Start with the full GrowSurf event stream

Connect Google Analytics in GrowSurf, keep the events enabled, and make sure the referral portal plus referred-friend landing page are covered by the same GA4 property.

Separate referrer activity from referred-friend outcomes

Use growsurf_signup, growsurf_share, and growsurf_invite for referrer-side activity. Use growsurf_referral for referred-friend signup activity, and use growsurf_referral_trigger when a later qualifying action is what actually counts as a referral in your program.

Filter GA4 reports to the GrowSurf event family

Create a filtered events report or exploration so only GrowSurf-tagged events are visible before you start reading attribution patterns.

Build attribution around the event that matches success

If you care about referred-friend signups, attribute around growsurf_referral. If you care about a later qualifying action such as a purchase or approved signup, attribute around growsurf_referral_trigger. Then compare that event across dimensions like landing page, source, medium, campaign, or page path.

Validate one known participant journey before you scale reporting

Run a known referral flow end to end, then confirm that the same participant path produces the GrowSurf events you expect in GA4. That is the fastest way to catch missing coverage or the wrong success event.