Pardot vs. Google Analytics: Why is My Data Different?
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2024 6:10 am
Pardot vs. Google Analytics:
Why is my data different?
What does each report show?
What data is sent to Pardot from Google Analytics?
Recommended solution
Connection settings
Advanced object properties
Google Analytics Connector considerations
Reason 1: Data Processing
One reason your reports might show discrepancies mobile phone number in cambodia is because of the way the different reporting tools process data.
For example, Pardot defines a session (view) as the moment in which a page loads, whilst Google Analytics will only count a session once the GA global site tag (a small piece of Javascript code) has had time to load and fire.
As an example, let’s say that a site visitor exits a landing page or navigates to another tab before the page has had time to load. In this instance, you will notice that the visit will be counted as a session in Pardot, but not in Google Analytics since the GA global tag never got a chance to execute.
Reason 2: Clicks record instantly, page loads don't
Ad-side reporting tools such as Google Ads, Facebook, Twitter and Pardot collect data from the moment a click is registered. However, site-side analytics are only collected once the page loads.
Just as with the above example about GA global tags, you can already see where this could cause some issues in the reports when viewing them side-by-side; ad-side reports will show more users because clicks are instant, whereas page loads can be interrupted or abandoned.
You can pretty much assume that the numbers in your ad-side reports will always be slightly higher than your site-side reports for this reason, especially if your site has slow page loading times.
Reason 3: Same name, different metric
Just because two different reporting platforms happen to use the same terminology, does not mean that these two terms share the same definitions or relate to the same metrics. Be aware of the metrics that you are trying to compare.
Similarly, also be aware of metrics that are not unique, so that you do not then apply counter metrics, which will skew your data. Items such as clicks and pageviews are incremental and will therefore increase each time the event occurs, counting multiple entries from the same visitor.
On the other hand, items such as unique clicks, unique pageviews and sessions are deduplicated, meaning that each entry is only counted once per visitor (unless the visitor clears their visitor ID cookie, or it expires).
Reason 4: Differing time zones
If the two reporting tools that you are using have different time zones configured, then the data will not align when you look at daily numbers.
Why is my data different?
What does each report show?
What data is sent to Pardot from Google Analytics?
Recommended solution
Connection settings
Advanced object properties
Google Analytics Connector considerations
Reason 1: Data Processing
One reason your reports might show discrepancies mobile phone number in cambodia is because of the way the different reporting tools process data.
For example, Pardot defines a session (view) as the moment in which a page loads, whilst Google Analytics will only count a session once the GA global site tag (a small piece of Javascript code) has had time to load and fire.
As an example, let’s say that a site visitor exits a landing page or navigates to another tab before the page has had time to load. In this instance, you will notice that the visit will be counted as a session in Pardot, but not in Google Analytics since the GA global tag never got a chance to execute.
Reason 2: Clicks record instantly, page loads don't
Ad-side reporting tools such as Google Ads, Facebook, Twitter and Pardot collect data from the moment a click is registered. However, site-side analytics are only collected once the page loads.
Just as with the above example about GA global tags, you can already see where this could cause some issues in the reports when viewing them side-by-side; ad-side reports will show more users because clicks are instant, whereas page loads can be interrupted or abandoned.
You can pretty much assume that the numbers in your ad-side reports will always be slightly higher than your site-side reports for this reason, especially if your site has slow page loading times.
Reason 3: Same name, different metric
Just because two different reporting platforms happen to use the same terminology, does not mean that these two terms share the same definitions or relate to the same metrics. Be aware of the metrics that you are trying to compare.
Similarly, also be aware of metrics that are not unique, so that you do not then apply counter metrics, which will skew your data. Items such as clicks and pageviews are incremental and will therefore increase each time the event occurs, counting multiple entries from the same visitor.
On the other hand, items such as unique clicks, unique pageviews and sessions are deduplicated, meaning that each entry is only counted once per visitor (unless the visitor clears their visitor ID cookie, or it expires).
Reason 4: Differing time zones
If the two reporting tools that you are using have different time zones configured, then the data will not align when you look at daily numbers.