Organize incoming traffic into custom channels

In Piwik PRO, traffic channels are organized into default groups. For most users, this set is sufficient for data analysis. But if you’re looking for a more tailored arrangement, you can use custom channel grouping. Let’s look at an example.

The default grouping for the Channel dimension is:

• Campaign
• Direct entry
• Search engine
• Social (avaliable from 16.11.0)
• Website

Now if you organize channels into custom groups, you can end up with a list like this:

• Direct
• Google paid
• Other advertisers
• Others

When you organize traffic channels in a custom way, you can look at your data from a point you could’t in default setting. This view helps you better understand where the traffic comes from and gives you cues where to invest your advertising budget. In this article, we’ll show you how to work with custom channel grouping.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you begin creating custom groups:

• You can create up to 10 groups in one custom grouping.
• This feature is different from dimension value grouping because it allows you to group various dimensions.
• If one value belongs to two or more groups, then the value will be assigned to the first group from your setup. It won’t belong to other groups.
• Our default channel definitions can help you set up custom channels.

Create a custom grouping

To group channels, follow these steps:

1. Go to Menu > Analytics.
2. Navigate to Settings.
3. On the left, click Custom channel grouping.
4. Click Add new custom channel grouping.
   

   

5. Name the channel and add a description.
6. In Visibility, select: Author or All users. The All users option lets you share this grouping with other teammates.
7. If you want to have this grouping available on all sites and apps, mark All sites & apps.
8. In Channel conditions, add, name and define groups.
   

   

9. Channels that don’t meet set conditions will be grouped under one group. You can change its name.
   

   

10. When you’re done, click Create.
11. Your new grouping will appear on the list. You’ll be able to use it in custom reports and on dashboards.
    

    

Use custom channels in custom reports

To use the custom grouping in custom reports, follow these steps:

1. Go to Menu > Analytics.
2. Navigate to Custom reports.
3. Edit a report or create a new report.
4. You’ll find your custom grouping in dimensions under Custom channel groups.
   

   

5. Set up your report and click Create report.
6. The report will show data with custom channels.
   

   

Use custom channels on dashboards

To use the custom grouping on dashboards, follow these steps:

1. Go to Menu > Analytics.
2. Navigate to Dashboards.
3. Edit a widget on the dashboard or add a new dashboard and a new widget.
4. You’ll find your custom grouping in dimensions under Custom channel groups.
   

   

5. When you’re done, click Save widget or Add widget.
6. The dashboard widget will show data with the custom grouping.
   

   

Edit, copy and delete custom grouping

Whenever you need to make changes in the custom grouping, you can do it with a few clicks.

To edit, copy or delete a custom channel grouping, follow these steps:

1. Go to Menu > Analytics.
2. Navigate to Settings.
3. On the left, click Custom channel grouping.
4. Pick a custom grouping you want to work with.
5. On the right, click the three-dot icon.
   

   

6. Click edit, copy or delete.
7. Follow the steps on the screen.