Understanding User Acquisition by First User Default Channel Group in GA4
Analyzing users by their first default channel group is crucial for understanding which marketing channels are most effective at acquiring new users. This insight helps optimize marketing budget allocation and identify the most valuable acquisition channels. We'll show you how to create this report in Google Analytics 4 to track where your users first discovered your website or app.Report Structure Overview
- Report Type: Free Form Exploration
- Visualization: Table format with optional bar chart
- Primary Dimension: First User Default Channel Group
- Time Period: Customizable (recommended: last 30-90 days)
- Segmentation: Optional user segments for deeper analysis
Steps to Create the Report
- Open GA4 and navigate to Explore section
- Click the Blank template to start a new exploration
- Under the Dimensions click the + button and search for First user default channel group, check the checkbox beside it and click Confirm
- Under the Metrics click the + button and search for Total users, Average engagement time, and Conversions, check the checkboxes and click Confirm
- Drag First user default channel group to the Rows section
- Drag Total users, Average engagement time, and Conversions to the Values section
- Click the Plus icon in the top right to add a visualization
- Select Bar chart to create a visual representation
- Set your desired date range in the report settings
Important Dimensions and Metrics
- First user default channel group: Shows the original channel through which users first discovered your site
- Total users: Counts the number of users from each channel
- Average engagement time: Measures how long users from each channel typically engage with your site
- Conversions: Tracks the number of conversions attributed to users from each channel
Actionable Insights
- Identify your top-performing channels for user acquisition and increase investment in these areas
- Compare engagement metrics across channels to understand which sources bring the most engaged users
- Analyze conversion rates by channel to optimize marketing spend based on ROI
- Use the insights to adjust your channel mix and marketing strategy
- Monitor trends over time to detect changes in channel effectiveness
Answers Similar Questions
- How to track user acquisition channels in GA4
- GA4 first user channel group report setup
- Analyzing marketing channel performance in Google Analytics 4
- Track where users first discovered my website GA4
- GA4 user source attribution reporting
