Initial commit
This commit is contained in:
Zhongwei Li
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# GA4 Dimension Limits, Quotas & Planning Guide
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## Standard GA4 Property Quotas
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### Dimension Quotas
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| Scope Type | Limit | GA4 360 Limit |
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|------------|-------|---------------|
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| Event-scoped custom dimensions | 50 | 125 |
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| User-scoped custom dimensions | 25 | 100 |
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| Item-scoped custom dimensions | 10 | 25 |
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### Metric Quotas
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| Metric Type | Limit | GA4 360 Limit |
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|-------------|-------|---------------|
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| Standard custom metrics | 50 | 125 |
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| Calculated metrics | 5 | 50 |
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### Total Dimension Budget
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**Standard GA4:**
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- Maximum total: 50 + 25 + 10 = 85 custom dimensions
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**GA4 360:**
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- Maximum total: 125 + 100 + 25 = 250 custom dimensions
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---
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## Understanding Quota Impacts
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### Event-Scoped Dimensions (50 Max in Standard GA4)
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**Typical usage distribution:**
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```
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High priority (essential): 5-10 dimensions
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Medium priority (important): 10-15 dimensions
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Low priority (nice-to-have): 5-10 dimensions
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Testing/experimental: 5-10 dimensions
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Unused/deprecated: 5-10 dimensions
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Total: 30-55 dimensions (likely over quota)
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```
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### User-Scoped Dimensions (25 Max in Standard GA4)
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**Typical usage distribution:**
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```
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Subscription/plan tier: 1 dimension
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Customer segment: 1 dimension
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Account status: 1 dimension
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Company characteristics: 3-5 dimensions
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Behavioral attributes: 3-5 dimensions
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Preferences: 3-5 dimensions
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Unused/deprecated: 3-5 dimensions
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Total: 15-25 dimensions (likely at/near quota)
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```
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### Item-Scoped Dimensions (10 Max in Standard GA4)
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**Typical usage distribution:**
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```
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Color/variant: 1-2 dimensions
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Size: 1 dimension
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Material/fabric: 1 dimension
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Supplier/vendor: 1 dimension
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Quality tier: 1 dimension
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Unused/test: 2-3 dimensions
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Total: 8-10 dimensions (likely at quota)
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```
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---
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## Quota Management Strategy
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### When You Hit Quota
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**Immediate:**
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1. Stop creating new dimensions temporarily
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2. Audit existing dimensions for unused ones
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3. Delete low-priority/test dimensions
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4. Document deletions
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**Medium-term:**
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1. Consolidate similar dimensions
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2. Archive less-used dimensions (delete then document)
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3. Consider GA4 360 upgrade if quota consistently exceeded
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**Long-term:**
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1. Plan which dimensions are truly essential
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2. Establish dimension governance policies
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3. Regular quarterly reviews of dimension usage
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### Prioritization Framework
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**Tier 1: Keep (Essential)**
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- ✓ Required for critical business reports
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- ✓ Used by multiple teams
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- ✓ Part of regulatory/compliance reporting
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- ✓ Cannot be replaced by built-in dimensions
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**Tier 2: Keep (Important)**
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- ✓ Used regularly in analysis
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- ✓ Part of team dashboards
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- ✓ Supports strategic decisions
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- ✓ Actively send data (not dormant)
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**Tier 3: Review (Optional)**
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- ? Used occasionally
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- ? Experimental in nature
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- ? Data doesn't appear in reports
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- ? Can be replicated from other data
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**Tier 4: Delete (Candidates)**
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- ✗ Never used in reports
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- ✗ Data not being sent (implementation missing)
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- ✗ Duplicate of existing dimension
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- ✗ Test/experimental dimension
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- ✗ Parameter no longer tracked
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### Audit Checklist
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Run quarterly to identify deletable dimensions:
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```
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For each dimension, check:
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[ ] Has data in reports?
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NO → Candidate for deletion
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[ ] Used by any teams?
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NO → Candidate for deletion
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[ ] Parameter still being sent?
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NO → Candidate for deletion
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[ ] Duplicate of another dimension?
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YES → Delete duplicate
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[ ] Actively analyzed?
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NO → Candidate for deletion
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```
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---
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## Parameter Limits (Not Quota-Based)
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These are separate from dimension quotas - they apply to all events:
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### Event Parameter Limits
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| Aspect | Limit | Notes |
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|--------|-------|-------|
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| Parameters per event | 25 max | Total count of all parameters |
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| Parameter name length | 40 characters | Cannot be longer |
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| String parameter value | 100 characters | Most parameters |
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| page_title value | 300 characters | Special exception |
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| page_referrer value | 420 characters | Special exception |
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| page_location value | 1000 characters | Special exception |
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### Items Array Limits
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| Aspect | Limit | Notes |
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|--------|-------|-------|
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| Items per event | 27 max | Maximum products in one transaction |
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| Item parameters | 10+ available | Predefined + custom |
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| Item parameter value | 100 characters | Standard limits apply |
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### User Property Limits
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| Aspect | Limit | Notes |
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|--------|-------|-------|
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| User properties per user | 100 max | Total count across all |
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| Property name length | 40 characters | Cannot be longer |
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| Property value length | 100 characters | Standard limits |
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---
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## Quota Warnings & Enforcement
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### Before Hitting Quota
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**GA4 provides warnings:**
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- No explicit warning currently (as of 2024)
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- Monitor quota usage in Admin → Custom Definitions
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- List shows all dimensions with counts
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### When At Quota
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**Behavior:**
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- Cannot create new dimension of that scope
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- Error message: Cannot proceed
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- Must delete existing dimension first
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### When Over Quota (Impossible)
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**By design:** GA4 prevents exceeding quota
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- Will not let you create if would exceed
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- Must delete first
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---
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## Capacity Planning Worksheet
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Use this worksheet to plan dimensions before implementation:
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### Event-Scoped Dimensions Planning
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```
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Total quota: 50 (Standard GA4) / 125 (GA4 360)
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Category 1: Form Tracking
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[ ] form_name
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[ ] form_id
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[ ] form_type
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Subtotal: 3
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Category 2: Button/Link Tracking
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[ ] button_name
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[ ] link_destination
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[ ] link_type
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Subtotal: 3
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Category 3: Video Tracking
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[ ] video_title
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[ ] video_quality
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[ ] video_category
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Subtotal: 3
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Category 4: Error Tracking
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[ ] error_type
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[ ] error_code
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 5: [Your Category]
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[ ] dimension_name
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Subtotal: X
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TOTAL PLANNED: 11+ dimensions
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QUOTA AVAILABLE: 50
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BUFFER REMAINING: 39
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```
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### User-Scoped Dimensions Planning
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```
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Total quota: 25 (Standard GA4) / 100 (GA4 360)
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Category 1: Subscription/Tier
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[ ] subscription_tier
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[ ] trial_status
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 2: Customer Type
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[ ] customer_segment
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[ ] customer_type
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 3: Account Status
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[ ] account_status
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[ ] account_age
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 4: Company Information
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[ ] company_size
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[ ] industry
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[ ] company_country
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Subtotal: 3
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Category 5: Preferences
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[ ] preferred_language
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[ ] communication_preference
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 6: [Your Category]
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[ ] property_name
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Subtotal: X
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TOTAL PLANNED: 11+ dimensions
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QUOTA AVAILABLE: 25
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BUFFER REMAINING: 14
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```
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### Item-Scoped Dimensions Planning
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```
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Total quota: 10 (Standard GA4) / 25 (GA4 360)
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Category 1: Product Attributes
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[ ] item_color
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[ ] item_size
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 2: Supplier/Source
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[ ] supplier
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[ ] warehouse_location
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Subtotal: 2
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Category 3: Product Quality
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[ ] quality_tier
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Subtotal: 1
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Category 4: [Your Category]
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[ ] property_name
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Subtotal: X
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TOTAL PLANNED: 5+ dimensions
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QUOTA AVAILABLE: 10
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BUFFER REMAINING: 5
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```
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---
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## Optimization Strategies
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### Strategy 1: Consolidation
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**Instead of:** 3 separate dimensions (button_text, button_id, button_type)
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**Use:** 1 dimension (button_identifier = "type_id_text")
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**Benefit:** Saves 2 dimensions, still trackable
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### Strategy 2: Hierarchy Reduction
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**Instead of:** item_category, item_subcategory, item_subsubcategory (3 dimensions)
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**Use:** Built-in item_category (predefined) + custom item_category2 (predefined)
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**Benefit:** Saves 1 dimension using pre-built fields
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### Strategy 3: Metric instead of Dimension
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**Instead of:** Dimension "video_watch_percentage"
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**Use:** Metric minutes_watched (numeric) + Formula
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**Benefit:** Dimensions for categorization, metrics for calculation
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### Strategy 4: Segment in Exploration
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**Instead of:** User-scoped dimension "cohort_type"
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**Use:** Build temporary segment in Exploration for analysis
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**Benefit:** Saves dimension quota, still enables analysis
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---
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## GA4 360 Considerations
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### When to Upgrade to GA4 360
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**Quota benefits:**
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- 2.5x more event-scoped dimensions (50 → 125)
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- 4x more user-scoped dimensions (25 → 100)
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- 2.5x more item-scoped dimensions (10 → 25)
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**Other GA4 360 benefits:**
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- Increased custom metric quotas
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- Extended data retention (up to 50 months)
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- Advanced features (data-driven attribution by default)
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- Data import capabilities
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- Streaming BigQuery export
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- Advanced support
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**When quota-only upgrade makes sense:**
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- More than 85 total dimensions needed
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- Multiple teams each needing own dimensions
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- Complex ecommerce tracking (20+ item attributes)
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- Enterprise with many business units
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---
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## Common Quota Mistakes to Avoid
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### Mistake 1: Creating Similar Dimensions
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```
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❌ WRONG:
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- button_name
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- button_text
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- button_label
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(These are the same thing!)
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✓ CORRECT:
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- button_name
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(Use consistently)
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```
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**Prevention:** Establish naming standards before implementation
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### Mistake 2: Creating Dimensions for Unique Values
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```
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❌ WRONG:
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- user_email (millions of unique values)
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- session_id (unique per session)
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- timestamp (continuous values)
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(High cardinality, not useful for analysis)
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✓ CORRECT:
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- user_tier (few values)
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- user_region (manageable values)
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- signup_month (grouped time)
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```
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**Prevention:** Only dimensions with <100 unique values
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### Mistake 3: Not Deleting Test Dimensions
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```
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❌ WRONG:
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- test_dimension
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- temp_parameter
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- dev_test
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- debugging_param
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(Wastes quota)
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✓ CORRECT:
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- Delete test dimensions after verification
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- Use separate test GA4 property
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```
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**Prevention:** Track test vs. production dimensions
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### Mistake 4: Creating Redundant Dimensions
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```
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❌ WRONG:
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- page_title (already built-in!)
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- device_category (already built-in!)
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- user_id (use User ID feature instead)
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✓ CORRECT:
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- Review built-in dimensions first
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- Only create custom when necessary
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```
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**Prevention:** Audit built-in dimensions before creating custom
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---
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## Quota Governance Policy (Template)
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Organizations should establish policies:
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### Dimension Creation Policy
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**Before Creation:**
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1. Business justification required
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2. Dimensions reviewed by analytics lead
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3. Check if built-in dimension exists
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4. Verify quota available
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5. Document in shared list
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**After Creation:**
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1. Register properly (scope, naming)
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2. Implement in code
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3. Verify in DebugView
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4. Document in team wiki
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5. Add to dashboard/report
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### Dimension Review Schedule
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**Quarterly Review (Every 3 months):**
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1. List all custom dimensions
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2. Check which have data
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3. Check which are used
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4. Mark for deletion if unused
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5. Archive documentation
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**Annual Audit (Every 12 months):**
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1. Complete dimensions review
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2. Consolidation opportunities
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3. Quota forecasting
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4. GA4 360 evaluation
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5. Update governance policy
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### Naming Standards
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**All Event-Scoped Dimensions:**
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- Format: `[action]_[object]`
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- Examples: `button_name`, `form_id`, `video_title`
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**All User-Scoped Dimensions:**
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- Format: `[attribute]` or `user_[attribute]`
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- Examples: `subscription_tier`, `customer_segment`
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**All Item-Scoped Dimensions:**
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- Format: `item_[attribute]`
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- Examples: `item_color`, `item_size`
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---
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## Quota Tracking Template
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Keep this updated to monitor quota usage:
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### Event-Scoped Tracking
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```
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Date: 2024-11-10
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Total Created: 35 / 50
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High Priority (Keep):
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- form_name (active)
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- button_name (active)
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- error_type (active)
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- page_section (active)
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Subtotal: 4
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Medium Priority (Keep):
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- video_title (light use)
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- link_type (monthly analysis)
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Subtotal: 2
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Low Priority (Review):
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- test_param (no data)
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- old_tracking (deprecated)
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- experimental_dimension (unused)
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Subtotal: 3
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Deletion Candidates: 3
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Recommended Action: Delete 3, keep 32
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Next Review: 2025-02-10 (Quarterly)
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```
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### User-Scoped Tracking
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```
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Date: 2024-11-10
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Total Created: 22 / 25
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In Use:
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- subscription_tier (critical)
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- customer_segment (critical)
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- account_status (important)
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- company_size (important)
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- industry (important)
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- preferred_language (used)
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- loyalty_status (used)
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Subtotal: 7
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Unused/Deprecated:
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- old_tier_system (no data)
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- test_property (testing only)
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Subtotal: 2
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Buffer Remaining: 3
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Recommendation: Delete old_tier_system, keep others
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Next Review: 2025-02-10
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```
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---
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## Summary: Quick Decision Matrix
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**Need to create a custom dimension? Use this:**
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| Question | Yes | No |
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|----------|-----|-----|
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| Is it essential for business reporting? | Keep | Consider deletion |
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| Is there a built-in dimension for this? | Use built-in | Create custom |
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| Is there quota available? | Create | Delete other first |
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| Will it have <100 unique values? | Proceed | Rethink approach |
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| Is it for event-specific context? | Event scope | Use different scope |
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| Is it for all user events? | User scope | Use different scope |
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| Is it for products? | Item scope | Use different scope |
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| Do we have team consensus? | Create | Get approval first |
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Reference in New Issue
Block a user