Understanding GAfix Audit Checkpoints

GAfix.ai offers a structured way for businesses to evaluate their Google Analytics 4 (GA4) implementation using automated audits. These audits assign a Health Score and outline key checkpoints, helping users identify gaps in their setup. This article explains how GAfix.ai calculates Health Scores, what the checkpoints cover, and why regular audits are valuable for businesses.

What Are Checkpoints in GAfix.ai?

Checkpoints are individual tests that GAfix.ai runs on your GA4 property. They are organized by category and designed to catch common misconfigurations, missing elements, or best-practice violations in your setup.

Each checkpoint helps answer a specific question, such as:

• Is GA4 correctly collecting basic data?
• Are the recommended events implemented?
• Are key conversions marked and appropriately tracked?
• Are audiences and funnels defined?
• Have the required custom dimensions been created?

What Is the Health Score?

The Health Score is a numeric value (out of 100) assigned to your GA4 property based on the results of the audit checkpoints. It reflects how well your GA4 is configured and whether it meets industry standards and best practices.

How it’s calculated:

• Each checkpoint is weighted based on importance.
• Failed checkpoints deduct points.
• Categories with more impact (like Conversions and Data Collection) significantly affect the score.
• The final score is color-coded for easy interpretation:
  
  • 90–100: Excellent – Setup is strong and complete.
  • 70–89: Moderate – Needs a few fixes.
  • Below 70: Poor – Major gaps in setup.

This score gives stakeholders and analysts a quick summary of setup quality and urgency for fixes.

What Does the GAfix Audit Check?

GAfix runs your GA4 property through 19 comprehensive audit checkpoints. These are grouped into standard and advanced categories to ensure that both basic setups and more complex configurations are properly evaluated.

Each checkpoint is based on Google’s best practices and tested against industry benchmarks.

1. Health Score

• A weighted score (out of 100) summarizing the overall setup quality
• Calculated based on how many audit rules are passed or failed
• Helps prioritize fixes based on impact

2. Event Setup

• Checks for required and recommended GA4 events
• Flags issues like missing event parameters or inconsistent naming
• Verifies if events follow schema standards (e.g., page_view, login, purchase)

3. Conversions

• Validates if key user actions are marked as conversions
• Checks if conversions are firing reliably
• Ensures conversion events align with business goals

4. Audience Setup

• Confirms if audiences are created and being populated
• Flags inactive or misconfigured audience conditions
• Ensures correct use of user properties and event filters

5. Custom Dimensions and Metrics

• Verifies if custom dimensions/metrics are registered correctly
• Checks if values are being captured as expected
• Flags unused or misconfigured parameters

6. User-ID Tracking

• Validates if User-ID is enabled
• Checks for correct user identification across sessions
• Useful for understanding logged-in user behavior and cross-device journeys

7. Anomaly Detection

• Flags unusual drops, spikes, or gaps in key metrics
• Detects broken tracking setups that may not be obvious
• Useful for ongoing QA and debugging

8. Integrations

• Checks if Google Ads, Search Console, and BigQuery are linked
• Verifies integration health and data flow
• Ensures consistent reporting across platforms

9. Data Filters

• Reviews if unwanted internal traffic is excluded
• Flags overly aggressive filters that may impact data quality
• Validates the presence of development/staging filters (if applicable)

10. Attribution Settings

• Confirms if the chosen attribution model suits your reporting needs
• Checks consistency with how marketing performance is evaluated
• Flags if the default settings haven't been adjusted where needed

11. Not Set / Unassigned Reports

• Identifies dimensions (e.g., source, page path) showing 'not set' or 'unassigned'
• Flags broken or incomplete data mapping
• Helps diagnose where data loss is happening in your reports

12. Google Signals and Data Retention

• Checks if Google Signals is enabled for cross-device reporting
• Validates the chosen data retention period
• Ensures settings comply with data privacy and reporting goals
  

13. Cross-Platform Tracking

• Verifies the setup for tracking users across app and web
• Ensures user properties and events are consistent across platforms
• Useful for product teams running hybrid experiences

14. Consent Setup

• Checks if consent mode is enabled (if required by region)
• Verifies the correct implementation of user consent flags
• Helps align tracking with privacy regulations (like GDPR)

15. Firebase Integration

• Validates GA4 and Firebase linkage
• Checks for correct flow of app data into GA4
• Flags delays or disconnects in the mobile app reporting

Additional Checkpoints

These support operational efficiency and data governance:

16. Property Settings

• Validates default currency, time zone, and property name
• Flags misalignments that can affect report interpretation

17. Data Streams

• Checks if all relevant data streams (web/app) are active
• Verifies if stream settings are optimized (e.g., enhanced measurement)

18. Enhanced Measurement Settings

• Confirms if features like scroll tracking, outbound clicks, and video engagement are enabled
• Flags inconsistent or missing setups
• Helps capture richer engagement data without custom code

19. Data Layer Validation (Web Only)

• Verifies whether key event parameters are passed correctly
• Checks if data values are clean, standardized, and match expected types
• Helps ensure reliable analysis and reporting

Why Audit Your GA4 Setup?

Running a GA4 audit isn't just about fixing technical issues; it's about ensuring your data is trustworthy and actionable. Here's why regular audits are valuable:

1. Ensure Data Reliability

• Catch misconfigured or missing tags before they affect reports.
• Validate that essential events like purchases or signups are being recorded.

2. Save Time and Avoid Rework

• Get a clear, categorized report instead of manually checking each GA4 component.
• Fix issues early before they scale with traffic or campaign launches.

3. Identify Missed Opportunities

• Find events that should be tracked but aren’t.
• Discover conversions you haven't defined in GA4 yet.

4. Improve Marketing ROI

• Audits ensure attribution is accurate, enabling better ad performance measurement.
• Fixing event and conversion setups means more precise insights.

5. Maintain Compliance

• Check whether your GA4 setup complies with consent rules and cookie usage regulations.

When Should You Run an Audit?

You should run a GA4 audit when:

• You’ve recently migrated from Universal Analytics.
• You’re launching new campaigns or features.
• There’s a sudden drop or spike in data that doesn’t align with site activity.
• Your team changes reporting metrics or business goals.
• You haven’t run an audit in over 3 months.

GAfix.ai makes this easy by offering a one-click audit with downloadable reports.

What Happens After the Audit?

Once the audit is complete:

• You’ll receive a Health Score and a breakdown of all checkpoint results.
• Failed checkpoints will include suggestions and reference links.
• You can download a full audit report and share it with your team.
• Optionally, you can opt for GAfix Pro services to get expert help resolving the issues.