Google Analytics launches Shared Segments for enhanced data analysis

On October 17, 2024, Google Analytics unveiled a significant update to its platform: the introduction of saved segments that can be shared across an entire property. This new feature, announced three days ago, aims to streamline data analysis and foster collaboration among team members.

What are Saved Segments?

Segments in Google Analytics are subsets of data that allow users to analyze specific groups of users, sessions, or events. For example, a segment might include all users from a particular country or those who have completed a purchase.

Key features of the new Saved Segments

1. Property-Wide Availability: Segments can now be saved and made accessible to all users within a property, promoting consistent analysis across teams.
2. Creation Flexibility: Users can create saved segments either from within an exploration or through the Segments page in the Admin section.
3. Permission-Based Editing: Any user with Editor or higher permissions can edit these saved segments, ensuring that only authorized personnel can modify shared data views.
4. Increased Segment Limit: Standard properties can now save up to 50 segments, while Google Analytics 360 properties have an expanded limit of 200 saved segments.

How to create and use Saved Segments

According to the official Google Analytics documentation, users can create saved segments through the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Segments portion of the Variables pane in Explore.
2. Click the plus icon to create a new segment.
3. Choose to create a custom segment or use a template.
4. Define the segment conditions using dimensions, metrics, or events.
5. Click "Save to Property" to make the segment available across the property.

Alternatively, segments can be created and managed through the Admin interface:

1. Access the Admin section.
2. Under Data Display, select Segments.
3. Click "New Segment" to create a shared segment.

Impact on data analysis

The introduction of saved segments is expected to have several benefits for Google Analytics users:

• Consistency: Ensures all team members are working with the same defined segments, reducing discrepancies in analysis.
• Efficiency: Eliminates the need to recreate commonly used segments for each exploration.
• Collaboration: Facilitates sharing of insights and methodologies across teams.
• Flexibility: Allows for quick updates to segments that automatically propagate to all users.

Limitations and considerations

While the new feature offers significant advantages, users should be aware of certain limitations:

• A maximum of 10 segments can be created per exploration.
• Up to four segments can be applied to an individual exploration technique at one time.
• The total number of saved segments is capped at 50 for standard properties and 200 for Google Analytics 360 properties.

Integration with existing features

Saved segments complement existing Google Analytics features, such as:

• Explorations: Users can apply saved segments to various exploration techniques for in-depth analysis.
• Audience Creation: Segments can be used as a basis for creating audiences for remarketing purposes.
• Custom Reports: Saved segments can be applied to custom reports for tailored data views.

Future implications

The introduction of saved segments suggests Google's continued focus on improving collaborative data analysis capabilities. This feature may pave the way for future enhancements in data sharing and cross-team analytics within the Google Analytics platform.

Key Facts

• Release Date: October 17, 2024
• Feature Name: Saved Segments
• Availability: All Google Analytics properties
• User Permission Requirement: Editor or above for creation and editing
• Segment Limits: 50 for standard properties, 200 for Google Analytics 360