TrueMetriks documentation: GA4 (Google Analytics 4)
https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/

Generated from the TrueMetriks documentation. Paste the whole of this
file into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Cursor or any other AI.

I use TrueMetriks, a server-side tracking and conversion attribution platform.
It tracks my website visitors, ties every sale back to the ad that produced it,
and sends those conversions back to my ad platforms.

Help me with this specific task: GA4 (Google Analytics 4).
Forward TrueMetriks events to Google Analytics 4 server-side through the GA4 Measurement Protocol by pasting a Measurement ID and API Secret from GA4.

HOW TO GUIDE ME

  - This file has three parts: THE GUIDE is today's task, BACKGROUND is a
    prerequisite to confirm with me before you start THE GUIDE, not optional
    reading, and LINK MAP is the only place a real link comes from.
  - Ask me ONE thing at a time and wait for my answer before moving on.
  - At the start of every step, ask me: "do you want the written steps, or the
    video?" If I pick the video, give me the exact link from the LINK MAP at the
    bottom and wait until I tell you I have watched it. If I pick the written
    steps, give them to me from this file.
  - Only ever give me links that appear in the LINK MAP below. Never invent a
    URL, never guess an anchor, and if I ask for something that has no link
    here, say so and point me at https://docs.truemetriks.com/ instead.
  - Never ask me for my password, my API key, my MCP key, or any card details.
    You are reading me the steps; I am the one clicking in my own account.
  - Confirm each step worked before starting the next one.
  - Keep it short. I am doing this while looking at my screen, not reading an
    essay.
  - Everything you need is in this file. You do not need to browse the web.

===============================================================================
THE GUIDE: GA4 (Google Analytics 4)
https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/
===============================================================================

## Add a GA4 property in TrueMetriks

**Video guide**

VIDEO: How to connect Google Analytics 4 to TrueMetriks -> https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#add-a-ga4-property-in-truemetriks

In the TrueMetriks dashboard, open **Settings > Ad integrations**, pick the **GA4** tab, and click the highlighted **Add property** button.


A new property card expands underneath with three fields - **Friendly name** (optional, anything that helps you tell properties apart), **Measurement ID**, and **API Secret**.


Both the Measurement ID and the API Secret live inside GA4. The next two sections walk you through copying them.

## Copy the Measurement ID from GA4

Open Google Analytics 4 in another tab and pick the property you want to send events to.

### Step 1 - Click Admin in the left rail

In the GA4 left navigation, scroll to the bottom and click the highlighted **Admin** link.


### Step 2 - Click Data streams under "Data collection and modification"

On the Admin page, find the **Data collection and modification** card on the right side and click the highlighted **Data streams** row.


### Step 3 - Add a Web stream (only if you don't already have one)

If a web data stream already exists for this property, skip to Step 4. Otherwise, click **Add stream** and pick **Web**.


GA4 walks you through a quick form - enter your site URL and a stream name, then click **Create stream**. The new stream appears in the list once it's created.

### Step 4 - Click into the web stream

Back on the Data streams page, click the row for the web stream you just created (or your existing one).


### Step 5 - Copy the Measurement ID

The Stream details panel opens. The **Measurement ID** is in the top-right corner of the Stream details card - it starts with `G-` (e.g. `G-Q7ZQSRH9G7`). Click the copy icon next to it.


Paste it into the **Measurement ID** field of your TrueMetriks property card.

## Create an API Secret in GA4

Stay on the same Stream details page - the API Secret lives a little further down on the same page.

### Step 1 - Scroll to Measurement Protocol API secrets

Scroll down to the **Events** block and click the highlighted **Measurement Protocol API secrets** row.


### Step 2 - Click Create

The API secrets list opens. Click the highlighted blue **Create** button on the right.


### Step 3 - Give it a nickname and click Create

GA4 opens a small form. Enter any nickname (something like `truemetriks` is fine - it is just for your reference inside GA4) and click the highlighted **Create** button in the top-right.


### Step 4 - Copy the secret value

The secret is created and appears in the list. Click the highlighted copy icon next to the **Secret value** column.


Paste it into the **API Secret** field of your TrueMetriks property card.

## Save the property in TrueMetriks

Back in TrueMetriks, both fields are now filled in. Click the highlighted **Save GA4 settings** button at the bottom of the card.


You can add as many GA4 properties as you want by clicking **Add property** again - each event is sent to every active property automatically.

## Event mapping

TrueMetriks standard events map to GA4 recommended events automatically:

| TrueMetriks event   | GA4 event         |
|---------------------|-------------------|
| PageView            | page_view         |
| ViewContent         | view_item         |
| AddToCart           | add_to_cart       |
| InitiateCheckout    | begin_checkout    |
| Lead                | generate_lead     |
| Schedule            | schedule          |
| Purchase            | purchase          |

Custom events without a mapping fire as `snake_case` of the event name (e.g. `WatchDemo` becomes `watch_demo`). You can configure per-property custom event mappings by expanding the property card.

## How to verify events are flowing

There are two ways to confirm GA4 is receiving your TrueMetriks events. Either works on its own - pick whichever is more convenient.

Before either method works, the TrueMetriks tracker has to be installed on your platform (WordPress, Shopify, GoHighLevel, ClickFunnels, or a custom install) and connected to TrueMetriks. Follow the [Test your integration](https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/) guide if you have not done that yet.

**Video guide**

VIDEO: How to test that GA4 events are flowing end-to-end with TrueMetriks -> https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#how-to-verify-events-are-flowing

### Method 1 - Realtime overview in GA4

The fastest check is GA4's built-in Realtime overview.

**Step 1 - Open Reports > Realtime overview in GA4**

In the GA4 left rail, click **Reports**, then click the highlighted **Realtime overview**.


**Step 2 - Watch events arrive in real time**

The Realtime overview page shows active users in the last 30 minutes, a per-minute bar chart, and **Event count by Event name** in the bottom-right card. Browse your live site in an incognito window and within ~30 seconds you should see `page_view`, `begin_checkout`, `purchase`, and any other events you triggered tick up.


### Method 2 - GA4 DebugView

DebugView shows every event arriving for a debug device, with timestamps and parameters. It only shows events from properties with **Debug mode** turned on, so you toggle that in TrueMetriks first.

**Step 1 - Turn on Debug mode in TrueMetriks**

Back in your TrueMetriks property card, toggle **Debug mode** on. The sub-label flips to **Active - expires in 60 min** (Debug mode auto-disables after 1 hour so it never stays on accidentally). Click **Save GA4 settings**.


**Step 2 - Open Admin > DebugView in GA4**

In GA4, click **Admin** in the left rail, scroll down to the **Data display** card at the bottom of the right column, and click the highlighted **DebugView** row.


**Step 3 - Pick your debug device and watch events stream in**

DebugView shows a **Debug Device** list on the left, a per-minute summary in the middle, and a live event stream on the right. Pick your debug device, then browse your site - within ~3 seconds every event TrueMetriks fires lands on the timeline.


`page_view`, `begin_checkout`, `purchase`, `add_to_cart`, and every other event you mapped will appear here as you trigger them. If you see them, the integration is fully wired up.

===============================================================================
BACKGROUND: Test your integration
https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/
===============================================================================

## Video walkthrough

VIDEO: How to test your TrueMetriks integration -> https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/#video-walkthrough

## Quick checklist

1. **Open your live site in an incognito window.** This skips any admin-tracking exclusions and looks like a real visitor.
2. **Browse a few pages.** Click around two or three product or landing pages.
3. **Submit a test form** if you have one (Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, [Typeform](https://docs.truemetriks.com/form-integrations/typeform/), [Calendly](https://docs.truemetriks.com/form-integrations/calendly/), etc).
4. **Place a test order** if you run a store. Most platforms support a sandbox / test mode for this. Use a discount code if you want the order total to be small.

## Where to look in your dashboard

Open your TrueMetriks dashboard and click the **green live counter** in the top right of the page header. It opens a tray of every visitor active in the past five minutes. If your incognito browse appears there in real time, the tracker is firing correctly.


## Still not working?

Most issues are listed on the [Troubleshooting](https://docs.truemetriks.com/troubleshooting/common-issues/) page - check there first for common causes (CNAME not propagated, tracker blocked by an ad blocker, webhook URL stale, etc.).

If Troubleshooting does not solve it, [contact us](https://truemetriks.com/contact) and we will help you debug it.

===============================================================================
LINK MAP

Use these exact URLs. Anything ending in a # anchor opens on that section
or that video. Nothing else is a valid link. Never invent a URL and never
guess an anchor.

  GA4 (Google Analytics 4)
    The guide ................................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/
    Add a GA4 property in TrueMetriks ........... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#add-a-ga4-property-in-truemetriks
    Copy the Measurement ID from GA4 ............ https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#copy-the-measurement-id-from-ga4
    Step 1 - Click Admin in the left rail ....... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-1-click-admin-in-the-left-rail
    Step 2 - Click Data streams under "Data collection and modification"
      https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-2-click-data-streams-under-data-collection-and-modification
    Step 3 - Add a Web stream (only if you don't already have one)
      https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-3-add-a-web-stream-only-if-you-dont-already-have-one
    Step 4 - Click into the web stream .......... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-4-click-into-the-web-stream
    Step 5 - Copy the Measurement ID ............ https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-5-copy-the-measurement-id
    Create an API Secret in GA4 ................. https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#create-an-api-secret-in-ga4
    Step 1 - Scroll to Measurement Protocol API secrets
      https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-1-scroll-to-measurement-protocol-api-secrets
    Step 2 - Click Create ....................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-2-click-create
    Step 3 - Give it a nickname and click Create  https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-3-give-it-a-nickname-and-click-create
    Step 4 - Copy the secret value .............. https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#step-4-copy-the-secret-value
    Save the property in TrueMetriks ............ https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#save-the-property-in-truemetriks
    Event mapping ............................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#event-mapping
    How to verify events are flowing ............ https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#how-to-verify-events-are-flowing
    Method 1 - Realtime overview in GA4 ......... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#method-1-realtime-overview-in-ga4
    Method 2 - GA4 DebugView .................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#method-2-ga4-debugview
    VIDEO, How to connect Google Analytics 4 to TrueMetriks
      https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#add-a-ga4-property-in-truemetriks
    VIDEO, How to test that GA4 events are flowing end-to-end with TrueMetriks
      https://docs.truemetriks.com/ad-integrations/ga4/#how-to-verify-events-are-flowing

  Test your integration
    The guide ................................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/
    Video walkthrough ........................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/#video-walkthrough
    Quick checklist ............................. https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/#quick-checklist
    Where to look in your dashboard ............. https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/#where-to-look-in-your-dashboard
    Still not working? .......................... https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/#still-not-working
    VIDEO, How to test your TrueMetriks integration
      https://docs.truemetriks.com/platform-installs/test-your-integration/#video-walkthrough