Google Analytics 4 Integration
Your traffic data, inside your SEO reports.
SearchSignal connects to Google Analytics 4 via secure Google OAuth with read-only access. Pull traffic and engagement metrics directly into your reports—no manual exports, no spreadsheet gymnastics.
Quick Setup Checklist
- Have access to the Google account with GA4 permissions
- Know which GA4 property matches your client's site
- Connect Google Account in SearchSignal
- Link the correct GA4 property to the client
- Refresh a report to confirm data flows
What GA4 Data We Use (and What We Do Not)
The integration pulls the metrics that matter for SEO reporting.
Traffic and Acquisition
- Sessions: Total visits in the reporting period
- Users: Active users (new and returning)
- Pageviews: Total page views across the site
- Traffic sources: Organic, direct, referral, social, paid
- Landing pages: Which pages users enter on
Engagement
- Bounce rate: Single-page session percentage
- Session duration: Time spent per session
- Engagement rate: Percentage of engaged sessions
- Behavior trends: How engagement changes over time
Conversions
- Conversion events: Goal completions (when configured in GA4)
- Conversion trends: How volume changes period over period
What We Do Not Do
The integration is read-only. Your GA4 setup stays exactly as you configured it.
Permissions, Privacy, and Access Controls
Security matters, especially when connecting client data.
How Authentication Works
- Google OAuth 2.0: Industry-standard authentication flow
- Read-only scope: Requests
analytics.readonlypermission only - Secure token storage: OAuth tokens stored securely and refreshed automatically
- Per-client property linking: Each client connects to their own GA4 property
Why You Can Trust This Integration
| Read-only access | We can view data, not change it |
| Automatic token refresh | Connections stay active without manual intervention |
| Client isolation | Each client's data is separate and protected |
| Central token management | Revoke access anytime from your Google account |
For agencies managing multiple clients, connect your Google account once, then link specific GA4 properties per client. Client A's data never touches Client B's reports.
How to Connect GA4 (Setup in Minutes)
Five steps from start to data.
Connect Your Google Account
Go to Google Accounts in SearchSignal and click Connect Google Account. This initiates the OAuth flow.
Approve Permissions
On the Google consent screen, approve read-only access to Google Analytics. Review the permissions—you'll see the analytics.readonly scope requested.
Link a GA4 Property to the Client
Go to the client's Connections area. Select the GA4 property that matches this client's website.
Confirm the Correct Property
Double-check you've selected the right property. Common mistakes:
- Selecting a staging or test property instead of production
- Selecting a different client's property (agency accounts)
- Selecting a Universal Analytics property instead of GA4
Validate Data Flow
Generate or refresh a report for this client. If GA4 data appears in the Traffic Overview section, the connection is working.
Best Practices
- Use the right Google account: Connect the account that already has GA4 access for this client.
- Verify property selection: Property names can be similar. Confirm the property ID or domain matches.
- Test with a report refresh: Don't assume the connection works—verify by pulling data.
Where GA4 Appears in Your SEO Reports
GA4 data powers several sections in the SEO Reporting Dashboard.
Traffic Overview Section
Sessions, users, pageviews, and landing page performance. Shows current period vs. comparison period with movement indicators.
Engagement Trends
Bounce rate, session duration, and engagement rate over time. Useful for identifying behavior changes after site updates or content launches.
Referral Traffic Insights
Which external sources drive traffic. Helps identify partnership opportunities or measure referral campaign performance.
Period Comparisons
Month-over-month, year-over-year, or custom range comparisons. GA4 metrics display alongside Search Console data for a complete picture.
Data Freshness and Refresh Controls
GA4 data isn't always instant. Here's how freshness works.
Processing Delays
Google's reporting pipeline can have delays—sometimes hours, occasionally longer. This is a GA4 limitation, not a SearchSignal issue. The integration pulls whatever data Google has made available.
Cached Reports
SearchSignal caches report data for speed. When you open a report, you see the last fetched data. This means reports load fast even if Google's API is slow.
Refresh Controls
Click Refresh on any report to pull the latest GA4 data (along with GSC and PageSpeed). The report updates with current data from all connected sources.
Token Refresh
OAuth tokens can expire or be revoked. If your GA4 connection stops working, go to Google Accounts and reconnect. Tokens refresh automatically in most cases, but manual reconnection is sometimes needed after Google security changes.
Look for the "Last refreshed" timestamp on reports to see when data was last pulled.
Troubleshooting GA4 Connection Issues
When something isn't working, here's where to look.
No GA4 Properties Available
Likely cause: The connected Google account doesn't have access to any GA4 properties.
Fix: Connect a different Google account that has GA4 access, or request access to the client's GA4 property first.
Connected But No Data Appears
Likely cause: Wrong property selected, wrong client mapping, or the selected date range has no data.
Fix: Go to the client's Connections and verify the correct GA4 property is linked. Expand the date range if the site is new. Refresh the report.
Token Expired / Reconnect Required
Likely cause: Google OAuth token expired or was revoked (common after password changes or security reviews).
Fix: Go to Google Accounts and click reconnect. Approve permissions again, then refresh reports.
Rate Limit or Quota Errors
Likely cause: Too many refresh requests in a short period, or concurrent pulls across many clients.
Fix: Wait a few minutes and retry. Consolidate refresh actions rather than refreshing repeatedly. If the issue persists, reduce refresh frequency.
Data Doesn't Match GA4 Interface
Likely cause: Different date ranges, sampling differences, or timezone mismatches.
Fix: Verify the report date range matches what you're viewing in GA4. Large datasets in GA4 may be sampled differently than API responses.
GA4 Integration FAQs
Common questions about the Google Analytics 4 integration.
Connect GA4 and Build Your First Report
Pull your traffic data into client-ready SEO reports. Connect GA4 in minutes with secure, read-only access.