QUESTION: How can I assure that the visitor's original session is updated/attributed with a new Goal triggered by using Measurement Protocol, even if the trigger happens after the original session window has expired?
Problem in detail:
I am capturing the cid from the _ga cookie when a visitor reaches my site and makes contact via a form
I then use that Measurement Protocol with the captured cid to send data back to Google Analytics to trigger a Goal "Client Registered" if that visitor later registers for my services.
- If this happens within the 4 hour session window of the visitor's first visit to my site, then that session created with that first visit is attributed with the Goal.
- HOWEVER, If I send the data to Google Analytics after the 4 hour session window, then Google Analytics sees my Measurement Protocol hit as a new session and creates a new session to which the Goal is attributed. But I want the original session to show the new Goal value.
I believe the following StackOverflow question is related, but has no answers posted:
"Google analytics measurement protocol session timeout and query time limits"