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Search Engine Optimization => Advanced Search Engine Optimization => Topic started by: Roy Milson on 05-04-2017, 00:14:24

Title: What is the difference between sessions and users in GA?
Post by: Roy Milson on 05-04-2017, 00:14:24
What is the difference between sessions and users in GA?

Title: Re: What is the difference between sessions and users in GA?
Post by: RH-Calvin on 05-09-2017, 12:38:14
In Google Analytics, sessions and users are key metrics that help understand user behavior on a website.

A session refers to a single visit to a website by a user. It starts when a user lands on a page and ends when the user leaves the website or remains inactive for a set period of time (typically 30 minutes). During a session, multiple interactions or page views can occur.

On the other hand, a user represents a unique individual who visits a website. Google Analytics assigns a client ID to each user, which enables tracking their activity across multiple sessions. A user can have multiple sessions over time, but each session is counted as a separate occurrence.

1. Sessions: A session is essentially a container that tracks all the interactions a user has with a website within a specific time frame. It starts when a user lands on a website and ends when they either leave the site or remain inactive for a certain period of time (the default is 30 minutes). Sessions are used to measure metrics like session duration, bounce rate, and goal conversions.

2. Users: Users are unique individuals who visit a website. Google Analytics assigns a unique client ID to each user, allowing it to track their activity across multiple sessions. This enables you to gain insights into user behavior over time, such as their journey through your website, repeat visits, and engagement patterns. Users are commonly used to analyze metrics like the number of new vs. returning visitors, user demographics, and acquisition channels.

3. Session Duration: The duration of a session is calculated from the moment a user lands on a website until they leave or become inactive for a specific period. It can help you understand how engaged users are with your content and measure the effectiveness of your website in holding their attention.

4. Pageviews per Session: This metric represents the average number of pages a user visits within a single session. It provides insights into how much content users explore during their visit and can help gauge website navigation, content relevance, and overall user engagement.

5. New Users vs. Returning Users: Google Analytics differentiates between new users and returning users. A new user is someone visiting your website for the first time, while a returning user is someone who has visited your site before. Comparing these two segments can provide insights into user acquisition, retention, and loyalty.

6. User Demographics: Google Analytics also allows you to analyze user demographics such as age, gender, interests, and location. This information can be invaluable in tailoring your content, marketing efforts, and user experience to better cater to your target audience.

7. Session Source/Medium: Google Analytics tracks the source and medium of each session, which represents how users arrived at your website. For example, a session could be attributed to a user clicking on a link from an organic search result (Google search) or from a paid advertisement (Google Ads). Understanding the sources and mediums that drive traffic to your website can help you optimize marketing efforts and allocate resources effectively.

8. Session Duration and Bounce Rate: Session duration refers to the length of time a user spends on your website during a session. Bounce rate, on the other hand, represents the percentage of sessions where a user lands on a page and leaves without interacting with any other pages. These metrics can provide insights into the engagement and interest level of visitors on your site.

9. User Flow: The user flow report in Google Analytics visualizes the path users take through your website, showing where they enter, exit, and move between pages. It helps you understand the most common navigation paths, popular content, and potential drop-off points. Analyzing user flow can assist in optimizing website design, improving user experience, and increasing conversions.

10. Cohort Analysis: Cohort analysis in Google Analytics enables you to group users based on shared characteristics (e.g., acquisition date, first action, demographic). It allows you to track and compare user behavior and engagement over time within these groups. Cohort analysis can provide valuable insights into user retention, conversion rates, and the impact of marketing campaigns.

A session is a group of user interactions with your website that take place within a given time frame. For example a single session can contain multiple page views, events, social interactions, and ecommerce transactions. Learn more about the different request types in Analytics.