Beginner
How to create your first tracking plan on PostHog
Quick Answer
Create a tracking plan on PostHog by navigating to Data Management > Event Definitions, then defining your events with clear names, descriptions, and properties. This helps standardize data collection across your team and ensures consistent analytics.
Prerequisites
- Active PostHog account
- Admin or project access permissions
- Basic understanding of event tracking concepts
- Knowledge of your app's key user actions
1
Access Data Management
Log into your PostHog dashboard and navigate to Data Management from the left sidebar. Click on Event Definitions to access the tracking plan interface where you can define and organize your events.
Tip
Make sure you have the necessary permissions to modify event definitions in your organization.
2
Create your first event definition
Click the + New Event Definition button in the top right corner. Enter a clear, descriptive name for your event using snake_case or camelCase (e.g.,
user_signed_up or purchaseCompleted). Add a detailed description explaining what triggers this event.Tip
Use consistent naming conventions across all events to make your data easier to analyze later.
3
Define event properties
In the Properties section, click Add Property to define the data points you want to capture with this event. Specify the property name, data type (string, number, boolean), and whether it's required. Include properties like
user_id, plan_type, or revenue_amount.Tip
Start with essential properties and add more later as your tracking needs evolve.
4
Set up property validation
For each property, configure validation rules by selecting the appropriate Data Type and adding Allowed Values if applicable. This ensures data consistency across your team. For example, set
plan_type to only accept values like 'free', 'premium', or 'enterprise'.Tip
Use property validation to prevent typos and inconsistent data entry from different team members.
5
Add tags and ownership
Assign relevant Tags to categorize your events (e.g., 'conversion', 'engagement', 'revenue'). Set an Owner from your team who will be responsible for maintaining this event definition. This helps with organization and accountability.
Tip
Create a tagging system early to make it easier to filter and find events as your tracking plan grows.
6
Configure verification settings
In the Verification section, set up alerts for when events don't match your defined schema. Toggle on Warn on schema mismatch to get notified when incoming events have unexpected properties or values.
Tip
Enable verification to catch tracking implementation issues early before they affect your data quality.
7
Document implementation guidelines
Use the Notes section to add implementation details, such as where in your codebase this event should be triggered and any specific timing considerations. Include code examples or links to your tracking documentation.
Tip
Clear documentation helps developers implement tracking correctly and saves time during code reviews.
8
Save and share your tracking plan
Click Save to create your event definition. Repeat steps 2-7 for additional events in your tracking plan. Once complete, share the tracking plan URL with your development team and stakeholders for review and implementation.
Tip
Start with 5-10 core events and expand your tracking plan gradually based on your analytics needs.
Troubleshooting
Cannot create new event definitions
Verify you have admin or project owner permissions in PostHog. Contact your organization admin to grant you
Data Management access if the option is grayed out.Event validation warnings not appearing
Check that Warn on schema mismatch is enabled in your event definition settings. Ensure your PostHog SDK is updated to the latest version that supports schema validation.
Properties not showing expected data types
Review your event implementation code to ensure properties are being sent with the correct data types. Use PostHog's Live Events view to inspect incoming event payloads in real-time.
Team members cannot see the tracking plan
Verify that team members have appropriate project access. Go to Organization Settings > Members and ensure they have at least read access to the project containing your tracking plan.
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