> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cortado.pro/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Analytics

> Track inquiry form performance with Google Analytics and Google Ads conversions

## Analytics Overview

Cortado's inquiry forms support two marketing integrations so you can measure what's working and attribute conversions back to the ad campaigns that drive them:

* **Google Analytics 4 (GA4)** — tracks form views, step completions, and submissions
* **Google Ads conversion tracking** — fires a conversion event when a prospect submits your form

Both are configured from **Settings > Communications > Customization** (the Customization section under Inquiry Forms).

## Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics gives you insight into how visitors interact with your inquiry form — where they drop off, how many complete each step, and which marketing channels produce submissions.

### Setting Up GA4

<Steps>
  <Step title="Grab your Measurement ID">
    In Google Analytics, go to **Admin > Data Streams > Web** and copy your Measurement ID.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Customization in Cortado">
    Go to **Settings > Communications > Customization**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste the ID">
    In the **Google Tag Measurement ID** field, paste the ID you copied.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save Changes**. Cortado validates the format and shows a green check when the value looks correct.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Supported ID Prefixes

Cortado accepts three Google Tag ID formats, so you can use whichever type matches your Google setup:

| Prefix  | Use case                                              |
| ------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **G-**  | Standard Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID            |
| **GT-** | Google Tag ID (used when consolidating multiple tags) |
| **AW-** | Google Ads Conversion ID                              |

If the ID doesn't match one of these formats, Cortado shows a validation error so you can correct it before saving.

### Events Cortado Tracks

Once your Measurement ID is saved, Cortado's inquiry form automatically tracks three events:

* **`page_view`** — when the form loads
* **`form_step_view`** — when a prospect reaches a new step in a multi-step form
* **`form_submit`** — when a prospect successfully submits the form

You don't need to add any code or tags yourself — the events fire from the embedded form.

<Tip>
  View these events in Google Analytics under **Reports > Engagement > Events**. Use them to build funnels, identify drop-off steps, and see which traffic sources produce the most submissions.
</Tip>

## Google Ads Conversion Tracking

If you run Google Ads campaigns, you can tell Google when an inquiry form submission counts as a conversion. This feeds Google's bidding algorithm so it can optimize your campaigns toward prospects more likely to inquire.

### Setting Up a Conversion

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a conversion action in Google Ads">
    In Google Ads, go to **Goals > Conversions > + Create conversion action** and choose **Website**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick your Google Tag">
    Select the Google Tag that matches the **AW-** Measurement ID you're using in Cortado.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the category">
    Choose category **Submit lead form**, then select **Manually with code**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the event snippet">
    Click **See event snippet** and copy the `send_to` value. It looks like `AW-XXXXXXXXXX/AbCdEfG`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste it into Cortado">
    Back in **Settings > Communications > Customization**, paste the value into the **Google Ads Conversion Label** field and click **Save Changes**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### How It Fires

Once saved, the conversion event fires automatically whenever a prospect submits your inquiry form. No additional code or tags are needed on your website — Cortado handles it inside the embedded form.

<Info>
  The conversion label field expects the full `AW-xxxxx/label` format. Cortado validates as you type and shows a red error state if the format is off. You'll see a green check when it's valid.
</Info>

## Using Both Together

The Google Tag Measurement ID and the Google Ads Conversion Label work independently — you can set either one, both, or neither:

* **GA4 only** — get visit and submission analytics without running paid campaigns
* **Ads only** — attribute conversions without detailed GA4 reporting
* **Both** — full-funnel visibility and paid-campaign optimization

<Tip>
  If you use an **AW-** prefix as your measurement ID, you can still set a separate conversion label. They cover different integration points — the ID powers tracking on the page, the label defines which specific conversion fires on submit.
</Tip>

## Best Practices

1. **Set up GA4 before you launch your form** — analytics data is only recorded from the moment the ID is saved, so earlier is better
2. **Use the same Google Tag across your site and Cortado** — consistent tagging makes attribution and reporting far more reliable
3. **Name your Google Ads conversion clearly** — "Cortado Inquiry Submit" or similar makes the conversion easy to recognize in Ads reports
4. **Validate by submitting a test inquiry** — check that events show up in GA4 and conversions register in Google Ads before running traffic
5. **Keep your conversion label up to date** — if you recreate the Ads conversion action, the label changes; update Cortado so conversions keep firing
6. **Use GA4 funnels to find drop-offs** — building a funnel from `page_view` to `form_step_view` to `form_submit` shows exactly where prospects abandon the form

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Inquiry Forms" icon="file-signature" href="/guides/forms">
    Customize and embed the inquiry form that powers these events.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Leads Pipeline" icon="chart-bar" href="/guides/leads-pipeline">
    Track the leads those analytics events are measuring.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>