Google Data Studio Connector

Google Data Studio (GDS) is a free data visualization tool used to consolidate data from different sources and share aggregated results. This connector gives you the opportunity to connect Contentsquare aggregated site, page, and zone metrics and tailor results by segment, device, or goal in GDS.

Get started

Before you can begin setting up your connector you will need to:

Be a Contentsquare admin
Download the CS GDS Helper Chrome extension
Ask your CSM for access to Contentsquare's Metrics API

Set up your GDS Connector

1. Generate an account-level API key

Note: If you ever need to change your API key later on (for security reasons or to switch levels), be sure to enter the new key into both the GDS data source and the Chrome extension. See full instructions in FAQ below.

2. Add Contentsquare as a GDS data source

Go to GDS and add Contentsquare as a data source to a new or existing report
Click 'Add data' Search for "Contentsquare" and select it.

Input the API key you have generated
The configuration screen should appear, all the checkboxes to allow parameters to be modified in the report should be checked.

Click 'Connect' and then 'Allow' on the configuration pop-up.

Use the Chrome Extension

1. Authenticate

Open your CS GDS Helper extension and enter the API key you just generated.
You will also need to create a password that the extension will use to securely retrieve your encrypted API key. (Tip: Keep it simple, you will need it regularly while building your dashboard).

2. Choose a project

Select which CS project’s data you wish to work on
Select a timezone. If you want your data to match what you see in Contentsquare, specify the same timezone as the one set in your user account.

3. Define parameters and page zones

Use the extension just like you would your CS Analysis context

Define your parameters: select your segment, device, and goals.
Choose your mapping, then corresponding pages and zones, then apply filter.

Available metrics

Although the Google Data Studio Connector relies on the Metrics API, some of the metrics available through the Metrics API are not available in GDS.

Here is a list of metrics available on GDS:

Site metrics		Page Metrics
Average cart Bounce rate Conversions Conversion rate Revenue Session time average Sessions Views/Session		Activity rate Bounce rate Conversion rate Exit rate Time Spent/Interaction time Loading time Page height Scroll rate Views Views/Session Sessions
Zone metrics (web)		Zone metrics (app)
Zone metrics (web) Attractiveness rate Click rate Click recurrence Conversion Rate per click Conversion Rate per hover Engagement rate Exposure rate Exposure time Hesitation time Hover rate Float time / Hover time Number of clicks Revenue Revenue per Click Time before first click		Conversion Rate per Tap Revenue Per Tap Swipe Rate Swipe Recurrence Tap Rate Tap Recurrence Time Before First Tap

FAQ

Can I aggregate the data on a periodicity other than daily?

The connector does not support this directly yet. You can do it through some Data Studio computation, but you should only do so for metrics in absolute values that can be safely summed. E.g. If you do it for ratios such as the click rate, then averaging the daily data won’t give the right computation (a click rate for a month is not the average of 30 daily click rates, but rather the ratio between all the clicks and all the sessions for a month, which is different!)

Can I use Data Studio controls?

Our connector supports the date range and the drop-down controls. You can use drop-down controls to select among segments, devices, goals, pages, or zones, for example. For your visualization to be dynamic based on a drop-down control selection, you must ensure that no specific occurrence of the target dimension (e.g. no specific segment) has been specified through the Chrome extension for this visualization. In “View” mode, the value selected in the dropdown will be dynamically sent to the connector if the corresponding parameter has been properly left empty.

Will my teammates need to generate their own API keys or can they use mine?

No. By default, you share your dashboard with the option 'Owner’s credentials' attached to your Contentsquare data source, meaning that anybody you shared the dashboard with will benefit from your API key access. This is useful, but it also means you should remain vigilant and share the dashboard only with people who can access the Contentsquare data.

What if the data I see in GDS is not up to date with what I see in Contentsquare?

If you see that the dropdowns (segments, mappings, goals, etc.) in the extension are not up to date with your Contentsquare platform, it’s because the Chrome extension uses some cache and may not display the last changes occurring on your platform. You can force a refresh of the dropdowns by clicking on the “Refresh dropdowns” button in the footer of the extension.

How do I change my API key?

1. Generate a new key using the Contentsquare console.

2 Go to Add data > Connect to data > “…” button of the Contentsquare connector > Revoke access to delete your previous key.