gh-henkisdabro-wookstar-claude-code-plugins-ga-suite/skills/ga4-recommended-events/references/engagement-events.md

Engagement Events Reference

Non-Ecommerce Recommended Events

This reference covers recommended events for user engagement tracking beyond ecommerce transactions.

---

Authentication Events

login

Purpose: Track user login/authentication

Parameters:

• method (required) - Authentication method used

Authentication Methods:

• email - Email and password
• phone - Phone number verification
• social - Social network login
• google - Google Sign-in
• facebook - Facebook Login
• apple - Apple Sign-in
• microsoft - Microsoft/Office 365
• saml - SAML enterprise login
• fingerprint - Biometric authentication
• password - Password-only
• sso - Single sign-on

Implementation:

gtag('event', 'login', {
  'method': 'google'
});

Different Authentication Methods:

// Social login
gtag('event', 'login', {
  'method': 'facebook'
});

// Enterprise SSO
gtag('event', 'login', {
  'method': 'saml'
});

// Biometric
gtag('event', 'login', {
  'method': 'fingerprint'
});

Reporting Use:

• User authentication tracking
• Auth method effectiveness
• Login success/failure analysis
• Funnel starting point

---

sign_up

Purpose: Track new account creation

Parameters:

• method (required) - Registration method

Registration Methods:

• email - Email registration
• phone - Phone registration
• social - Social signup
• google - Google signup
• facebook - Facebook signup
• apple - Apple ID signup
• in_app - Mobile app signup
• api - Programmatic signup

Implementation:

gtag('event', 'sign_up', {
  'method': 'email'
});

Alternative Signup Methods:

// Social network signup
gtag('event', 'sign_up', {
  'method': 'apple'
});

// In-app registration
gtag('event', 'sign_up', {
  'method': 'in_app'
});

Reporting Use:

• New user acquisition
• Registration method performance
• Signup funnel analysis
• Revenue attribution from signups

---

Content Engagement Events

search

Purpose: Track site/app search functionality

Parameters:

• search_term (required) - What user searched for

Implementation:

document.getElementById('search-form').addEventListener('submit', function(e) {
  e.preventDefault();
  var searchTerm = document.getElementById('search-input').value;

  gtag('event', 'search', {
    'search_term': searchTerm
  });

  // Perform search
  performSearch(searchTerm);
});

Advanced Implementation:

// Track search with result count
gtag('event', 'search', {
  'search_term': 'blue shoes',
  'search_results_count': 42  // Custom parameter
});

Reporting Use:

• Popular search terms
• Search-to-purchase analysis
• Search effectiveness
• Missing products (failed searches)

Best Practices:

• Send before results load (immediate)
• Don't include user input errors
• Standardize term formatting (lowercase)

---

view_item

Purpose: User views product/content detail

Parameters:

• items (required) - Array with item_id and item_name
• value (recommended) - Item price
• currency (recommended) - Currency code

See "items-array-reference.md" for complete details

---

view_item_list

Purpose: User views collection/search results/category

Parameters:

• items (required) - Array of products
• item_list_id (recommended) - List identifier
• item_list_name (recommended) - List name

Implementation:

// On category page load
gtag('event', 'view_item_list', {
  'items': [
    {
      'item_id': 'SKU_001',
      'item_name': 'Product A',
      'item_category': 'Electronics'
    },
    {
      'item_id': 'SKU_002',
      'item_name': 'Product B',
      'item_category': 'Electronics'
    }
  ],
  'item_list_id': 'category_electronics',
  'item_list_name': 'Electronics Category'
});

List Types:

• Category browse
• Search results
• Featured/homepage
• Recommendations
• Related products
• Best sellers
• New arrivals

---

select_item

Purpose: User selects item from list

Parameters:

• items (required) - Selected item(s)
• item_list_id (optional) - List identifier
• item_list_name (optional) - List name

Implementation:

document.querySelectorAll('.product-link').forEach(function(link) {
  link.addEventListener('click', function() {
    var itemId = this.getAttribute('data-item-id');
    var itemName = this.getAttribute('data-item-name');

    gtag('event', 'select_item', {
      'items': [{
        'item_id': itemId,
        'item_name': itemName,
        'item_list_name': 'Search Results'
      }]
    });
  });
});

Reporting Use:

• Click-through rate from lists
• Product popularity
• List effectiveness
• Search result performance

---

Promotion Events

view_promotion

Purpose: Promotional banner/offer displayed

Parameters:

• promotion_id (recommended) - Promotion identifier
• promotion_name (recommended) - Promotion name

Implementation:

// On promotion banner visible
gtag('event', 'view_promotion', {
  'promotion_id': 'SUMMER_SALE_2024',
  'promotion_name': '50% Off Summer Sale'
});

Reporting Use:

• Promotion impressions
• Banner effectiveness
• Which promotions drive traffic

---

select_promotion

Purpose: User clicks promotion

Parameters:

• promotion_id (recommended) - Promotion identifier
• promotion_name (recommended) - Promotion name

Implementation:

document.querySelector('.promotion-banner').addEventListener('click', function() {
  gtag('event', 'select_promotion', {
    'promotion_id': 'SUMMER_SALE_2024',
    'promotion_name': '50% Off Summer Sale'
  });

  // Navigate to sale
  window.location.href = '/sale';
});

Reporting Use:

• Promotion click rates
• Promotion-to-purchase funnel
• CTR by promotion type

---

Sharing and Social Events

share

Purpose: User shares content

Parameters:

• method (optional) - Share method
• content_type (optional) - Type of content
• item_id (optional) - Content identifier

Share Methods:

• email
• facebook
• twitter
• whatsapp
• sms
• copy_link
• print
• native (iOS share sheet)

Implementation:

// Email share
document.getElementById('email-share-btn').addEventListener('click', function() {
  gtag('event', 'share', {
    'method': 'email',
    'content_type': 'product',
    'item_id': 'SKU_123'
  });
});

// Social share
document.getElementById('facebook-share-btn').addEventListener('click', function() {
  gtag('event', 'share', {
    'method': 'facebook',
    'content_type': 'article',
    'item_id': 'article_456'
  });
});

Reporting Use:

• Content virality
• Share method preferences
• Shared content performance

---

join_group

Purpose: User joins group/team/community

Parameters:

• group_id (optional) - Group identifier

Implementation:

gtag('event', 'join_group', {
  'group_id': 'premium_members'
});

---

Interaction Events

select_content

Purpose: User selects specific content

Parameters:

• content_type (optional) - Content type
• item_id (optional) - Content identifier

Content Types:

• product
• article
• video
• audio
• image
• document
• app
• game
• course
• lesson

Implementation:

// Video selection
gtag('event', 'select_content', {
  'content_type': 'video',
  'item_id': 'video_123'
});

// Article selection
gtag('event', 'select_content', {
  'content_type': 'article',
  'item_id': 'article_456'
});

// Course lesson
gtag('event', 'select_content', {
  'content_type': 'lesson',
  'item_id': 'lesson_789'
});

Reporting Use:

• Content popularity
• Content engagement patterns
• Most viewed content

---

Lead Generation Events

generate_lead

Purpose: Track lead generation (form submission, quote request, etc.)

Parameters:

• value (optional) - Estimated lead value
• currency (optional) - Currency code

Implementation:

// Contact form submission
document.getElementById('contact-form').addEventListener('submit', function() {
  gtag('event', 'generate_lead', {
    'value': 0,  // No monetary value
    'currency': 'USD'
  });
});

// Demo request (estimate value)
gtag('event', 'generate_lead', {
  'value': 500.00,  // Estimated annual value
  'currency': 'USD'
});

// Enterprise trial (higher value)
gtag('event', 'generate_lead', {
  'value': 5000.00,
  'currency': 'USD'
});

Lead Types:

• Contact form
• Demo request
• Consultation booking
• Newsletter signup
• Free trial
• Quote request
• Job application
• Event registration

Reporting Use:

• Lead generation funnel
• Lead value attribution
• Form effectiveness
• Lead source comparison

---

Measurement Guidelines

When to Send Events

Immediate Trigger:

• User action completes (click, form submit)
• Content becomes visible (on page load)
• User selects item

Don't Wait For:

• Backend confirmation
• Page navigation
• API response (unless critical)

Implementation Pattern:

// ❌ WRONG: Wait for confirmation
function handleAction() {
  performAction().then(function() {
    gtag('event', 'some_event');  // Too late
  });
}

// ✅ CORRECT: Fire immediately
function handleAction() {
  gtag('event', 'some_event');    // Fire now
  performAction();                 // Then execute
}

---

Event Parameter Summary

Event	Required Params	Recommended Params	Optional
login	method	-	-
sign_up	method	-	-
search	search_term	-	-
view_item	items	value, currency	-
view_item_list	items	item_list_id, item_list_name	-
select_item	items	item_list_id, item_list_name	-
view_promotion	-	promotion_id, promotion_name	-
select_promotion	-	promotion_id, promotion_name	-
share	-	method, content_type, item_id	-
generate_lead	-	value, currency	-
select_content	-	content_type, item_id	-

---

Testing Engagement Events

Use DebugView to Verify:

1. Login Event

   • Check method parameter populated
   • Verify on successful authentication

2. Search Event

   • Confirm search_term is present
   • Check on form submission

3. View Item

   • Verify items array structure
   • Check price and currency

4. Content Selection

   • Ensure item_id or content_type present
   • Verify on user click

Debug Checklist:

✓ Event fires at correct time
✓ Parameters match specifications
✓ Parameter values are accurate
✓ Event name spelled correctly
✓ No duplicate events
✓ Values are appropriate data type