Comments on: How to Smartly Identify the Original Traffic Source in Google Analytics

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Fri, 06 May 2022 13:40:06 +0000

In reply to mike.

Thanks for the heads up! If you apply “count of session = 1” as a secondary dimension it should filter out the original traffic source (if you exactly follow the article steps).
Not sure why it doesn’t show any data in your case. Side note, in GA4 it’s much easier to retrieve the original traffic source.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 06 May 2022 03:25:03 +0000

Great article and I think you are pointing me in the right direction. However I created the custom segment with sessions > 1 and applied it to my all traffic report. I am a bit confused because when this segment is applied, why would there be any data after applying the advanced filter for “count of session” equals one when everyone in the segment has a “count of session” greater than 1.

Meaning after I applied the segment and adding a secondary dimension for “Count of Sessions”, there was not event a channel that had a session count of 1.

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:44:31 +0000

In reply to Ed.

Hi, in my GA view I can still select “Count of Sessions” as a secondary dimension in the Channel report and GA also states it is still available:
https://ga-dev-tools.web.app/dimensions-metrics-explorer/user#sessionCount

Unfortunately, there is not really a good workaround as far as I know.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:42:47 +0000

Great tutorial. Only problem is what Daniel pointed out above: the “Count of Sessions” dimension is not available. There’s a “Sessions” variable but that doesn’t work (you get 0 data if you set “Sessions” to 1).

Any workaround to this issue. Did Google remove “Count of Sessions” from available Dimension choices in these reports?

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 09:52:13 +0000

In reply to Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

You will find this dimension if you navigate to Acquisition >> All Traffic >> Channels.
In this article I have used it together with the “Default Channel Grouping” dimension.

Best,
Paul

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 14:28:08 +0000

Hi Paul,
I’m trying to mimic your steps but I don’t see the “Count of Sessions” dimension appear in my list of Secondary Dimensions.

Is this dimension available only in specific reports? If so, which one(s)? I didn’t see mention of a specific report in this otherwise very informative article.
Thanks!!

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 09:20:34 +0000

In reply to Shubhra Motgill.

Hi Shubhra,
That’s quite difficult to find out on default. If a user converts (same device/browser) you would be able to find out via the multi-channel funnels. Otherwise you would need to do something with segments and cohorts, but this can be quite challenging.
Best,
Paul

By: Shubhra Motgill

Shubhra Motgill — Sun, 31 May 2020 23:01:38 +0000

Hey Paul, this article was indeed amazing. Although I have a doubt, the traffic in case of returning users through ” default channel grouping ” is the original one as for example – we sent somebody to the website from search/youtube campaign, and he comes back through ‘direct/organic’ – can we find out how many such cases exist?