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  • Discrepancy in Event Counts: BQ vs. GA4

    Posted by Wyatt on 18 September 2022 at 1:30 pm

    “Why does my query pull in all distinct event counts for 3 events show missing campaigns in Looker compared to GA4? I’m using this that identifies campaign name, source, and medium, but I’m wondering if the issue is the unique count because GA4 counts every instance, even duplicates. How can I get accurate, unique counts here?”

    Luke replied 1 year, 2 months ago 3 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • Dylan

    Member
    18 June 2023 at 7:05 pm

    The discrepancy between the GA4 and Looker data might be due to how each platform processes and counts unique events. GA4 counts all instances, including duplicates, while Looker might treat duplicate entries as a single unique event. If you’re keen on getting accurate, unique counts, you might need to consider adjusting your query in Looker to mirror GA4’s counting methodology. This adjustment could include either a change in the logic of your SQL script or the creation of a custom measure in Looker that will consider duplicate entries as unique instances. Another potential cause could be the time of data extraction – as GA4 usually takes 24-48 hours to process data. Hence, you may want to compare data in both platforms after the data in GA4 has been fully processed.

  • Luke

    Member
    23 June 2023 at 6:54 pm

    The discrepancy you’re observing between Looker and GA4 may be due to the method of counting unique events. GA4 generally counts all instances, including duplicates while SQL queries used in Looker might be extracting distinct counts only. One possibility might be your Looker data model is excluding null or duplicates, which GA4 might be including. If you want to get accurate, unique counts in Looker, consider adjusting your SQL query to account for every instance, like how GA4 works. Remember to include any potential null values or duplicates to ensure your Looker data aligns as closely as possible with your GA4 data. It could be beneficial to consult with a data modeler or someone with expertise in SQL query to assist.

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