Setting up Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

The FareHarbor GA4 integration connects your GA4 property with the FareHarbor booking flow, allowing you to track key steps in the customer journey such as viewing calendars, item descriptions, booking forms, and completed purchases. When a user moves from your website into the FareHarbor Lightframe, FareHarbor’s integration script ensures session continuity across domains, respects cookie consent, and forwards booking events with ecommerce details into GA4.

Events sent from FareHarbor to GA4 include:

• View_item_grid – corresponds to the browse activities page.
• Search_by_date – corresponds with the search by date page.
• View_calendar – corresponds with the all items calendar page.
• view_calendar _single_item – corresponds to the calendar view for a single item.
• view_item_description – corresponds to the product description page.
• view_book_form – corresponds to the booking form where users select customer type and quantity.
• Add_to_cart – captures when users add a product to their shopping cart (when shopping cart is enabled)
• purchase – when a booking is confirmed, including value, currency, quantity, and item details

This setup enables you to analyze end-to-end user behavior and ecommerce performance directly within Google.

There is one configuration setting that is mandatory in GA4:

• Set up the unwanted referral list

There are 3 configuration settings that are recommended in GA4:

• Activate Google signals
• Set the data retention period
• Configure internal traffic filtering

Setting up your unwanted referral list (mandatory)

To ensure proper configuration and accurate tracking of your traffic source, follow the steps below. You must add fareharbor.com and the URL of your website to the unwanted referral list.

Note: Adding the fareharbor.com URL to the unwanted referral list in GA4 prevents FareHarbor from being recorded as a referral source, which can cause inaccurate attribution of conversions and other metrics, thereby ensuring that transactions and revenue are correctly attributed to their actual sources.

To add fareharbor.com and your website URL to the unwanted referral list:

1. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner of the GA window.
2. Go to Property Data Streams.
3. Click Web and click a web data stream.
4. Click Configure tag settings at the bottom of the page.
5. Click Show all in the Settings section to see all available settings.
6. Select List unwanted referrals.
7. Select Referral domain contains in the Match type drop-down:
8. Under Domain, enter fareharbor.com.
9. Click Add condition.
10. Select Referral domain contains in the Match type drop-down.
11. Under Domain enter your website URL, for example: mycompany.com. Do not include www.
12. Click Save in the top-right corner.

Activating Google signals

Google signals is a powerful tool that prevents the loss of cookies and online identifiers. It collects information on individuals who are signed into their Google accounts and have enabled ad personalization. By tracking their interactions across multiple devices, Google signals can provide valuable insights into how users engage throughout their customer journey.

By using Google Signals you can:

• Gain a more holistic view of how your audience behaves on different devices.
• Gather demographic information such as age, gender and interests.
• Create remarketing lists of users for the Google network.

Note: When activating Google signals, you enter an agreement with Google that requires you to give necessary privacy disclosures to, and obtain consent from (opt-in), end users prior to their data being collected, stored, used, and advertised to. Learn more here.

To activate Google signals:

1. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner of the GA window.
2. In the Property column, click Data Settings Data Collection.
3. Turn on Google signals data collection.

Setting the data retention period of your choice

The Google Analytics data retention controls allow you to set the amount of time before user- and event-level data stored by Google Analytics is automatically deleted from Analytics servers. You have the choice between 2 months and 14 months. 14 Months will let you create custom reports with a longer data range.

This data retention period only affects the Explore workspace of GA4. A longer data retention is important if you create custom reports and would like to dive further into your data. All Life Cycle reports data will remain intact for the time period you have selected.

Note: The two-month retention period is always applied to age, gender, and interest data regardless of your settings.

To change the data retention period:

1. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner of the GA window.
2. In the Property column, click on Data Settings Data Retention.
3. Select 2 or 14 months from the drop-down. This change will reset the retention period of all user data from that point forward.
4. Click Save.

Note: Changes to these settings take effect after 24 hours.

Filtering internal traffic

You’ll also be tracking your own interactions and events by default in GA4. This can become a significant issue, particularly for larger businesses with a greater number of employees. Each employee’s visit or event can distort your data.

You can exclude internal traffic from your property data to ensure accuracy. However, keep in mind that if you choose to exclude your own traffic, you may not be able to view your events in DebugView for troubleshooting.

To exclude internal traffic, you must define your internal IP addresses as a rule within your tag settings.
To define your internal IP addresses:

1. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner of the GA window.
2. In the Data collection and modification section, click on Data Stream, and select your Data Stream.
3. Click Configure tag settings Show more.
4. Click on Define Internal Traffic.
5. Click Create.
6. Enter your Rule name.
7. Enter Internal under Traffic_Type Value.
8. Select Match Type IP address equals and add your IP address in the value field.
9. Click Create.

Once you have defined your IP addresses, you may activate the filter for internal traffic.
To activate the filter:

1. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner of the GA window.
2. In the Data collection and modification section, click on Data Filters.
3. Click on the three vertical dots on your Internal traffic filter to activate.

Integrating your GA4 measurement ID in your FareHarbor Dashboard enables ecommerce data to be collected and sent to GA4.

To set up GA4 in FareHarbor:

1. Log in to your FareHarbor Dashboard and go to Settings Analytics & Tracking.
2. Click Add analytics service.
3. Under SKU, enter your company shortname (for example: kayakisland).
4. Add your GA4 measurement ID (for example, G-12345). You can find your measurement ID by following the steps on this Google support page.
5. Optional: Check the box next to Calendar, item grid, or book button is added to multiple websites (read more about this option below).

Calendar, item grid, or book button is added to multiple websites

When to check this box: Select this option if your online booking flow is embedded on other sites (e.g., third-party websites or other websites you manage) and you want to track only the eCommerce data that comes from your own website.

Why it matters: By default, this box is not checked. Leaving it unchecked may cause your analytics to include data from non-API affiliates or your other websites or third party websites where your booking flow is connected, which can inflate your numbers.

What this setting does: When enabled, analytics will only run if the booking flow matches the measurement ID of the underlying (host) website. This ensures that only traffic and sales from your own site are counted, excluding those from external embeds.

Understanding differences in reporting between FareHarbor and GA4 when the checkbox is selected

If you're noticing differences between purchase data in FareHarbor and your GA4 reports, it may be due to how your integration and tracking are set up when the Calendar, item grid, or book button is added to multiple websites checkbox is selected. This setting ensures that GA4 tracks only transactions originating from your primary website, which is the best practice for accurate website performance insights.

However, certain scenarios can prevent purchase events from being recorded in GA4 when this checkbox is selected:

• The FareHarbor integration is not properly configured on your website
• The FareHarbor integration does not lightframe
• The Lightframe is embedded within a custom iframe on your website
• Custom modifications to the Lightframe by your developer can interfere with tracking
• Marketing campaigns that link directly to the Lightframe, skipping your website
• Direct traffic to the Lightframe 

Note: If you operate multiple websites or have ASNs, FareHarbor reports will show purchases from all sources. However, GA4 will only reflect transactions from your main website when the above-mentioned checkbox is selected. This ensures your GA4 reports accurately represent your own website’s performance.

This is mandatory for multiple dashboards connected to a single website (for example: a single website connected to multiple location Dashboards).

If you have multiple FareHarbor Dashboards connected to your website then you will need to set up the company_shortname custom dimension in order to track the origin of purchases from specific Dashboards in your GA4 reports.

FareHarbor will send the company_shortname parameter with the purchase event for every transaction. However, you will need to create a custom dimension in order to view the company_shortname dimension in your GA4 reports.

To set up your company_shortname custom dimension for multiple Dashboards:

1. In your Google Analytics property, click the Admin icon.
2. Go to Custom definitions from the Data display column.
3. Click Create custom dimension.
4. Fill out the Dimension name with company_shortname.
5. Select Event in the Scope field.
6. Select company_shortname from the Event parameter drop down.
7. Click Save.

Viewing the company shortname in your GA4 reports

Once you have created the custom dimension for company_shortname, you will be able to use this dimension in the standard reports section and the Explore workspace.

Note: Keep in mind that the reporting on custom dimensions is not retroactive in GA4, you will need to set up the custom dimension before adding the company_shortname to your reports.

Standard report section, Ecommerce purchase report

To identify the specific FareHarbor Dashboard from which the purchase originates, you will need to add the company_shortname as a secondary dimension in the Ecommerce purchases report and the Transaction ID report.

To add your company_shortname in the Ecommerce purchase report and Transaction ID report:

1. In your Google Analytics property, navigate to Reports.
2. Go to the Ecommerce purchases report under Monetization (If you have set up Business Objectives instead, look under Drive online sales).

3. On the Ecommerce purchases report, click on the + sign to add a secondary dimension.

   

4. On the pop-up window, click on Custom then select company_shortname:

   

   The FareHarbor Dashboard where the purchase originated is shown under the company_shortname secondary dimension:

   

You can follow the same steps and add the company_shortname to the Transaction ID report.

Explore workspace

You will also be able to use the company_shortname custom dimension to customize reports within the Explore workspace.

To use the company_shortname custom dimension in your Explore workspace reports:

1. Go to the Explore workspace and create the custom report of your choice.

2. To add the company_shortname, click + next to Dimensions on the left-hand side.

   

3. Search for company_shortname, select and Import.

   

4. Add the company_shortname to your report.

   

Adding FareHarbor as a user in your Google Analytics account allows FareHarbor to communicate with you on your website’s performance.

Have the email address provided by your FareHarbor Account Manager or Support analyst ready before proceeding with the following. If you have not received this email address, please reach out to FareHarbor Support.

To add FareHarbor as a user to your account:

1. In your Google Analytics account, click the Admin icon.
2. Navigate to the Account column, then click Account Access Management.
3. In the Account users list, click +, then click Add new users.
4. Enter the email address provided to you by your FareHarbor Account Manager or Support Analyst.
5. Select the Editor permission level.
6. Click Add.

GDPR and third-party cookie consent managers

If you operate in a country that requires the use of a cookie consent manager on your website, please be aware that FareHarbor integrates with the following cookie consent solutions:

• CookiePro
• Complianz
• Cookiebot
• Cookie Law Info (Note: If you want to integrate with Cookie Law Info but their website redirects you to CookieYes, please be advised that FareHarbor does not support integration with CookieYes, only with Cookie Law Info, which is owned by CookieYes. Please also note that while existing Cookie Law Info integrations and banners are still supported, no new integrations with Cookie Law Info are possible).
• iubenda

If you do not use one of the above-mentioned solutions, it may impact the analytics data you receive from the online booking experience in the future. More information regarding the integration will be shared soon.

How do I find my GA4 measurement (“G-“) ID?

To find your measurement ID:

1. Sign in to your Google Analytics account.
2. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner.
3. In the Data Collection and Modification column, click Data streams.
4. Click the data stream for which you need the measurement ID. Your “G-” ID appears in the top-right corner:

You can also refer to this page on the Google support website for more information.

How do I link Google Ads?

You can measure your return on investment (ROI) in Google Ads using data collected in FareHarbor. For complete instructions on how to set up and track conversions in Google Ads, refer to this help page.

Why do I see my affiliates’ GA4 measurement ID in my Tracking & Analytics section?

You may see affiliates’ GA4 tracking in your Tracking & Analytics section if you work with affiliates that are reselling your services online. If your services are being sold through the FareHarbor Distribution Network (FHDN), then you may see additional affiliates’ GA4 tracking that are not listed as partners in your Dashboard.

Your affiliates only receive purchase events and page views for conversions that take place on their website. They do not see any analytics data from any website other than their own. GA4 data from your website is not shared with anyone without your consent and is not shared with any affiliates.

If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to channelsupport@fareharbor.com.

How do I link Google Search Console to GA4?

By integrating with the Google Search Console, you can examine the organic search results associated with your website. For instance, you can determine your site’s ranking in search results, identify which search queries lead to clicks, and analyze how those clicks convert into user behavior, such as which landing pages are more engaging and how many users complete a desired action.

1. Click the Admin icon in the lower-left corner.
2. Ensure you are in the correct account and property.
3. In the Property column under Product Links, click Search Console Links.
4. In the link table, click Link.
5. If you are a verified owner for one or more Search Console properties, under Choose Search Console property, click Choose accounts, then select the account you want to link your property to.
6. Click Confirm.
7. Click Next.
8. Select the web data stream for your site.
9. Click Next, then review and submit your configuration settings.