Are you constantly logging into Google Analytics to check your website’s performance? We did that too when we first built a WordPress site. It was time-consuming and frustrating, especially when we wanted to track specific metrics or identify unusual patterns in our traffic.
That’s when we discovered Google Analytics’ custom email alerts. These automated notifications have saved us countless hours of time and helped us spot important changes on our sites before they become serious issues. Instead of manually checking our stats multiple times a day, we now get instant notifications when something important happens.
In this guide, we’ll show you two simple ways to set up custom email alerts in Google Analytics. We’ve tested these methods on multiple websites and helped hundreds of business owners implement them through WPBeginner.
Whether you want to track sudden drops in traffic, monitor conversion goals, or keep an eye on specific campaigns, we’ll show you exactly how to do it without getting bogged down in technical details.
What are custom email alerts in Google Analytics? And why do you need them? how-to-easily
Imagine waking up one morning and paytm database discovering that your website traffic has suddenly dropped. Or that your social media post has gone viral overnight, bringing in thousands of new visitors.
Wouldn’t you like to know right away? That’s exactly what custom email alerts in Google Analytics (GA4) do for you!
These alerts are called Custom Insights in GA4. They automatically notify you of major changes in your website data, so you don’t have to check your analytics all the time. GA4 refers to these changes as anomalies.
With Custom Insights, you can create alerts for important anomalies such as:
- A drop in overall or organic traffic
- An increase in direct traffic
- A sudden decrease in sales or advertising revenue
- A big jump in traffic or conversions
These alerts help you take quick action, whether it’s to fix a problem or make the most of a new opportunity.
How to Get a Custom Email Alert in Google Analytics how-to-easily
Now that you know the benefits of 20 proven customer retention tactics for 2025 custom email alerts in Google Analytics, let’s look at two ways to set them up.
If you’re using WordPress, the easiest option is the MonsterInsights plugin . It sets up the alerts for you, so you don’t have to deal with complex configurations. Plus, you can manage everything right from your WordPress dashboard.
If you don’t use WordPress or prefer a hands-on approach, you can also set up alerts manually in Google Analytics. This method requires more steps, but it works for any website.
Feel free to use these links to access your preferred method:
- Method 1. Get Custom Email Alerts Using a Google Analytics Plugin (Easy)
- Method 2. Get Custom Email Alerts in Google Analytics (Manual)
- Further Reading: More Analytics and Tracking Guides
Let’s get started!
Note: You’ll need a Google Analytics account before following any of our tutorial methods. If you don’t already have one, check out our guide on how to install Google Analytics .
Method 1. Get Custom Email Alerts Using a Google Analytics Plugin how-to-easily
Navigating Google Analytics can be clean email confusing at times. If you’re looking for an easy way to create custom Google Analytics email alerts, this method is for you. That said, please note that this will only work for WordPress users .
Here, we’ll be using MonsterInsights , which is the best Google Analytics plugin on the market. It brings Google Analytics 4 (GA4) directly into your WordPress dashboard and makes reporting much easier for beginners to understand.
Additionally, it has the Exception add-on that automatically identifies unusual spikes or drops in your data. With this add-on, you’ll always be on top of things without having to do any extra work!
At WPBeginner, we rely on MonsterInsights to track everything on our website, including our form, button, and referral link conversions. Learn more about the tool in our full MonsterInsights review and see why we love it!
Step 1. Install and Activate the MonsterInsights Plugin
First, let’s create an account on MonsterInsights . On the website, simply click the “Get MonsterInsights Now” button and choose your plan.
After that, just follow the instructions for the checkout process.
Quick note: In this tutorial, we’re using the Agency version of MonsterInsights, as it includes the Exceptions add-on (which we’ll need in Step 3). However, if you’re just getting started, the free version of MonsterInsights is a great option to try out!
With that done, you can install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin in your WordPress dashboard. For details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin .
Step 2. Connect MonsterInsights to your Google Analytics account how-to-easily
Once you have MonsterInsights installed, the next step is to connect it to your website and Google Analytics.
To do this, you will need to click on the “Insights” menu in the WordPress admin area.
Then click the “Launch the Wizard” button to begin the setup process.
Next, you’ll need to choose the category that best describes your website, whether it’s a blog, a business website, or an online store .
After choosing a category, click “Save and Continue.”
In the next steps, simply follow the instructions to log in to your Google Analytics account and select the website you want to track.
When you see the “Complete Connection” button, just click it and you’re done!
For a detailed walkthrough, you can read our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress .
Step 3. Configure the MonsterInsights Exceptions Add-on how-to-easily
In this step, we’ll add the Exceptions add-on to track 16 types of unusual activity, such as sudden drops in traffic, conversion spikes, unexpected changes in bounce rate , and more!
Whenever something “exceptional” happens, you’ll have a detailed record of it in your exception report. This means you can identify issues early and take action before they turn into bigger problems.
To configure the Exceptions add-on, go to Insights » Add-ons .
In the “Exceptions” box, you can click the “Download & Activate” button. Then, simply click the button when it appears.
After activation, the addon will start tracking irregularities.
You can view the report by navigating to the dedicated “Exceptions” tab on the “Reports” page.
Note: Not using a MonsterInsights Agency account? Don’t worry – you can still monitor your website’s key metrics directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Just head over to the Insights » Reports page , where you’ll find useful insights into your traffic, campaigns, and site speed , for example.
Step 4. Get MonsterInsights Exception Alerts how-to-easily
Now, it’s time to set up email alerts to keep up with any sudden changes on your website.
To do this, you can go to Insights ” Settings ” Advanced .
From here, we will locate the “Exception Alerts” section.
To receive alerts, simply toggle the switch to “On”.
Then you can add the email addresses that should receive notifications.
You can enter up to 5 email addresses. Simply click the “Add Email” button to add more.
With that done, you have successfully set up Exception Alerts using MonsterInsights. Note that you will start receiving alerts a day after an exception is detected.
Pro Tip: Once your notification emails are set up, it’s a good idea to send a test email to make sure everything is working smoothly. If you run into any issues, follow our guide on how to fix WordPress not sending emails .
Across our company, we use WP Mail SMTP to ensure our emails reach users’ inboxes and not their spam folder. Check out our full WP Mail SMTP review to see all the features!
Bonus Step: Set Up Weekly Email Summaries
With MonsterInsights, you can also receive weekly email summaries to track the performance of your WordPress site.
You can start by enabling the “Email Summaries” feature under Settings ” Advanced .
Next, you’ll need to add email addresses to receive notifications and customize the email header for your alerts.
For step-by-step instructions, you can check out this guide on how to get automated Google Analytics email reports on the MonsterInsights blog.
