#Google Analytics simplifies cost data import
Table of Contents
Cost data imports will now only require source, medium, and date, while making campaign fields optional for more flexible reporting.
Google streamlined the process for importing cost data into Analytics, reducing mandatory fields and offering more flexible reporting options.
The big picture. Marketers can now import cost data with just three core requirements: source, medium, and date, eliminating previous constraints around campaign names and IDs.
Key updates. Including the following fields allows for more detailed reporting. Without them, Google Analytics will report cost data in aggregate when dimensions like campaign name or ID are queried.
- Simplified required fields. You now only need three fields to import cost data:
- Source: Where the traffic originated.
- Medium: The type of traffic (e.g., CPC, organic).
- Date: The date for data mapping.
- Optional campaign fields:
- Campaign name and campaign ID are no longer required but can be included as optional key fields.
Why we care. This change simplifies the cost data import process, reducing the barrier for you to track and optimize ad spend within Google Analytics. However, excluding campaign-level details could limit reporting insights.
Bottom line. For more accurate and granular cost reporting, import campaign name and campaign ID when possible. But for those just looking to get basic cost tracking set up quickly, the new requirements streamline the process.
About the author
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
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