Create segment and audience for invalid traffic exclusion in Google Analytics (GA4)

In Google Analytics (GA4) you can create segments that can be used within Google Analytics (GA4) to filter reports, and you can create audiences. Segments can also be made usable as an audience. The setup of segments and audiences works very similar, there are just different entry points.

1. Create Segment

Follow these steps to create a segment in Google Analytics (GA4) for the visualization of invalid traffic in your reports.

• Go to your Google Analytics Account

• Navigate to Explore (1) in the left-hand navigation menu and open an existing exploration, or start with a blank exploration

• Click on the “+” (plus icon) next to Segments (2)

• In the overlay titled “Build new segment” click on User Segment (3)

Open

Now you can create the following segment:

F0 segment for invalid traffic

• Give your audience a proper name (e.g. “F0 segment for bot traffic” (1))

• (2): Select the “fraud0_traffic_status” parameter in the menu (below Dimensions → Custom → User scoped) and add the condition “contains” “yes” (do not check “at any point”)

• (3): Click on Add group to exclude, select again the “fraud0_traffic_status” parameter in the menu and add the condition “contains” “no” (do not check “at any point”)

• Optionally, you do have the possibility to directly build an audience out of this segment by checking the Build an audience option (4). If you decide to do this, set the Membership Duration to Set to maximum limit

• Click on Save (5)

Open

2. Create Audience

Follow these steps to create an audience in Google Analytics (GA4) for the visualization of invalid traffic in your reports.

• Go to your Google Analytics Account

• Click on the Settings symbol in the lower-left corner and then on Audiences within the Property settings

• Click on New audience

• Within the overlay, click on Create a custom audience within the Start from scratch section

Another overlay opens and provides you with the possibility to create the following three audiences:

F0 Audience for invalid traffic

• Give your audience a proper name (e.g. “F0 audience for bot traffic exclusion” (1))

• (2): Select the “fraud0_traffic_status” parameter in the menu (below Dimensions → Custom → User scoped) and add the condition “contains” “yes” (do not check “at any point”)

• (3): Click on Add group to exclude, select again the “fraud0_traffic_status” parameter in the menu and add the condition “contains” “no” (do not check “at any point”)

• Set the Membership Duration to Set to maximum limit (4)

• Click on Save (5)

The new audience will start with collecting data and accumulating users who meet the conditions from that point onward.