How it works: Littledata's Free Google Analytics App
Littledata's Free Google Analytics App uses a combination of client-side (browser) and server-side tracking to ensure a 100% tracking accuracy of events from your Shopify store to your Google Analytics 4 account. This app is a preview of our paid app, but it still offers tracking for the most essential events to help your business grow.
Client-side (browser) tracking
During the installation process, Littledata adds a data layer and tracking script to all the store pages.
- A
LittledataLayerwindow-scope Javascript object is added on all pages, which you can also use with Google Tag Manager (GTM). - A minified tracking script, loaded via Littledata's app embed in your Shopify theme.
- Google's gtag library is then loaded on each page
- Google's client ID (user identifier) is passed to our servers to ensure consistent user journey tracking
- Fully compatible with Online Store 2.0
Server-side tracking
During the setup, Littledata also adds a set of webhooks to your Shopify store. This means that each time a user takes action our servers can relay that event to Google Analytics 4, ensuring 100% accuracy. There are many advantages to this approach:
- No scripts are loaded on the sensitive and secure checkout pages
- Complete event capture for checkout flow, including sales, post-purchase upsells and refunds/returns
- Avoids missed tracking or double tracking of the order status page
- Accurate marketing attribution (sessions stitched together) across all checkout types
- Data security and spam reduction: only authorised servers can feed into your data stream
What can you track
Client-side events
Client-side events tracked by Littledata, via a script loaded within your Shopify theme
| Event Name | Description |
|---|---|
| page_view | User has viewed a page |
| view_item_list | User has viewed a product link as they scroll down the page |
| select_content | User has clicked a product within a product list |
| view_item | User has viewed a product |
| add_to_cart | User has added a product to the cart |
| remove_from_cart | User has removed an item from the cart |
Server-side events
Server-side events are tracked by Littledata server's from Shopify and passed onto any destination in cloud mode.
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| begin_checkout | User has started the checkout |
| add_shipping_info | User has completed checkout step 1 |
| add_payment_info | User has completed checkout step 2 |
| purchase | Customer has completed a web order (excluding Point of Sale orders). The transaction ID is by default the Shopify order name |
| refund | Web order has been refunded |