{"id":4227,"date":"2020-05-17T14:31:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-17T11:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trackingchef.com\/?p=4227"},"modified":"2023-06-18T08:53:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T05:53:51","slug":"easily-creating-day-hour-heatmaps-from-google-analytics-in-data-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trackingchef.com\/google-analytics\/easily-creating-day-hour-heatmaps-from-google-analytics-in-data-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"Easily creating Day\/Hour heatmaps from Google Analytics in Data Studio"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a previous post<\/a>, I explained how I create a heatmap using Excel from Google Analytics 4 (GA4) data for Hour\/Day breakdown. This has been by far my most popular post on the blog., driving quite a lot of Organic traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I’d like to suggest a simpler alternative to this approach that uses Google Data Studio. This alternative not only is quicker and simpler to implement but also keeps your data fresh, so running a new analysis doesn’t require going through the same hassle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Creating the report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pivot, pivot!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To create this report, you’ll first need to create a new Pivot Table in Data Studio (DS). To make things even quicker, select ‘Pivot table with heatmap’ (you can also do this later).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Select Metrics & Dimensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With the chart added, select your data source. In this example I’ve selected the default ‘[Sample] Google Analytics Data’, so make sure you connect your own data source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, add the following dimensions and metrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Row dimension – ‘Hour’<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Column dimension – ‘Day of Week’<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Metric – ‘Sessions’<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Pro tip:<\/strong>
    You can any metric you like here. I personally like to examine Sessions, Conversion Rate and Avg. Order Value.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Sort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    For the table to be readable, you must sort it by the right dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sort Row #1<\/strong> by ‘Hour’ (Ascending). Sort Column #1<\/strong> by ‘Day of Week’ (Ascending).<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Pivot table heatmap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you selected a standard Pivot Table during the creation, or just want to convert an existing Pivot Table to a heatmap, fear not, as it’s easy to make the switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Simply hop to the ‘Style’ tab of the Pivot Table and change Metric #1 from ‘Number’ to ‘Heatmap’. Here you can also control the color coding of the heatmap.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    Voil\u00e0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    That’s it. Just make you expand your table so that it displays the full amount of rows and columns. I also recommend adding a ‘Date Range’ control to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can check out the report I’ve created in Data Studio below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n