Setting up and using user ID allows business managers to have an overview of the user’s relationship with the business through detailed reports in Google Analytics. So what is UID? How to set up UID in Google Analytics? In this article, Optimal Agency will answer these questions with you. Let’s follow along!
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What does UID-User ID mean?
User ID, short for User Identifier, is a unique code or string of characters used to identify a specific user in a system or database without overlapping with any other user. The main role of User ID is to ensure that each user has a unique identifier, helping to track and manage user information effectively and accurately. User ID is commonly used in many types of applications, including web applications, mobile applications, and data management systems. There are two common ways to generate a User ID:
- Automatically generated: In this case, the system automatically generates a User ID, which is usually a random string of numbers of a fixed length. This method ensures that the User ID is unique and reduces the possibility of duplication. For example, a system might generate a User ID like “1234567890” or “A1B2C3D4E5”.
- Manually generated: In this method, the user creates the User ID himself. The string of characters can include numbers, letters, and special characters. This method offers more flexibility, allowing the user to choose an identifier that is easy to remember or has special meaning to them. For example, a user-generated User ID could be “JohnDoe123” or “Admin_2024”.
Regardless of how they are generated, User IDs play an important role in identifying and analyzing user behavior within systems and applications, providing more detailed and accurate information about user interactions with a service or product.
When should you use User IDs?
User IDs play an important role in many aspects of user data management and analysis, with several main uses:
- When authenticating users: User IDs are an important tool in verifying the identity of users when they log into a system. When a user enters their login information, the system checks the User ID to determine whether it matches a registered account. This process ensures that only valid and authorized users can enter the system, securing information and preventing unauthorized access.
- When tracking users: Once a user has been authenticated, the User ID allows the system to track and record user activities throughout their session. This includes actions such as page views, clicks, and interactions with other parts of the system. This tracking helps understand how users use the system and improve the user experience.
- When analyzing user data: User ID is the basis for analyzing user data, helping businesses and organizations gain deeper insight into user behavior and preferences. By analyzing user activities and interactions based on User ID, managers can identify trends, evaluate the effectiveness of marketing strategies, and adjust services or products to better meet user needs.
Specific example: In a website management system, each user account will be assigned a unique User ID. When a user logs in to a website, the system uses the User ID to verify the identity and ensure that the user has valid access. After the authentication process is successful, the user’s User ID will be stored in the session. This allows the system to track the user’s activities during that session, such as the pages they visited and the actions they performed. This information not only helps maintain security but also provides important data for behavioral analysis and improving the user experience.
In short, User ID is a multi-functional tool, essential for authenticating, tracking, and analyzing users in systems and applications, helping organizations and businesses optimize operations and serve users more effectively.
How to set up UID in Google Analytics
Setting up UID in Google Analytics is not simple, you can refer to the following steps:
Stage 1: Agree to User ID regulations on Google Analytics
- Step 1: Access the Google Analytics login page and enter your account information to log in.
- Step 2: In the top left corner of the page, you will see a gear icon. Click on it to go to “Admin”.
- Step 3: In the “Admin” section, you will see three columns. In the middle column, select the property (Property) for which you want to set up the User ID.
- Step 4: In the property column, find “Tracking Info”. Click on it to expand the menu.
- Step 5: In the “Tracking Info” menu, select “User ID” as illustrated.
- Step 6: Click the corresponding button to agree to the User ID policy proposed by Google Analytics. Then, select “Next Step” to continue.
Stage 2: Set up User ID in Google Analytics tracking code
You can set up a User ID in Google Analytics tracking code through Google Tag Manager. In this article, Optimal will guide you on how to set up UID in Google Analytics.
Step 1: Create a DataLayer variable
- Open Google Tag Manager account: Open a new tab in your browser and access your Google Tag Manager account.
- Create a new variable: Select “Variables” and click “New” to create a new variable.
- Select the variable type as “Data Layer Variable”: In the list of variable types, select “Data Layer Variable”.
- Enter variable name: In the “Data Layer Variable Name” box, enter the variable name as “user_id” (or the name corresponding to the value you use).
- Save variable: Name the variable and click “Save” to save the variable. Note: The name of the variable must match the Key that the login event on your website returns when triggered.
Step 2: Enable User ID in Google Analytics
- Select Google Analytics Tag: Go back to your Google Tag Manager account, select “Tags” and click on the Google Analytics tag that you have linked to your website.
- Configure Tag: Click “More Settings”, then select “Fields to Set”.
- Enter User ID Information: In the “Field Name” column, enter “user_id” and select the value as the {{user_id}} variable that you created in the previous step.
- Save and Publish: Click “Save” to save the changes and don’t forget to click “Publish” to apply the changes in Google Tag Manager.
Step 3: Unify Sessions in Google Analytics
- Check Session Unification: Go back to your Google Analytics account tab. By default, Session Unification will be enabled.
- Go to the next step: Click “Next Step” to continue setting up the User ID in the Analytics tracking code.
Step 4: Create a User ID report view
Create User ID report: When moving to the step of creating the User ID report view, click “Create” to start creating the report.
Fill in the required information:
- Select tracking mode: Choose between website or app tracking.
- Name the report: You can add “user_id” to the name for easy remembering.
- Select time zone: Set the time zone for the report to Vietnam Time.
- Enable User-ID report display mode: ensure to enable the “Show User ID Report” option so that User ID report data is displayed.
Save report view: Click “Create View” to complete creating the User ID report view.
Thus, you have completed the steps to set up a User ID in Google Analytics.
UID brings many benefits to businesses
User ID brings many important benefits to businesses, helping to optimize marketing strategies and analyze user behavior. One of the key benefits of User ID is that it provides a more accurate count of users.
- By associating multiple sessions and all activities within that session with a single ID, User ID helps all data sent to Google Analytics be attributed to a specific user in your business reports. This allows businesses to get a clearer and more accurate view of user behavior, reflecting reality more accurately.
- In addition, User ID helps analyze the experience of logged-in users compared to non-logged-in users. This feature allows businesses to segment data from these two groups of users and compare them in Google Analytics reports, thereby better understanding the differences in interactions between groups.
- When setting up User ID, businesses can also access special reports in Google Analytics, such as User ID reports and cross-device reports. These reports only display data from sessions where the User ID is set and send data to Google Analytics. They help business managers understand the differences in user interactions across traffic segments, thereby identifying which phases or devices to focus on more.
- Businesses can segment users by specific intent, such as those who have purchased products on the app, those who have ordered on the website but have not completed the payment, or those who have added products to the cart but have not confirmed the purchase. After segmentation, businesses can create advertising campaigns targeting these target groups for higher efficiency.
- User ID also helps to explore the user’s relationship with the business throughout the entire purchase journey. It allows for analysis of user behavior from the first visit on which device, from which media channel, to interaction behavior on different devices and conversion points. This data provides insights into the user’s journey and decisions.
- User ID helps increase sales through cross-selling. Businesses can segment who has purchased which products and group them by level and item type. For example, people who have purchased an iPhone X can be targeted with appropriate phone cases. This support from User ID helps businesses use the collected data to make smart and effective business decisions.
Hopefully, through this article, readers have clearly understood the concept of User ID and the process of setting up User ID in Google Analytics and understand how to apply them in optimizing marketing campaigns and supporting decision-making for business managers. On our website, there are countless other articles such as how to set up Google Ads call ad conversion. Readers, don’t miss it!
Please see more:
- How to run Google Shopping Ads in detail?
- How Google Analytics works? How to install and use
- Instructions for running Google Ads for beginners in detailed
Frequently asked questions
To get the Google Analytics code, you need to do the following steps:
First, log in to your Google Analytics account. Next, go to “Admin” in the lower-left corner of the page. In the “Account” section, select the account for which you want to get the code. Then, in the “Property” section, select the property for which you need the tracking code. Continue to “Tracking Info” and select “Tracking Code”. Here, you will see the Google Analytics tracking code, usually a piece of JavaScript code. Copy this code and insert it into the head section of your website to start tracking data.
To create a Google Analytics 4 (GA4) property, start by logging into your Google Analytics account. On the main page, click the “Admin” icon in the lower left corner. In the “Account” column, select the account you want to add the property to, then in the “Property” column, click “Create Property.” You’ll be asked to fill in basic information like the property name, time zone, and currency. After entering the information, click “Next” to select additional settings like what the property will be used for and related settings. Finally, click “Create” to complete the process. Your new GA4 property will be created, and you can start setting up events and tracking data for your website or app.
