What is a Custom Dimension?
Custom Dimensions are sent to analytics as parameters attached to hits, like page views, or events. Each custom dimension needs to be set before a tracking call can be made in order for that value to be sent to analytics. Each one is assigned a unique index number that differentiates one dimension (or metric) from the other. Each ExactVisitor attribute will need to be assigned a dimension and index number to be tracked from your website to GA.
How do I set up Custom Dimensions in Google Analytics?
To create a set of custom dimensions within Google Analytics, you'll need to create a one-to-one mapping of ExactVisitor attributes to Google Analytics dimensions.
Navigate to Custom Definitions then Custom Dimensions within the Google Analytics Admin panel to begin adding. Create a custom dimension for each of the properties you want to include, with a 'Scope' of 'Session'. Mark Active.
These are the types ExactVisitor will be adding to GA:
- ExactVisitor Exact Person
- ExactVisitor IP Traffic Type
- ExactVisitor Company Name
- ExactVisitor Company Domain
- ExactVisitor Industry
- ExactVisitor Employee Range
- ExactVisitor Tech Budget
- ExactVisitor Global Alexa Rank
- ExactVisitor HQ City
- ExactVisitor HQ State
- ExactVisitor HQ Country
- ExactVisitor Tech Stack
You can choose to create as many or as few dimensions as you think is helpful, however you can only have up to 20 in GA total. Which means if you already have existing dimensions you will need to rename them.
Make sure to reference your custom dimensions configuration when setting up ExactVisitor on your site. Based on the dimensions you pick, your code could differ slightly from the documentation. You just have to make sure the numbers align EXACTLY.