Google Signals GA4 is an advertising reporting feature through which Google Analytics 4 can collect cross-device data from those website users who have signed in to one of their Google accounts (Gmail, YouTube, etc) and have turned on ad personalization.
When you activate Google Signals for your GA4 property, you can:
More accurately track users across different devices and platforms.
Remarket to more website users across devices.
Analyze users’ data by age, gender and interest.
Note: Google Signals is not enabled by default in GA4.
“By activating the Google Signals features, you acknowledge you adhere to the Google Advertising Features Policy, including rules around sensitive categories, have the necessary privacy disclosures and rights from your end users for such association, and that such data may be accessed and/or deleted by end users via My Activity”
If your company can not agree with the Google Advertising features policy then you should not activate Google Signals.
Step-5: If you agree with the Google Advertising policy then click on the ‘Get Started’ button:
Step-6: Click on the ‘Continue’ button:
Step-7: Click on the ‘Activate’ button:
You should now see a screen like the one below:
If in the future, you want to disable Google Signals then you should switch off the setting ‘Enable Google Signals data collection‘.
Step-8: After 24 hrs have elapsed, navigate to the Demographics Overview report in your GA4 reporting view:
If you can see users data by gender, interest and age then it means, Google Signals data has started flowing in your GA4 reports:
Google Signals are sessions from the users on your website or application that are associated with signed-in users into Google account and have turned on their Ads Personalization.
This functionality helps you track users on different devices and enables cross-device remarketing across the Google Ads platform.
If Google signals are enabled, you can reach the targeted audience across the devices and run your campaigns based on business needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Signals in Google Analytics 4
What is Google Signals in Google Analytics 4?
Google Signals GA4 is an advertising reporting feature through which Google Analytics 4 can collect cross-device data from those website users who have signed in to one of their Google accounts (Gmail, YouTube, etc) and have turned on ad personalization. Google Signals will install cookies on your user’s browser and then will functioning and collecting demographics data.
What are the benefits of activating Google Signals in Google Analytics 4?
When you activate Google Signals for your GA4 property, you can: More accurately track users across different devices and platforms. Remarket to more website users across devices. Analyze users’ data by age, gender and interest. You also get access to the Advertising reporting feature
Is Google signals GDPR compliant?
Yes, Google Signals in GA4 is GDPR compliant but if you want to use it then you need to add this in your privacy policy and implement the cookie consent functionality on your website which will allow the user to accept or decline the cookies installed on their browser.
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