What is a Secondary Dimension in Google Analytics?

According to statistics, about 8.4 million websites run on Google Analytics 4 (GA4). These businesses rely on this web analytics platform to measure and track website performance and traffic. To offer detailed results, there are different Google Analytics features that you can use, such as primary dimensions and secondary dimensions. So, what is a secondary dimension in Google Analytics?

In this article, we shall answer that question by explaining the concept of secondary dimensions, what they are, and some useful ways to implement them for your website. 

Secondary dimensions in GA4 are an additional report metric that you add to get a more specific analysis. This key value allows you to further break down your data into another set by adding another level of information. With this dimension, you can draw better conclusions and sort data in a way you couldn’t have done with only the primary dimension.

During your analysis, you’ll first need to define your primary dimension – the report’s main focus. Then use the secondary dimension feature on the drop-down menu to view more specific data. 

Here are some of the categories you can view using secondary dimensions:

• Demographics – age, gender
• Geography – region, country, city
• Device – app, browser, device category, operating system, device model, screen resolution
• Page – landing page, hostname, page path
• Traffic source – first user source, session source 
• User – audience name

Example of Secondary Dimension in Google Analytics

For example, if you are generating a report for your blog from Google Analytics 4, you might need demographic information, specifically the gender and the type of users visiting your website. Therefore, to get these details, navigate to “Demographics” on the main menu and select “Gender” as the primary dimension.

Select the drop-down button on the table, click secondary dimension, and select  “User.” Your report will break down the data and show how many males and females are either new or returning users. 

Alternatively, you can add a secondary dimension to the report to get a tailored report for your business. 

From this information, you can know which gender is visiting your page for the first time and which one keeps checking your website. This additional level of reporting is essential for businesses because it can be used to make strategic decisions that affect the company.

Ways to Use Secondary Dimensions in Google Analytics

The Google Analytics secondary dimensions give you more insight into how people interact with your website. Here are some ways to use this tool:

• Get information about which landing pages appeal to which demographics.
• Draw correlations between certain events, the landing page, demographics, geolocation and how they affect your conversions.
• Find a link between engagement and the device type.
• Determine any noticeable change in engagement rates based on the landing page.

Final Thoughts on Secondary Dimensions in Google Analytics

If you have just started using Google Analytics 4, you might wonder what a secondary dimension is. It’s one of the ways to organize your data and get a more comprehensive analysis. Experiment with different secondary dimensions depending on the company goals for the best results. You can also customize your categories to build better reports over time.