This article compiles frequently asked questions about connecting and using Google Analytics 4 (GA4), covering:
- What settings are needed in GA4 admin?
- How do I exclude referral URLs?
- Is there a discrepancy between GA4 and SHOPLINE Admin data?
- How do I remove GTM tracking code?
- What's the difference between GA (GA3) and GA4?
- Can I still use GA (GA3)?
1. What settings are needed in GA4 admin?
1. Property settings
On the Google Analytics "Admin" page, click [Property settings] > [Property] > [Property details], and check whether the "Industry category", "Reporting time zone", and "Currency displayed as" options are correct.
*Note: The "Industry category" field should be "Shopping".
2. Data collection
On the "Admin" page, click [Property settings] > [Data collection and modification] > [Data collection] tab, and turn on "Google signals data collection".
3. Data retention
On the "Admin" page, click [Property settings] > [Data collection and modification] > [Data Retention] tab, and adjust the "Event data retention" to "14 months".
4. Enhanced measurement
On the "Admin" page, click [Property settings] > [Data collection and modification] > [Data streams] tab, and click your website's data stream to open the "Web stream details" panel. Please make sure to switch on the toggle in [Events] > [Enhanced Measurement].
2. How do I exclude referral URLs?
Step 1
Go to [Property settings] > [Data collection and modification] > [Data streams] tab, and click your website's data stream to open the "Web stream details" panel.
Step 2
In the "Google tag" section, click Configure tag settings.
Step 3
First, click Show more, then click List unwanted referrals.
Step 4
Add the URLs you want to exclude in the "Domain" field.
The list of URLs to exclude is attached below:
a. If there is an integrated store pickup service, please exclude the following URLs according to the service you use:
- 7-11: emap.pcsc.com.tw
- FamilyMart: map.com.tw
b. If you use an integrated payment service provider, please exclude the following URLs according to the services you use:
- Taishin Bank: taishinbank.com.tw, prod-redirect.tappaysdk.com
- Bank SinoPac: acs.nccc.com.tw, epos.sinopac.com, prod-redirect.tappaysdk.com
- LINE Pay: web-pay.line.me
- EcPay: payment.ecpay.com.tw
- Stripe: hooks.stripe.com
- Razer Merchant Services: merchant.razer.com
- JKOPay: onlinepay.jkopay.com
- NewebPay: core.newebpay.com
c. If the store is integrated into SHOPLINE Payments, to ensure the security of customer information, each bank's payment service provider URL will be directly based on the credit card bank used by the customer. Please exclude the following URLs and the store's free default URL:
- Cathay United Bank: 3ds.cathaybk.com.tw
- Taipei Fubon Bank: emv3ds-acs.taipeifubon.com.tw
- CTBC Bank: family.ctbcbank.com
- Citibank: secureauthentication.citibank.com, secureauthentication2.citibank.com
- National Credit Card Center (Taishin, SinoPac, E.SUN): emv3ds-acs.nccc.com.tw
- Financial Information System Corporation: acs3d.fisc.com.tw
- Visa card verification: secure5.arcot.tw
- Proceed to SHOPLINE Admin > [Settings] > [Domain Settings] to get your free domain.
d. If your store is connected to LINE quick login, customers will go through the LINE account authorization page. Please exclude the following URL:
- LINE Login: access.line.me
3. Is there a discrepancy between GA4 and SHOPLINE Admin data?
A data discrepancy of 5%–15% is within the normal range. Common causes include customer-side behavior (such as using ad blockers, incognito mode, multiple devices, or a VPN) and your brand's consent settings.
*Note: GA4 is a supplementary analytics tool and isn't recommended as the basis for accounting records.
Which data source should I trust?
- Order volume: Refer to the SHOPLINE Admin and Shoplytics
- Traffic trends: Refer to GA4 (for directional insight only, not absolute values)
- Ad conversions: Refer to each platform's own backend data, with GA4 as a supplementary reference
Are there exceptions to this?
In the following scenarios, it's expected that GA4 numbers will be lower than the SHOPLINE Admin's.
- Customer behavior
- AdBlock / antivirus software / firewalls / VPNs: These directly block the tracking code from sending events, so that customer's behavior can't be recorded.
- Incognito mode / cleared cookies: Every visit is treated as a new user, which overestimates the number of new users and sessions.
- Multiple devices/browsers: If a customer uses both a phone and a computer, they'll be identified as two different users.
- In-app browsers: Since these rely on third-party services, it's difficult to guarantee the stability of events sent by those services.
- Specific limitations
- Certain payment methods don't redirect to the order confirmation page
- The effects of GA4 and GTM mechanisms
4. How do I remove GTM tracking code?
If your brand has multiple GTM tags installed, some of them may trigger repeatedly and interfere with each other. We recommend removing the GTM tracking code from the SHOPLINE Admin first, then observing whether your GA4 data recovers.
If your data recovers and you still need certain GTM tags, you can create a new, empty GTM account with no tags, then gradually add back your highest-priority tags one at a time, monitoring whether the GA4 data discrepancy is affected as you go.
Step 1
In the SHOPLINE Admin, go to [Marketing & Tracker] > [Tracker Settings], find "Google Tag Manager" in the list of tracking services, and click the "delete" icon on the right.
Step 2
Review the pop-up message, select the "I understand deleted items cannot be restored, and I am sure I want to delete it" checkbox, and click OK.
Step 3
A successfully deleted message will appear in the top right corner.
Step 4
Allow 3–5 days to observe the results. Please confirm the following events and data:
- Whether GA4 events are sending normally
- GA4's add to cart event is triggering
- GA4's purchase event is triggering
- Whether the data discrepancy between GA4 and Shoplytics has decreased
If everything looks normal, you can create and fill in a new GTM code. Please refer to: Google Tag Manager (GTM) Installation Guide.
5. What's the difference between GA (GA3) and GA4?
| Category | Classic GA | New GA4 |
| Application scenario | Follow the web page information and user behavior. | Integrate tracking web pages and apps & user behavior |
| Data model |
Focus on users and behaviors (events) primarily. *Note: Many commonly used reports and measuring units need to have their own additional events set up manually to complete the tracking. |
|
| Measurement unit | The measuring unit is mainly based on page views. |
Mainly page views/ screen views. *Note: Enhanced configuration
|
| Interactive tracking unit |
|
|
| Sampling |
Yes *Note: Default reports are not subject to sampling. Ad-hoc queries of your data are subject to the following general thresholds for sampling:
|
None, but the queries are stricter *Note: Because the measurement method is different, the data of the new version of GA will be relatively small. |
| Data retention period | 14 months by default (you can choose 14, 26, 38, or 50 months), but you can also set it to never automatically expire | 2 months by default, adjustable to a maximum of 14 months. The two-month retention period always applies to age, gender, and interest data regardless of your settings. You can use BigQuery to save indefinitely. |
| ID tag | Gtag.js / UA ID (ending with the serial number of the property) UA-XXXXXXX-Y |
Gtag.js / G ID (no more serial number) *Note: In the past, you could use Tag Assistant to find the website's tracking code and copy it directly into the GA backend to find resources, but that's no longer possible with GA4. |
| Breakdown | Segments | Changed to a new feature: audience (automatic screening of recent active users and non-shoppers) |
| Event level | Event category/ Event action/ Campaign level/ Event value | Replaced with a fixed event structure, with only two levels: Event name/ Event parameters |
| Default events | None |
A new feature: the system will automatically add some events by itself:
|
| Custom metrics | Yes, 20 metrics for free. Once set, a metric cannot be deleted, only replaced. | No. Metrics are replaced by events. There are quantity limits (50 text parameters and 50 numeric parameters, though the numbers keep changing). |
| Custom dimensions | Yes, 20 dimensions for free. Once set, a dimension cannot be deleted, only replaced. | Removed and replaced by a new feature: user properties |
| View data | Yes |
No *Note: GA4's data view has been removed. To separate different data views going forward, you'll need to add a new property directly. |
| Data filters | Yes | Yes, but the feature isn't fully developed yet |
| IP masking | Not by default, but can be set up manually | On by default |
| Funnel analysis | Only available on GA360 | Open for all |
| Segment overlap report | Only available on GA360 | Open for all |
| Path analysis report | Yes | Advanced version, with backward pathing reports available |
| BigQuery setup | Connect manually | Automatically exports to BigQuery every day |
6. Can I still use GA (GA3)?
Starting from 1 July 2023, standard GA (GA3) properties will no longer process new data. New data will only flow to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) resources. Please disconnect your GA (GA3) connection and retain only GA4 to prevent data loss or duplicate event tracking. For more details, please refer to this article.
Please set up GA4 as the primary configuration and avoid using GA3 and GA4 simultaneously in the SHOPLINE Admin to prevent data loss or duplicate event tracking.
*Note: If you haven't created a Google Analytics account, you can only apply for a GA4 account from now on (the page will automatically redirect).
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