Waqar Azeem

Top 10 GA4 Metrics Every Marketer Should Use

ByFatima

16 September 2025

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Google Analytics 4 (GA4) isn’t just a rebrand of Universal Analytics (UA) it’s a complete shift in how we track, interpret, and act on user data. For digital marketers, that change is more than technical; it’s strategic. In 2025, with tighter competition, shorter attention spans, and privacy-first policies shaping the digital space, understanding the right GA4 metrics is no longer optional it’s essential.

Let’s face it most marketers are still adjusting to GA4. If you've logged in recently and felt overwhelmed by the new interface, strange terminology, or missing reports, you're not alone. But beneath the surface lies a powerful toolkit that, when used right, can transform how you make decisions, optimize campaigns, and grow your business.

Unlike Universal Analytics, which focused heavily on sessions and pageviews, GA4 puts engagement, events, and predictive analytics front and center. It's designed for a multi-device, multi-touchpoint world and it tracks users across apps, websites, and platforms using event-based data.

But here’s the catch: GA4 has a lot of data. Knowing which metrics truly matter is what separates high-performing marketers from those just staring at dashboards.

In this blog, we’ll break down the Top 10 GA4 metrics every marketer should use in 2025 not just what they are, but why they matter, how to interpret them, and what to do with the insights. Whether you run a small business, manage a marketing agency, or handle analytics for a large brand, these are the numbers that can guide your growth.

So grab a coffee, bookmark this post, and get ready to upgrade your analytics game.

Must-Know GA4 Engagement & Acquisition Metrics

When it comes to measuring how people find and interact with your website, GA4 introduces a new lens one that focuses less on clicks and more on quality engagement. Here are five must-track metrics every marketer should monitor regularly:

1. Users & New Users

In GA4, the “Users” metric tells you how many unique individuals visited your site or app, while “New Users” identifies first-time visitors.

Why it matters:
These metrics give a clear picture of your overall reach and how effectively your campaigns are attracting fresh audiences.

Example: If you’re a digital marketing agency in Karachi and see a spike in new users after launching a Facebook ad campaign — that’s proof it’s driving discovery.

Pro tip: Compare new vs. returning users to understand retention trends. Are you building a loyal audience or constantly chasing new traffic?

2. Sessions & Engaged Sessions

A session is a group of user interactions within a 30-minute window. But GA4 introduces “Engaged Sessions” sessions that last 10+ seconds, have a conversion event, or include 2+ pageviews.

Why it matters:
Not all traffic is equal. This metric helps you spot high-quality traffic users who are genuinely interested in your content.

Example: A clothing brand in Lahore might notice more engaged sessions from mobile users. That’s your signal to optimize the mobile experience further.

Pro tip: Use “Engaged Sessions per User” to identify how often visitors find value on your site.

3. Average Engagement Time

Instead of just tracking time on page, GA4 now measures “Average Engagement Time”, which only counts time spent when the user is actively viewing your site.

Why it matters:
It filters out tab-hoppers and passive visits, showing you the real time users spend interacting with your content.

Example: If a B2B blog in Islamabad sees low engagement time on its case studies, it might mean content is too long or not actionable enough.

Pro tip: Pair this metric with page-level data to identify which content holds attention best.

4. Engagement Rate

GA4 replaces the traditional “bounce rate” with engagement rate, defined as the percentage of sessions that qualify as “engaged.”

Why it matters:
This metric focuses on positive behavior rather than penalizing single-page sessions a more accurate reflection of content quality.

Example: A real estate blog in Karachi with a high engagement rate on property guides knows users find them valuable maybe even bookmark-worthy.

Pro tip: Aim for 50–70% engagement rate for informational sites. If it’s lower, check page speed, mobile UX, and content relevance.

5. Traffic Acquisition by Source/Medium

GA4’s “Traffic Acquisition” report shows where your users come from whether that’s Google, Facebook, email campaigns, or referrals.

Why it matters:
This is your channel performance dashboard. It tells you what’s working and what’s wasting your budget.

Example: If a startup in Pakistan sees high traffic from Instagram but low conversion, it's a sign to tweak landing pages or messaging.

Pro tip: Use filters to break down traffic by location see how different regions respond to your content.

GA4 Conversion, Revenue & Predictive Metrics for Marketers

If engagement shows how interested your visitors are, conversion and revenue metrics reveal whether they’re taking action. GA4 gives marketers smarter tools to track this including event-based tracking, custom goals, and even machine learning–powered predictions.

Here are five key metrics every marketer should be using in 2025:

6. Event Count & Custom Events

GA4 runs on an event-based model, meaning nearly every user interaction clicks, scrolls, video plays, form submissions can be tracked as an event.

Why it matters:
You’re no longer limited to pre-defined goals. You can now track anything relevant to your business, customized to your funnel.

Example: A Pakistani fashion eCommerce brand might set up custom events for “Add to Cart,” “Wishlist,” and “Payment Start” to see where users drop off.

Pro tip: Use Google Tag Manager or GA4’s Enhanced Measurement to trigger custom events no coding needed in many cases.

7. Conversions & Conversion Rate

In GA4, you define what counts as a conversion purchases, signups, downloads, etc. Once marked as a conversion, GA4 tracks those events and calculates your conversion rate.

Why it matters:
This is your north star metric. It shows if your website is doing its job turning visitors into leads or customers.

Example: A training institute in Lahore can mark “Form Submitted” as a conversion and monitor weekly conversion trends to assess ad campaign success.

Pro tip: Set up multiple conversion events (micro + macro) to get a fuller picture of funnel performance.

8. Revenue

If you run an online store or track purchases, GA4’s Revenue metric (via the Monetization report) shows total income from transactions but only if eCommerce tracking is configured correctly.

Why it matters:
Knowing where your revenue comes from (by source, device, campaign) helps you double down on the highest ROI channels.

Example: A tech store in Islamabad might notice 70% of revenue comes from mobile that’s your signal to invest in mobile-first design and ads.

Pro tip: Integrate GA4 with Google Ads and Merchant Center for better ROI visibility across platforms.

9. Lifetime Value (LTV)

GA4 can help you calculate Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) how much revenue a typical user is expected to bring over their entire relationship with your brand.

Why it matters:
Focusing only on short-term conversions? You’re missing the bigger picture. LTV helps shift your focus from clicks to loyalty and retention.

Example: A subscription box service in Pakistan might learn that returning customers spend 3x more justifying better onboarding and loyalty campaigns.

Pro tip: Compare LTV by traffic source to identify your most valuable acquisition channels.

10. Predictive Metrics (Churn & Purchase Probability)

GA4 uses machine learning to offer predictive metrics, such as:

  • Purchase Probability — likelihood a user will purchase in the next 7 days

  • Churn Probability — likelihood a user won’t return in the next 7 days

Why it matters:
Instead of reacting to what happened, you can anticipate future behavior and act accordingly.

Example: If GA4 flags high churn for returning users from a specific campaign, a Lahore-based SaaS startup could trigger retention emails or discounts.

Pro tip: These metrics require enough data typically at least 1,000 returning users and conversions. Use them to fuel remarketing lists and predictive audiences in Google Ads.

Conclusion: 

Google Analytics 4 isn’t just a tool it’s your digital compass. In a fast-changing marketing landscape, where privacy rules tighten and user journeys grow more complex, GA4’s event-based tracking and predictive models give marketers the clarity they need to make smart, confident decisions.

But with so many metrics available, knowing what to track and why is everything.

Let’s recap the top 10 GA4 metrics that every marketer should be tracking in 2025:

  1. Users & New Users – Understand your audience reach and acquisition trends

  2. Sessions & Engaged Sessions – Spot traffic quality and engagement depth

  3. Average Engagement Time – See how long users truly connect with your content

  4. Engagement Rate – Replace bounce rate with meaningful interaction insights

  5. Traffic Acquisition – Find out which channels actually bring valuable traffic

  6. Event Count & Custom Events – Track anything that matters to your funnel

  7. Conversions & Conversion Rate – Know what’s working and where to optimize

  8. Revenue – Tie your marketing to actual business outcomes

  9. Lifetime Value (LTV) – Shift focus from one-off sales to long-term growth

  10. Predictive Metrics – Act before users churn or before they’re ready to buy

These aren’t just numbers they’re signals. They tell stories. They guide decisions. And when used right, they give you a powerful edge in a crowded digital space.

Your Next Step?
Set up a weekly or monthly dashboard that includes these 10 metrics. Track trends, not just totals. Share insights, not just screenshots. Use data to fuel strategy, not just reports.

And if you’re working with a local business in Pakistan or a global brand abroad remember: the best marketers aren’t just data-driven… they’re insight-driven.

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