterns. This dashboard helps you:
- Monitor product performance
- Track shopping cart behavior
- Analyze purchase patterns
- Measure revenue metrics
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Total revenue
- Average order value
- Cart abandonment rate
- Product performance
- Purchase funnel analysis
- Customer segments
- Transaction metrics
Get the E-commerce Performance Template
7. CMO Overview Dashboard
A high-level view of marketing performance metrics across all channels and campaigns.
Use Case: Designed for marketing leaders who need quick access to key performance indicators. This dashboard helps you:
- Track overall marketing performance
- Monitor campaign effectiveness
- Measure marketing ROI
- Analyze channel performance
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Marketing qualified leads
- Channel performance
- Campaign ROI
- Cost per acquisition
- Conversion rates
- Revenue attribution
- Customer lifetime value
Get the CMO Dashboard Template
8. Website Conversion Funnel
Track how users move through your conversion process and identify optimization opportunities.
Use Case: Perfect for conversion rate optimization specialists and marketing managers focused on improving website performance. This report helps you:
- Analyze conversion paths
- Identify drop-off points
- Track form completions
- Measure goal completions
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Funnel conversion rates
- Drop-off points
- User paths to conversion
- Form completion rates
- Goal completions
- Exit page analysis
- Average time to convert
Get the Website Conversion Template
9. Organic Traffic Analysis
Monitor your website’s organic search performance and SEO effectiveness.
Use Case: Crucial for SEO specialists and content marketers tracking organic search performance. This dashboard helps you:
- Track organic traffic trends
- Monitor keyword performance
- Analyze landing page success
- Measure organic conversions
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Organic sessions
- Landing page performance
- Conversion rates
- User engagement
- Bounce rates
- Time on page
- Goal completions from organic
Get the Organic Traffic Template
10. SaaS Performance Metrics
Track key performance indicators specific to SaaS businesses and subscription models.
Use Case: Ideal for SaaS companies monitoring their website’s contribution to business growth. This dashboard helps you:
- Track trial signups
- Monitor user activation
- Analyze conversion paths
- Measure feature adoption
Key Metrics Tracked:
- Trial conversion rate
- Feature usage metrics
- User activation rate
- Time to activation
- Churn indicators
- User engagement scores
- Customer health metrics
Get the SaaS Performance Template
Keep Your GA4 Reports Live with Coefficient
GA4 reporting offers powerful capabilities for understanding your website or app’s performance. By mastering the various report types, learning to create custom reports, and leveraging advanced features, you can gain valuable insights to drive your business forward.
Remember to set up your GA4 property correctly and monitor your data regularly for the best results. With the right approach and tools like Coefficient, you can overcome GA4’s limitations and create comprehensive, actionable reports.
Ready to take your GA4 reporting to the next level? Try Coefficient today and experience seamless data integration and automated reporting.
Learn more about creating daily spend reports for Google Ads
Further Reading
- GA4 Export to Excel in 2024
- How to Export Google Analytics Data Into Google Sheets
- How to Connect Google Analytics to Google Sheets
- How to Connect YouTube to Google Sheets
- Marketing Metrics: Top 5 Metrics You Must be Tracking in 2024
- Google Analytics Integration for Google Sheets
- Google Analytics Integration for Excel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic overview of GA4?
GA4 is Google’s next-generation analytics platform that uses event-based tracking and provides enhanced privacy controls. Coefficient helps streamline GA4 data analysis through automated reporting.
What’s the difference between UA and GA4 reporting?
GA4 uses an event-based model instead of UA’s session-based approach, offering more flexible tracking and analysis. Coefficient supports both platforms for seamless reporting.
What events should I set up in GA4?
Essential events include page views, scroll depth, outbound clicks, and conversion actions. Coefficient can help track and visualize these events automatically in your spreadsheets.
Meta Title: The Ultimate GA4 Reporting Guide for 2025: Master Analytics | Coefficient
Meta Description: Learn how to create powerful GA4 reports and dashboards in 2025. Discover tips for custom reports, data exports, and overcoming GA4 limitations.
