How To Track Site Search In GA4 (Google Analytics 4)

Learn how to track your website's internal search function in GA4 (Google Analytics 4). In this video, you will learn how to track your site search using a query parameter, and how you can track what people are searching for within your website if your site search doesn't use a query parameter. We will look at how this can be achieved using Google Tag Manager and by modifying the form that runs your search function. Let's get started!
JUMP TO A TOPIC:
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Site search with query parameters
01:49 Finding your query parameter
02:42 Configuring GA4 with a custom query parameter
04:06 Site search without query parameters
04:42 Using a regex lookup in Google Tag Manager
08:19 Site search without the term in the URL
09:10 Capturing search terms from the page title
13:20 Reporting on site search in GA4
14:24 Conclusion
YOUR EXTRA RESOURCES:
○ GA4 tutorial - • Google Analytics 4 Tut...
○ Google Tag Manager Tutorial - • Google Tag Manager Sim...
JAVASCRIPT CODE USED IN THE VARIABLE:
function() {
var pageTitle = document.title
var searchTerm = pageTitle.replace(' - Loves Data Demo Site','');
return searchTerm;
}
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[@ediomar2992]

woouuu!!! Eu já acompanhava os seus vídeos em inglês, mas agora com áudios em português estou achando incrível kkkkk woouuu!!! I already watched your videos in English, but now with audios in Portuguese I'm finding it incredible kkkkk

[@PerErikSkramstad]

Great tutorial. Very easy to follow and implement 👍

[@ecosolaris-web]

I have a question: I've done the steps like you said and I have now a top 10 list of terms for the duration I select. Although, the top 1 result is always blank. What does it mean and how do I solve this ? Thank you !

[@dinizwebmaster]

Muito obrigado aqui de Teresópolis!!

[@jovcha]

Thank you very much!

[@LovesData]

You're welcome!

[@maryyykayyy]

Thanks for your awesome videos! Question - my report shows a large event count number for blank. What is the blank and how can I decrease this number?

[@maratbruk6173]

hey Ben! 1st like & comment, keep up the great work!

[@user-ex5xy8jz6r]

Hi Benjamin, I really appreciate your tutorial. I attempted to follow your instructions on searching for terms, but unfortunately, the result was a blank report. Instead of seeing the expected search terms and their corresponding quantity, I only see the number 1. There's no other information displayed. Could you please help me troubleshoot this issue? Thanks!

[@PeakDistrictSEO]

Hi Benjamin. We really appreciate you making this video, so thank you. one question though, the search terms report we created in Explore....where does that go...can we add it to the reports screen somewhere or does it always stay in explore?

[@LovesData]

It stays in the explore section. But you can create a report using the 'Library' that you can add to the standard reporting menu.

[@hsinyi22]

Our site can filter search by category so I'm not sure if the additional query parameters in admin allow us to view this category data. When click on category, page url change to show the category parameter so I'm trying to figure out how to capture the search category in report.

[@MRTattex]

Hi, do you know how to get Search Pages report in GA4? Search term is easy-peasy, but there are other interesting search-related reports in GA3 that are missing in GA4. Would love to see a video or a blog note on this.

[@kensleylewis]

Thanks. But how can I track all pages under a specific sub-directory with GA4?

[@mausspace7056]

Hello please can you make a video on how to analyze marketing campaign using looker studio. Thanks

[@bognar.adrian]

Köszönjük!

[@MRTattex]

What's the difference between providing search_term via "search" event vs "view_search_results" event? Can I use both or better just one?

[@thahawahid6200]

My website search does not reload the page. So it doesn't track. It has Query Parameter. How could I track the search term in that case?

[@thahawahid6200]

Figured out. Created a custom trigger and variable and tracked the search like that. In the process also made it such that even if the user presses enter (not button click) the search gets tracked.

[@StephenGaede]

Is it possible to force lowercase for the search terms when using enhanced measurement? It's problematic that uppercase and lowercase search terms are tracked separately in reports. Or would I have to turn off enhanced measurement and implement via GTM?

[@Silcia-kaif]

Hello Benjamin, Can I Track Site Search Zero Result.. I mean when Someone search in Ecommerce site for a product but search result is zero.

[@kristibarrow3615]

Thanks Benjamin, How would i report on which terms lead to various ecommerce events such as Add To Cart and Purchase. Simply adding these metrics result in blank values.

[@LovesData]

Glad you like it! You can add a filter to an exploration report to achieve this.

[@kristibarrow3615]

@@LovesData Could you explain a bit more as I'm nont sure I follow. I have a report for search terms and view_search_results event count. What kind of filter do I need to show revenuw by search term?

[@nakatosh8020]

OK, and how do I display what the user has entered into the search bar?

[@LovesData]

I cover reporting in the video at 13:20

[@nakatosh8020]

@@LovesData unfortunately not. You yourself didn't see any search results because the last steps were missing. I have now watched another video that actually explained the steps right up to the end.

[@LovesData]

@@nakatosh8020 combining 'Search Term' and 'Event Count' works. What were you missing?