In order to make your business a success, you should be spending more time and resources converting existing traffic than acquiring more traffic.

When you work with the mindset of increasing sales by just sending more traffic to your website, your cost per acquisition tends to be high and your revenue per acquisition tends to be low. So you may eventually end up making less profit and sometimes even a loss.

The best way of converting existing traffic into sales is by mapping the entire conversion/sales process from lead generation ads to post-sales follow up and then looking for the biggest drop-offs from one step to the next.

You do that mapping in Google Analytics through Funnel Visualization reports:

Use this report, to determine the biggest drop-offs from one step of the funnel to the next. These drop-offs can help in explaining which part of the website/ conversion process needs urgent attention.

The Funnel Visualization report is available under Conversions > Goals in your GA view:

In order to truly benefit from funnel visualization reports, you must know how this report actually works.

If you create wrong funnels then you won’t be able to map customers’ conversion journey correctly and without correct mapping, there would be no conversion optimization.

Note: You can learn about setting up goals and funnel visualization in Google Analytics from this help article: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1032415?hl=en-GB

Introduction to Funnels in Google Analytics

In Google Analytics, a funnel is a navigation path (series of web pages) which you expect your website users to follow, to achieve website goals.

A funnel is made up of a goal page(s) and one or more funnel pages (also known as the funnel steps).

Through funnels, you can determine, where users enter and exit the conversion/sales process.

You can then determine and eliminate bottlenecks in your conversion/sales process in order to improve the website sales.

You can set up to 20 pages as funnel pages in GA. However, don’t do that (more about that later).

Types of Google Analytics Funnels

There are 4 types of funnels available in Google Analytics:

Goal funnel – it is a series of web pages which you expect your website users to follow, to complete a non-transactional goal like ‘newsletter signups’, ‘downloads’ etc.

Sales funnel – it is a series of web pages which you expect your website users to follow, to complete a transactional goal like placing an order on the website. The checkout process is a good example of a sales funnel.

Multi-channel goal funnel – it is a goal funnel that takes into account, the role played by multiple marketing channels in the conversion path. Multi-channel sales funnel – it is a sales funnel that takes into account, the role played by multiple marketing channels in the conversion path.



In this article, I will explain goal and sales funnels in great detail. But I won’t cover multi-channel goal/sales funnels.

To learn more about multi-channel funnels, read the article: Google Analytics Attribution Modeling – Beginners Guide

In order to get the most out of goals and sales funnel, you need to know three things:

How to correctly set up goals/sales funnel How to accurately interpret/read the funnel visualization report. How to optimize the goals/sales funnel to increase sales.

Common Issues while Setting up Funnels in Google Analytics

Following are the most common issues I have discovered while setting up funnels in Google Analytics :

Selecting the wrong conversion path Entering incorrect data while defining goal and funnel pages Using the same goal page for different funnels Capitalization issues Assigning a monetary value to transactional goals Using incorrect REGEX (regular expressions) for Goal and Funnel Pages Not understanding the required first step Not Testing the Funnel Setup

Issue #1: Selecting the Wrong Conversion Path

Create a funnel only when there is a well-defined path you can see/expect your website users to follow, to complete your website goal. If a website goal (like file downloads) can be easily achieved, by following dozens of different paths, then do not define a funnel. If you do, it won’t help you much in understanding how different traffic segments convert. Instead create filtered views (like one view for organic traffic, one for paid search, one for social media, etc). I am often asked the question: How do I decide pages for my funnel? The answer is pretty simple, use those pages as funnel pages, which are most frequently viewed prior to goal completions and/or transactions. Use the page value metric to determine such pages. You can also use the Reverse Goal Path report (under Conversions > Goals in your GA view) to determine the actual navigation paths that triggered goal conversions, and the number of conversions each navigation path triggered. By default, the Reverse Goal Path report shows the last three steps the user took before viewing the goal page. The navigation path that has triggered the maximum number of conversions, should be used as a funnel. You can also apply advanced segments to the ‘reverse goal path’ report. Note: You can only create funnels for URL based goals. So if you want to create funnels for event-based goals then you need to use virtual pageviews. You can learn more about virtual pageviews from this article: Event Tracking & Virtual pageviews in Google Analytics – Complete Guide

Issue #2: Entering Incorrect Data while Defining Goal and Funnel Pages

When you set up a goal or funnel page you specify only the Request URI. The Request URI is what comes after the domain name. For example in the URL: https://www.abc.com/event-education.aspx, the request URI is ‘/event-education.aspx’. Following is an example of incorrect and then correct, goal and funnel set up:

The applies while defining goal steps as well

Issue #3: Using the Same Goal Page for Different Funnels If you want to set up different funnels for the same goal, then consider using different goal URLs for each individual funnel. For example, let’s say, you want to understand, how people who view the service1 page, convert in comparison to the people, who view the service2 page on your website. Now you need to set up two different goals and two different funnels in your GA view, to understand this conversion behavior. Let us suppose the URI of the goal page for the two funnels is ‘/thank-you/‘. So the first goal and its corresponding funnel setup could look something like the one below: The second goals and its corresponding funnel setup could look something like the one below: Now once you start collecting the data for the two goals, you will discover that the goal completions and goal conversion rate for both goals are reported the same, by Google Analytics: This happened because both goal completions and goal conversion rates are independent of the funnel steps. To fix this problem, you need to use different goal page URL for the two goals: ‘/thank-you-service1/‘ , ‘/thank-you-service2/‘ 1) ‘/thank-you-service1/‘ for first goal: 2) ‘/thank-you-service2/‘ for another goal: After such a setup, you would see the correct number of goal completions and accurate goal conversion rates for each goal and funnel. Issue #4: Capitalization Issues If you want to make the goal page URI and funnel page URIs to exactly match the capitalization of visited URLs then you need to check the ‘case-sensitive’ checkbox while setting up a funnel:

There are a lot of websites out there that have got URLs in uppercase and/or lowercase letters or in some weird combination of upper and lowercase letters. So if your goal/funnel pages did not match the capitalization of visited URLs then you will get incorrect data in your funnel visualization reports.

The capitalization issue is one of the most overlooked issues, according to my analysis of hundreds of GA accounts.

Issue #5: Assigning a Monetary Value to Transactional Goals You should never specify a goal value for transactional goals, as this can inflate the revenue metrics in Google Analytics reports. Here is what I mean:

You should assign monetary value only to non-transactional goals (like ‘file downloads’, ‘newsletters signups’ etc) so that Google Analytics can calculate the ROI and per session goal value.

Note(1): Goal value is the value of a website goal which is determined by calculating what you will get when a goal is achieved. For e.g. if you sell leads then revenue per lead can be the value of each goal. Note(2): A non-transactional goal conversion is counted, only once during a session, per user. For example, if PDF file download is one of your goals, then Google Analytics will count only one conversion in a single web session (or visit), no matter how many times a user downloads the PDF file.

Issue #6: Using the Incorrect REGEX for Goal and Funnel Pages One of the most common and very difficult issues to resolve, while setting up funnels in GA, is to make sure that correct regular expression (or REGEX) is used for goal and funnel pages. For example, in the funnel visualization report you may sometimes see, 100% continuation rate from one step to the next:

Like in our case, there is a 100% continuation rate from the shopping cart page to check out page and 100% continuation rate from the checkout page to the order review page. This usually happens when multiple funnel steps, match the same web pages. If you look at the funnel set up above, the first step is the home page (/) which matches all other funnel pages, as they all contain ‘/’. This is because of the ‘regular expression’ match type, selected for the URL destination goal ( which is /completed-purchase.php) The match type (like ‘Regular Expression’, ‘Begins With’, ‘Equal to’) you select for URL destination goal is continued throughout the funnel set up. So if you select a ‘regular expression’ match for the URL destination goal then it will be the same match type for each funnel step. Similarly, if you select ‘Begins with’ match for the URL destination goal then it will be the same match type for each funnel step. Remember funnel steps can accept regular expressions. In order to solve the 100% continuation issue, in the funnel visualization report here, you need to re-write the regex for the goal page and each of the funnel pages. Another example, if the goal URL is /.*/signup\.php Then Google Analytics can match this regex, with a signup page in any directory. For example, the goal URL will match the following URLs: https://www.abc.com/signup.php

https://www.abc.com/offer1/signup.php

https://www.abc.com/offer2/signup.php?query=jay

https://www.abc.com/offer3/signup.php?query=shoes&id=2013 To learn more about the uses of regular expressions in Universal Analytics, check out this article: Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager Regex (Regular Expressions) Guide Note: You can also use wild cards to define a goal or funnel page. For example, you can use *.pdf to define a goal page. Just like a 100% continuation rate, you can also see a 100% exit rate in your funnel visualization reports whenever two or more funnel steps match the same web pages.

Issue #7: Not Understanding the Required First Step When you mark the first step of the funnel as required, the funnel visualization report includes only those conversions that pass through the required step:

That means your funnel conversion rate could be different for the funnel in which the first step is not marked as required.

Here, the order in which the ‘required funnel page’ was viewed during the GA session, which results in a conversion, does not matter. So it is not required that a website user, must first visit the required funnel page before visiting any other funnel page.

The funnel steps 1, 2, 3…. etc are meaningless unless users can’t proceed to the next step before visiting the previous funnel page.

As long as the required funnel page is viewed in a web session (which results in conversion), regardless of the order in which it is viewed, the conversions will be counted by GA. In our case, the required funnel step is the home page. So the funnel visualization report would include only those conversions, in which the home page was viewed in a web session, regardless of the order in which it was viewed. Similarly, if you want the funnel visualization report to include only those conversions, in which one of the product category pages was viewed then set product category pages as the required step:

Similarly, if you want the funnel visualization report to include only those conversions, in which one of the product details pages was viewed then you can set product details pages as the required step:

Note: You can create multiple funnels for a single website goal, using the ‘required funnel step’ and can thus get a deep insight into, how people are converting on your website.

Issue #8: Not Testing the Funnel Set Up

Viewing an empty funnel even after waiting for weeks, is one of the worst situations to be in. You can’t go back in time, fix the issue and get the historical data. Even if you fix the funnel set up now, the funnel visualization report will only show data going forward. The funnel visualization report can’t show data retroactively. That means you lost weeks of data, in your funnel visualization report for good. Therefore, before you set up any funnel in Google Analytics, always test it via to make sure, that you are going to get the data in the funnel visualization report. Testing a funnel means, testing the URI of the Goal and funnel pages. For example, if your regex for finding goal/funnel pages, is incorrect or there are capitalization issues, then you won’t see any data or correct data in your funnel visualization report in GA. You can test your regex, using the filters on the reporting interface: You can also test the goal page in your funnel, by clicking on the ‘Verify this Goal’ link:

In the case of GA standard, it could take up to 24 hours, for the data to populate in your funnel visualization reports. Whereas, in the case of GA Premium, it can take up to 4 hours, to get the funnel data.

Interpreting Funnel Visualization Report Data

One issue that can easily cripple your conversion optimization efforts, is the misinterpretation of funnel visualization report data. Such misinterpretation could lead to drawing wrong conclusions, which in turn, leads to making wrong marketing decisions.

Many marketers assume that the number 2,037 in the screenshot below, denotes the number of people (users) who completed a goal conversion:

But this is not true. The number 2,037 denotes the number of unique page views and not users.

A unique pageview is the number of sessions during which a page was viewed once or more times.

A unique pageview is counted only once during a session. So no matter how many times a user navigates to the same page in a given web session (or visit), the number of unique pageviews for the page will remain one.

For example, if a person navigates to the home page three times in a given web session then:

the number of page views for the home page will be 3

the number of unique pageviews for the home page will be 1

Also, the number of unique page views is not equal to the number of users.

This is because a user can navigate to the same page multiple times during multiple sessions and thus can generate multiple unique pageviews.

For example, if a person views the home page three times in the first web session and 4 times in the second web session, then the number of unique pageviews for the home page would be 2 but the number of users would still be 1.

#1 Funnel Visualization Report Does Not Show the Actual Conversion Path

Example-1: Let us suppose a user landed on the website via the home page. He then navigated to the ‘shopping cart’ page and again visited the home page:

Let us also supposed, all of this happened in a single web session. Now the funnel visualization report will not show the actual order in which these funnel steps were viewed. It would show an entrance to the home page, a continuation to the shopping cart page and an exit from the shopping cart page to the home page. This happened because the funnel visualization report does not show ‘loop back’. The ‘loop back’ is the activity of going back to the previous step in a funnel. In our case, the user went back to the home page from the shopping cart page and thus created a loop back.

People do not always move through your sales/conversion funnel exactly the way you set it up in Google Analytics. People can also enter or exit the funnel midway.

Also, note the number of unique pageviews for the home page. It is 1 despite the page being visited twice. This is because the home page has been visited twice in a single web session. Had it been visited in two different web sessions, the number of unique pageviews for the home page would be 2.

Example-2: Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: The user landed on the website via the home page. The user navigated to the ‘shopping cart’ page. The user navigated back to the home page. The user refreshed the home page for some reason. All of this happened in a single web session. We can also conclude that two ‘loop backs’ occurred in the actual conversion path. One loop back occurred when the user went back to the home page from the shopping cart page. The second loop back occurred when the user refreshed the home page through his browser. Since the funnel visualization report doesn’t show ‘ loop backs’, it would show: An entrance to the home page A continuation to the shopping cart page An exit from shopping cart page to the home page and An exit from the home page to the home page.

Example-3: Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: the user landed on the website via the home page user navigated to the ‘shopping cart’ page user again navigated to the home page user again navigated to the shopping cart page All of this happened in a single web session. We can also conclude that two ‘loop backs’ occurred in the actual conversion path. One loop back occurred when the user went back to the home page from the shopping cart page. The second loop back occurred when the user went back to the shopping cart page from the home page. Since the funnel visualization report doesn’t show ‘loop back’, It would show: an entrance to the home page a continuation to the shopping cart page an exit from shopping cart page to the home page and an exit from the home page to the shopping cart page.

#2 Funnel Visualization Report Shows Continuation only from the Funnel Pages

Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that:

the user landed on the website via Product-A page. user navigated to the home page. user navigated to the ‘shopping cart’ page user navigated to the contact us page

All of this happened in a single web session.

We can also conclude that no ‘loop back’ occurred in the actual conversion path, as the user did not return to any previous step in the funnel.

The funnel visualization report would show:

#1 An entrance from the product-A page to the home page. (The report won’t show continuation from the product-A page to the home page. This is because the product-A page is not one of the funnel page/step)

#2 A continuation to the shopping cart page from the home page.

#3 An exit from the shopping cart page to the ‘Contact Us’ page. Since the ‘Contact Us’ page is not one of the funnel pages, the report won’t show continuation to the Contact Us’ page. Instead, it will show the user exit from the funnel to the ‘Contact Us’ page.

#3 Google Analytics Reports the Funnel Pages in the Order They Were Set Up, Not in the Order They Were Viewed Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: The user landed on the website via the Product-A page. User navigated to the ‘shopping cart’ page. User navigated to the home page User navigated to the contact us page. All of this happened in a single web session. We can also conclude that no ‘loop back’ occurred in the actual conversion path, as the user did not return to any previous step in the funnel. The funnel visualization report would show: an entrance from the product-A page to the home page a continuation to the shopping cart page an exit from the shopping cart page to the ‘Contact Us’ page. Google Analytics simply checks whether a funnel page was viewed during a web session and if it was, then that is represented in the funnel visualization report in the order in which you set up your funnel, regardless of the order in which the website users actually viewed the funnel pages/steps.

#4 Funnel Visualization Report for a User with Multiple Web Sessions Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: In the first web session: the user landed on the website via Home page user navigated to the Shopping Cart page. In the second web session: the user landed on the website via the Home page user navigated to the Shopping Cart page user navigated to the Checkout page. We can also conclude that no ‘loop back’ occurred, because the user navigated back to the home page and back to the shopping cart page, in a different web session. However since the home page and the shopping cart pages were viewed in two different web sessions, the number of unique pageviews for both home page and shopping cart pages would be 2. Whereas the number of unique pageviews for the checkout page would be 1, as it is viewed in only one web session (or visit).

#5 A User Skipping a Single Funnel Page Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: the user landed on the website via the Home page. user navigated to the Checkout page user navigated to the ‘order review’ page. Note: the user did not navigate to the shopping cart page and thus skipped it. When a user skips one of the steps in a funnel, which comes after the step, at which the user entered the funnel, then the funnel visualization report backfills the skipped step. Here, the shopping cart page is the skipped step, which comes after the home page (the step at which the user entered the funnel) and hence it will be backfilled by the funnel visualization report. So the funnel visualization report would show: an entrance to the home page continuation to the shopping cart page continuation to the checkout page continuation to the order review page.

#6 A User Skipping Multiple Funnel Pages Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: the user landed on the website via Shopping Cart page user navigated to the Order Review page user navigated to the ‘Completed Purchase’ page (which is the goal page). Note: the user did not navigate to the Home Page and Checkout pages and completed skipped them. Since the home page is the skipped funnel step which comes before the ‘shopping cart’ page (the step at which the user entered the funnel), it will not be backfilled by the funnel visualization report. So the number of unique pageviews for the home page would be 0. The checkout page is also the skipped funnel step but it comes after the ‘shopping cart’ page (the step at which the user entered the funnel), therefore it will be backfilled by the funnel visualization report. So the number of unique pageviews for the checkout page would be 1. So the funnel visualization report would show: an entrance to the shopping cart page. continuation to the checkout page. continuation to the order review page. continuation to the ‘competed purchase’ page.

#7 A User Repeating the Goal Funnel Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that: the user landed on the website via Home page. user navigated to the about us page. user navigated to the membership page user navigated to the signup page (which is the goal page). user again navigated back to the home page. user again navigated back to the membership page. user again navigated back to the signup page but this time on behalf of his wife. So here the user has repeated the funnel twice and completed the goal conversion (signup) twice. But in the funnel visualization report a goal is incremented only once during a session. So no matter how many times the user signup for the membership, in a single web session, you will see only one 1 signup in the funnel visualization report. The goal will be incremented in the funnel visualization report, for the same user, only when he converts again in a different web session.

#8 A User Repeating the Sales Funnel

Consider the following funnel set up:

Here, from the actual conversion path of the user, we can conclude that:

the user landed on the website via the billing page user navigated to the shipping page user navigated to the payment page user navigated to the purchase page (which is the goal page) user again navigated to the billing page user again navigated to the shipping page user again navigated to the payment page user again navigated to the purchase page (which is the goal page)

So here the user has repeated the sales funnel twice and placed the order twice.

If a user places two or more different orders in a single session, then they are counted by GA as unique transactional goals, regardless of whether the order was placed in the same or different session.

So in the case of the sales funnel, a transactional goal will be incremented in the funnel visualization report, for the same user, every time he/she places a new order, regardless of whether the order was placed in the same or different web session.

#9 Always Segment the Google Analytics Funnel Data

From the visualization report below, we can conclude that only 0.47% of 8266 website users (not technically users) proceeded to the shopping cart page:

So if we can make more website users reach the shopping cart page, we can generate more sales.

Now the problem is, we don’t know which website users (whether users from organic search, paid search, email campaign or social media etc) are exiting the funnel in great numbers. Without segmenting this funnel, there is no way we can determine the main reason for users’ drop off from the home page to the shopping cart page.

Unfortunately, Google Analytics doesn’t allow segmenting the funnel visualization report on the fly via advanced segments.

When you modify an existing funnel set up in Google Analytics, you won’t be able to see historical data for that funnel. This is because the Funnel visualization report only shows data going forward. It can’t show retroactive data.

In order to understand how different traffic segments convert in Google Analytics, you need to segment the funnels.

Follow the steps below: Step-1: Create filtered views (profiles) for each of the following traffic sources:

Organic Search Traffic Paid Search Traffic Referral Traffic Direct Traffic Social Media Mobile traffic Tablet Traffic Desktop Traffic

Step-2: Set up goals and funnel pages for each filtered view. Step-3: Wait for at least a month, so that enough traffic data populates, into the funnel visualization report of each filtered view. Once the 30 days of data have populated into the funnel visualization reports, you are ready to interpret goals/sales funnel for each traffic source.

Note: When you use the date comparison feature of the funnel visualization report, Google Analytics doesn’t show you the difference for different funnel steps. It only shows you the difference in the total conversion rate for the funnel goal.

#10 Never Ignore Data Sampling Issues while Reading Funnel Report If you manage a high traffic website (million of pageviews each month) then you simply can’t afford to ignore data sampling issues. When Google Analytics is sampling your data badly, you can’t blindly rely on the metrics reported by it. Then there is always a strong possibility, that the reported metrics are 10 to 80% off the mark. If your funnel visualization report is based on more than 100k sessions then Google Analytics is going to sample the data, whether or not you use GA Premium. So in order to fix data sampling issues, run the funnel visualization report, for a shorter time frame which should include less than 100k sessions. To learn more about data sampling issues in Google Analytics, read the article: Google Analytics Data Sampling – Complete Guide #11 Never Use a Small Time Frame and a Small Data Set for your Funnel Analysis Many marketers make marketing decisions based on a small time frame or small data set. You can’t determine the best conversion path used by your website users and then optimize your conversion funnel, just on the basis of a few weeks of data or a handful of conversions. You need at least one month of data in your funnel visualization report before you can take marketing decisions or even consider funnel optimization. If you have a low traffic website, getting enough conversions in the desired time frame is difficult. Your best bet is, to buy some extra traffic (via PPC or ads on social media) so that you can validate your tests/assumptions faster. Make sure that you always use descriptive names for funnel steps as they show up in your funnel visualization reports. Use a name that describes what the goal /funnel page is all about. Don’t use names like ‘step-1’, ‘step-2’ etc.

#12 The Impact of Funnel Pages/Steps on Conversion Rate and Conversion Volume

There is no impact of the funnel pages/steps you create, either on the conversion rate (both goal conversion rate and ecommerce conversion rate) or on the conversion volume (like goal completions, number of orders) in your funnel visualization report.

The funnels you define affect only your funnel visualization reports.

The other thing which is worth mentioning is that the funnel conversion rate is not the same as the goal conversion rate or ecommerce conversion rate.

The Funnel conversion rate is the percentage of funnel sessions that result in conversions.

These conversions can be goal conversions or e-commerce transactions.

Funnel Conversion Rate = (Total Conversions/Total Funnel Sessions) * 100

For example:

Here the funnel conversion rate is calculated as:

Total Checkout Completion/Total Funnel Sessions = (26,346/73,333) * 100 = 35.93%

Note: Goal Abandonment Rate = 100-Funnel Conversion Rate

#13 Custom Funnels for visualization and analysis of customer journey

The custom funnels feature is only available in Google Analytics 360. It helps you to create user-level, ad-hoc funnels to visualize user behavior and action/task completion analysis.

How to create custom Funnels:

Go to Customization > Custom Reports > +New Custom Report > Select the Funnel tab

Next step, you need to set up or configure rules for each stage. You can mention up to 5 rules per stage.

For example, If you want to check the users who began on your home page and played the video:

Create the 1st rule: Include Landing Page Exact /home.html

Create the 2nd rule: Include Event Action Exact Play

You can also drill down to the next level to understand the video name by specifying the Event Label where you normally capture the video name.

Now, if needed, you add one more stage for ‘sign up’ action by clicking ‘+Add new stage’ or if you want to duplicate the previous stage then click on the ‘+duplicate previous stage’ button at the bottom of the custom funnels.

To add a ‘sign up’ action stage, create the rule: Include Page Exact /sign-up.html

Add one more for sign up confirmation by adding a new stage and creating the rule as Include Page Exact /sign-up-confirm.html

Now click on the ‘Save’ button to create the custom funnels. It will look something like below for the selected time frame.

If you notice the completion rate percentage is around “0.96%” and drop-off percentage at sign-up form is around “35.96%”, then you may ask: how can we improve the funnel completion rate?

Let’s take a look at the percentage of users that proceeded to the next stage in the above example. it is 51.26% which is a good percentage.

Here you can take the help of Google Optimize to test your hypotheses, create an A/B test for the sign-up form and check the custom funnels again to check the status of the test. If there is an improvement in the completion rate percentage then woo hoo cheers!! You simply did it 😊 If not then, no worries, try with another hypothesis 😊

This funnel also helps you to create the segments of audiences who drop-off at the stage and you can also create the remarketing audience from here, Just hover on any stage to create it.

Conclusion of custom funnels:

Easy to manage/create custom funnel rules. Advance planning or additional implementation is not required. Custom funnels are flexible and contain up to five steps, each step is defined by up to five matching rules for various dimensions e.g. page URL, event label, campaign etc. You can apply only one segment to custom funnels. You can create remarketing audiences simply by clicking on any completed or not completed stage/step in the custom funnels graph.

Quick Recap of Tips for Correctly Reading the Funnel Visualization Report in GA

#1 In GA funnel visualization report, the numbers that you see are unique pageviews and not the number of users/visitors

#2 The number of unique page views is not equal to the number of users.

#3 Funnel Visualization report does not show the actual conversion path followed by a user

#4 A funnel visualization report does not show loop backs (i.e. going back to the previous funnel steps).

#5 A loop back is not counted if the same funnel page is viewed in two or more different GA sessions.

#6 Funnel Visualization report shows continuation only from the funnel pages.

#7 Google Analytics reports the funnel pages in the order in which they were set up, not in the order, they were viewed.

#8 The order in which you have set up your funnels steps in GA, is the order in which your funnel steps will appear in the funnel visualization report.

#9 Funnel visualization report simply shows the funnel pages that were viewed in a web session(s).

#10 GA backfills those skipped funnel steps which come after the funnel step, that was viewed in a web session.

#11 GA does not backfill those skipped funnel steps which come before the funnel step, that was viewed in a web session.

#12 A non-transactional goal is counted only once in a web session no matter how many times a user completes that goal.

#13 The goal will be incremented in the funnel visualization report, for the same user, only when he/she converts again in a different web session.

#14 A transactional goal will be incremented in the funnel visualization report, for the same user, every time he/she places a new order, regardless of whether the order was placed in the same or different web session.

#15 Always segment the Google Analytics Funnel Data.

#16 Never ignore Data Sampling Issues while reading the funnel visualization report.

#17 Never Use small time frame and small data set for your funnel analysis.

#18 There is no impact of the funnel pages/steps you create, either on the conversion rate (both Goal conversion rate and ecommerce conversion rate) or on the conversion volume (like goal completions, number of orders) in your funnel visualization report.

Optimizing Google Analytics Sales Funnels

In order to increase sales you need to make sure that following two activities happen on your e-commerce website as often as possible:

Website Users add items to the shopping cart. The users who have added items to their shopping cart make a purchase.

Google Analytics enhanced ecommerce Product performance report provide the following metrics through which you can optimize your website sales funnel:

#1 Cart to detail rate – it is the rate at which users add a product to the shopping cart after viewing the product details.

#2 Buy to detail rate – it the rate at which users buy products after viewing the product details.

#3 Product Adds to cart – it is the number of times a product was added to the shopping cart.

#4 Product Removes from the cart – it is the number of times a product was removed from the shopping cart.

#5 Product Checkouts – Number of times a product was included in the checkout process.

Tips to Increase Your ‘Product Adds to Cart’ Rate

You website users will add products to the shopping cart when:

#1 You send highly targeted traffic to the website. This is one of the main requirements.

#2 Your website is visually appealing. Design matters a lot.

#3 Your products are enticing.

#4 Your offers create a sense of urgency. For example: “Order in the next 2 hours and get ……. “.

#5 Your landing pages have got a clear call to action.

#6 Your website has got no major usability issues

#7 Your website has got no credibility issues

Focus on improving your ‘Product Adds to cart’ rate to increase the probability of generating more sales.

Note: Make sure that you segment the ‘Product Adds to cart’ rate to its most granular level before you interpret it. All the data in aggregate form is crap.

Tips to Reduce the Checkout Abandonment Rate

Asking people to add items to the shopping cart is the easy bit. Asking them to complete the purchase is hard.

If you want website users who have added items to their shopping cart, to make a purchase then don’t give them nasty surprises during the checkout process.

Following are the top reasons for high checkout abandonment rate and how you can reduce the abandonment:

1. A very loooong checkout process

Each additional funnel step gives the opportunity to a customer to leave the funnel and not convert. Therefore you should aim to minimize the number of funnel steps.

2. Hidden charges

Any extra charge/fees during the checkout process, can immediately put off a customer and can cause him to exit the funnel straightaway. Therefore be upfront with your prices as much as possible.

3. Forced registration

It is one of the best ways, to put off a customer from converting. Never force a person to register in order to complete a purchase. Ask him to register only after the sale has been made.

Sometimes people don’t convert just because they don’t want to register. For such people provide a guest checkout option. Your first priority should always be generating the sale.

4. Out of stock product

The last thing you want your potential client to do is to add a product to his shopping cart, which is out of stock and he comes to know about it, only during the checkout.

Make sure that the out of stock products can’t be added to the shopping cart by any person.

5. Please also buy this and that…

Cross-promotion can result in increased sales when done in a moderate amount. But when you try to shove multiple products down a person’s throat, it can put him off from converting.

GoDaddy is pretty notorious in cross-promoting its products. You try to buy one domain and it will try to shove every product in its catalog right down your throat. Avoid doing too much upselling.

6. Do not ask for the same information multiple times

When you ask for the same information multiple times during the checkout, you are literally telling your customers to exit the funnel right now, or I will haunt you by asking the same question over and over again.

Make sure that you do not ask for the same information again

7. You must collect users email addresses in the first few steps of the checkout process

Then you can use the email later for remarketing purposes, in case the user abandons the shopping cart. Remarketing is a proven technique to decrease the checkout abandonment rate.

8. Poor Navigation

Sometimes poor navigation does not allow a person to go back to a funnel step to make some changes. In such a case, he can either choose to restart the checkout process or exit the funnel for good. A lot of people choose the latter option.

9. Limited Payment Options

The worst thing your customer could experience during checkout is that his desired payment option (like PayPal) is not available.

So even when he was ready to pay, he could not pay to you. Provide as many payment options as possible.

10. Website Errors

Any technical error can cause your customer to lose all the filled information on a form. Forcing your customer to retype the information is a fire shot way to lose him for good.

So always make sure that your checkout process is error-free.

The Checkout abandonment rate is calculated as (100- Total number of orders placed on the website / the total number of clicks on the ‘checkout’ button) * 100

You should aim to keep your Checkout abandonment rate as low as possible.

In order to better understand the Checkout abandonment rate, segment this metric to its most granular level using Google Analytics filtered views.

Setting up a Funnel for a Single Page Application where the Page URL Does Not Change

Single page applications are websites that use Ajax to load new content on a web page without page refresh or navigation to different pages, and hence there is no change in URL.

Whenever new content is loaded using Ajax on the website no page view is being sent to Google Analytics and it makes it difficult to understand user interaction on such platforms.

Well, in this case, you can use virtual pageviews to track the multiscreen conversion process. Basically, virtual pageviews are page view hits which are sent to Google Analytics without loading a page in the browser.

More on virtual pageview here: Tracking Virtual Pageviews in Google Tag Manager – Tutorial

As you cannot add events in funnel steps, you need to pass virtual pageview while setting up a funnel for a single page application,

Following are such users interactions where you can pass virtual pageviews to set up a funnel.

Loading of a new single-page checkout step

Loading of popups or lightboxes.

Downloading a file.

Scrolling down a page

Loading new text contents on a web page via Ajax

You will need to fire a virtual pageview on every event that you would like to be a part of your goal funnel or purchase funnel. Once you set up virtual pageview, you can configure the funnel steps.

Frequently asked questions about Google Analytics Goals and Sales Funnels

What is a funnel in Google Analytics? In Google Analytics, a funnel is a navigation path (series of web pages) which you expect your website users to follow, to achieve website goals. A funnel is made up of a goal page(s) and one or more funnel pages (also known as the funnel steps).

Through funnels, you can determine where users enter and exit the conversion/sales process. You can then determine and eliminate bottlenecks in your conversion/sales process in order to improve the website sales. You can set up to 20 pages as funnel pages in GA.

What are the different types of funnels in Google Analytics? There are 4 types of funnels available in Google Analytics:

#1 Goal funnel – it is a series of web pages which you expect your website users to follow, to complete a non-transactional goal like ‘newsletter signups’, ‘downloads’ etc.

#2 Sales funnel – it is a series of web pages which you expect your website users to follow, to complete a transactional goal like placing an order on the website. The checkout process is a good example of a sales funnel.

#3 Multi channel goal funnel – it is a goal funnel that takes into account, the role played by multiple marketing channels in the conversion path.

#4 Multi channel sales funnel – it is a sales funnel which takes into account, the role played by multiple marketing channels in the conversion path.

What are the most common issues while setting up funnels in Google Analytics? Following are the most common issues:

#1 Selecting the wrong conversion path

#2 Entering incorrect data while defining goal and funnel pages

#3 Using Same Goal page for different funnels

#4 Capitalization issues

#5 Assigning a monetary value to transactional goals

#6 Using incorrect REGEX (regular expressions) for Goal and Funnel Pages

#7 Not understanding the required first step

#8 Not Testing the Funnel Setup



When you should create a funnel? Create a funnel only when there is a well-defined path you can see/expect your website users to follow, to complete your website goal. If a website goal (like file downloads) can be easily achieved, by following dozens of different paths, then do not define a funnel.

If you do, it won’t help you much in understanding how different traffic segments convert. Instead create filtered views (like one view for organic traffic, one for paid search, one for social media etc).