{"slug":"sop-046-adding-google-analytics-annotations-to-keep-track-of-business-events","title":"Adding Google Analytics Annotations to keep track of business events","tags":["source:clickminded","type:sop","server:clickminded-sop","adding","google","analytics","annotations"],"agent_summary":"SOP 046: Adding Google Analytics Annotations to keep track of business events Add an annotation to Google Analytics and ensure that you have a solid log of what happened in your business and when, all","trigger_phrases":["adding google analytics annotations to keep track of business events","how to adding google analytics annotations to keep track of business events"],"runnable":false,"markdown":"\r\nSOP 046: Adding Google Analytics Annotations to keep track of business events\r\n\r\nAdd an annotation to Google Analytics and ensure that you have a solid log of what happened in your business and when, allowing you to better interpret the data.\r\n\r\n__Last Updated / Reviewed:__ 07/29/2024\r\n\r\n__Execution Time:__ 3-5 minutes\r\n\r\n__🚀 Goal:__ To add an annotation to your Google Analytics view.\r\n\r\n__🤞 Ideal Outcome:__ An annotation is logged into Google Analytics and accessible by your other Google Analytics’ users. \r\n\r\n__🤔 Why this is important:__ Analyzing Google Analytics data without proper context might lead you to draw inaccurate conclusions. Events that affect your business (like a sale, a launch, a competitor sale), your website (like a redesign), your marketing campaigns, or your Analytics implementation should all be taken into consideration while analyzing data. Annotating your Google Analytics ensures that you have a solid logbook of what happened in your business and when, allowing you to better interpret the data.\r\n\r\n__🧐 Where this is done__ In Google Analytics.\r\n\r\n__🗓️ When this is done:__ Every time there is an event that might impact your data on Google Analytics.\r\n\r\n__👨 Who does this:__ Everyone in the organization should be responsible for logging events of their respective business areas. \r\n\r\n__⚠️Prerequisites or requirements: __You need to have Google Analytics set up on your website, if you haven’t done so yet, you can follow SOP 009 ([web version](https://members.clickminded.com/sop/009/)).\r\n\r\nThe specific steps on this SOP apply only to Universal Google Analytics (not Google Analytics 4). If you followed other ClickMinded SOPs to create your Google Analytics account or if you set up Google Analytics before October 2020 you most likely have a Universal Analytics property.\r\n\r\n[__Click here to get the most up-to-date version of this SOP__](https://members.clickminded.com/sop/046)\r\n\r\n## Important: Annotations is not available in Google Analytics 4\r\n\r\n💡 __Note__: Unfortunately, the annotation feature, which was available by default in Universal Analytics, is not available in Google Analytics 4.\r\n\r\nThat means you  cannot add your own custom annotations in *Google Analytics 4.*\r\n\r\nWe will be monitoring changes in Google Analytics 4 and update this SOP accordingly should Google add the annotation feature.\r\n\r\n## Adding an annotation (Universal Analytics)\r\n\r\n### 01▸ Log in to your Google Analytics account by going to [https://analytics.google.com/](https://analytics.google.com/).\r\n\r\n### 02▸ On the top left corner click on the Google Analytics view name:\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n### 03▸ Select the view to which you want to add your annotation.\r\n\r\n__Note__: Usually you will want to add your annotations on your “Main” view.\r\n\r\n__Note 2__: If you have not added any additional views yet you may want to do so by following the section “Adding your first views” on SOP 009 ([web version](https://members.clickminded.com/sop/009/)). If you have not yet added any additional views or renamed the current one, your view is named “All Web Site Data”.\r\n\r\n__Note 3__: Make sure you are selecting a view that belongs to an Universal Analytics property.\r\n\r\n### 04▸ On the sidebar, under reports, click “Audience” → “Overview”:\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n### 05▸ On the top right corner, select a period of time that includes the day where you want to include your annotation → Click “Apply”.\r\n\r\n\r\n### 06▸ Below the chart, click the down arrow icon:\r\n\r\n\r\n### 07▸ Click “Create new annotation” → Select the day you want your annotation to be logged in → Enter the text of your annotation → Click “Save”:\r\n\r\n__Note__: If you choose to create a “Private” annotation it will only be visible to your Google Analytics account, your teammates will not be able to read it. A “Shared” annotation is available to anyone with permissions to access your Google Analytics view.\r\n\r\n__Note 2__: You need to have at least “Collaborate” permissions to be able to create annotations.\r\n\r\n\r\n__That’s it!__ You’ve added your annotation. All annotations are displayed on the chart with a “Speech Bubble” icon and simply clicking on them will allow you to read them.","html":"<p>SOP 046: Adding Google Analytics Annotations to keep track of business events</p>\n<p>Add an annotation to Google Analytics and ensure that you have a solid log of what happened in your business and when, allowing you to better interpret the data.</p>\n<p><strong>Last Updated / Reviewed:</strong> 07/29/2024</p>\n<p><strong>Execution Time:</strong> 3-5 minutes</p>\n<p><strong>🚀 Goal:</strong> To add an annotation to your Google Analytics view.</p>\n<p><strong>🤞 Ideal Outcome:</strong> An annotation is logged into Google Analytics and accessible by your other Google Analytics’ users.</p>\n<p><strong>🤔 Why this is important:</strong> Analyzing Google Analytics data without proper context might lead you to draw inaccurate conclusions. Events that affect your business (like a sale, a launch, a competitor sale), your website (like a redesign), your marketing campaigns, or your Analytics implementation should all be taken into consideration while analyzing data. Annotating your Google Analytics ensures that you have a solid logbook of what happened in your business and when, allowing you to better interpret the data.</p>\n<p><strong>🧐 Where this is done</strong> In Google Analytics.</p>\n<p><strong>🗓️ When this is done:</strong> Every time there is an event that might impact your data on Google Analytics.</p>\n<p><strong>👨 Who does this:</strong> Everyone in the organization should be responsible for logging events of their respective business areas.</p>\n<p>__⚠️Prerequisites or requirements: __You need to have Google Analytics set up on your website, if you haven’t done so yet, you can follow SOP 009 (<a href=\"https://members.clickminded.com/sop/009/\">web version</a>).</p>\n<p>The specific steps on this SOP apply only to Universal Google Analytics (not Google Analytics 4). If you followed other ClickMinded SOPs to create your Google Analytics account or if you set up Google Analytics before October 2020 you most likely have a Universal Analytics property.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://members.clickminded.com/sop/046\"><strong>Click here to get the most up-to-date version of this SOP</strong></a></p>\n<h2>Important: Annotations is not available in Google Analytics 4</h2>\n<p>💡 <strong>Note</strong>: Unfortunately, the annotation feature, which was available by default in Universal Analytics, is not available in Google Analytics 4.</p>\n<p>That means you  cannot add your own custom annotations in <em>Google Analytics 4.</em></p>\n<p>We will be monitoring changes in Google Analytics 4 and update this SOP accordingly should Google add the annotation feature.</p>\n<h2>Adding an annotation (Universal Analytics)</h2>\n<h3>01▸ Log in to your Google Analytics account by going to <a href=\"https://analytics.google.com/\">https://analytics.google.com/</a>.</h3>\n<h3>02▸ On the top left corner click on the Google Analytics view name:</h3>\n<p> </p>\n<h3>03▸ Select the view to which you want to add your annotation.</h3>\n<p><strong>Note</strong>: Usually you will want to add your annotations on your “Main” view.</p>\n<p><strong>Note 2</strong>: If you have not added any additional views yet you may want to do so by following the section “Adding your first views” on SOP 009 (<a href=\"https://members.clickminded.com/sop/009/\">web version</a>). If you have not yet added any additional views or renamed the current one, your view is named “All Web Site Data”.</p>\n<p><strong>Note 3</strong>: Make sure you are selecting a view that belongs to an Universal Analytics property.</p>\n<h3>04▸ On the sidebar, under reports, click “Audience” → “Overview”:</h3>\n<p> </p>\n<h3>05▸ On the top right corner, select a period of time that includes the day where you want to include your annotation → Click “Apply”.</h3>\n<h3>06▸ Below the chart, click the down arrow icon:</h3>\n<h3>07▸ Click “Create new annotation” → Select the day you want your annotation to be logged in → Enter the text of your annotation → Click “Save”:</h3>\n<p><strong>Note</strong>: If you choose to create a “Private” annotation it will only be visible to your Google Analytics account, your teammates will not be able to read it. A “Shared” annotation is available to anyone with permissions to access your Google Analytics view.</p>\n<p><strong>Note 2</strong>: You need to have at least “Collaborate” permissions to be able to create annotations.</p>\n<p><strong>That’s it!</strong> You’ve added your annotation. All annotations are displayed on the chart with a “Speech Bubble” icon and simply clicking on them will allow you to read them.</p>\n"}