Q: Segments will not allow you to do what?
A) Isolate and analyze data
B) Build custom Remarketing lists
C) Create subsets of sessions or users
D) Permanently alter data
Correct Answer is D) Permanently alter data.
Explanation:
In Google Analytics, segments are a powerful tool that allows users to isolate specific subsets of data for analysis. With segments, users can create custom views that show data only for a specific group of users, such as users from a particular geographic region or users who have made a purchase. However, there are certain things that segments will not allow you to do.
Modify the original data:
Segments are a way of filtering data, but they do not modify the original data. When you create a segment, it does not change the data in your reports or affect the data that is stored in your account. Instead, it creates a temporary view of the data that only shows the data that meets the criteria of the segment.
Create custom metrics:
Segments allow you to isolate specific subsets of data, but they do not allow you to create custom metrics. Custom metrics are user-defined metrics that can be used to track specific actions or behaviors on your website. However, custom metrics are created at the property level, not the view level, so they cannot be created using segments.
Combine multiple segments:
While you can apply multiple segments to a single report, you cannot create a segment that combines multiple segments. In other words, you cannot create a segment that shows data for users who meet the criteria of Segment A and Segment B. Instead, you would need to create a separate segment for each set of criteria and apply them both to the same report.
Create segments based on user-level data:
Segments are based on session-level data, which means that they are limited to the data that is available at the session level. While you can create segments based on user-level dimensions, such as user ID, you cannot create segments based on user-level metrics, such as the number of sessions or the time spent on site.
Change the attribution model:
Segments allow you to analyze data based on a specific set of criteria, but they do not allow you to change the attribution model. The attribution model is the set of rules that determines how credit for a conversion is assigned to different marketing channels. While you can view data for different attribution models in Google Analytics, you cannot change the attribution model using segments.
In summary, segments are a powerful tool in Google Analytics that allows users to isolate specific subsets of data for analysis. However, there are certain things that segments will not allow you to do, such as modify the original data, create custom metrics, combine multiple segments, create segments based on user-level data, and change the attribution model. Understanding the limitations of segments is important for users who want to make the most of this powerful tool and ensure that they are using it effectively to analyze their data.