What is the new Google Analytics GA4 and why should I care?
Google Analytics GA4 is one of the most popular and powerful web analytics tools available. It allows businesses to track and measure a wide range of website data, including traffic, engagement, and conversions.
In October 2020, Google announced that it would be retiring Universal Analytics (UA) in favour of a new platform called Google Analytics 4 (GA4). It is a significant upgrade from UA, offering a number of new features and capabilities.
One of the biggest changes is the way that data is collected and stored. UA used a session-based model, which tracked users’ activity on a website over a single session. GA4, on the other hand, uses an event-based model, which tracks individual events that users take on a website.
This change in data collection has a number of implications. First, it means that it can track users across multiple sessions and devices. Second, it allows businesses to track a wider range of data, including things like user engagement and conversions.
Another major change is the way that reports are generated. UA reports were based on historical data, which could be used to track trends over time. GA4 reports, on the other hand, are based on real-time data, which can be used to make more informed decisions in the moment.
This change in reporting makes GA4 more agile and responsive to changes in user behavior. It also allows businesses to track the impact of their marketing campaigns in real time.
In addition to these changes, it also offers a number of other new features and capabilities, including:
- Enhanced integration with Google Ads
- Support for cross-platform tracking
- Improved machine learning capabilities
- New privacy features
Overall, GA4 is a significant upgrade from UA. It offers a number of new features and capabilities that can help businesses to track and measure their website data more effectively.
If you’re currently using UA, it’s important to start planning your migration to GA4 as soon as possible. Google will be sunsetting UA on July 1, 2023, so you’ll need to have switched by then in order to continue tracking your website data.
Here are some tips for migrating:
- Start by creating a new GA4 property in your Google Analytics account.
- Install the tracking code on your website.
- Start collecting data in GA4.
- Analyze your data and identify any areas for improvement.
- Make changes to your website or marketing campaigns based on your insights.
Migrating can seem daunting, but it’s important to remember that it’s a gradual process. You can start by collecting data in GA4 alongside your UA data, and then gradually switch over once you’re comfortable with it.
By making the switch to GA4, you can ensure that your business is using the latest and greatest web analytics platform available. This will help you to track and measure your website data more effectively, which can lead to improved marketing results.
We can help with the switch over to GA4. Tracking your website properly is fundamental to understand your business and making it thrive. Reach out today and we can talk through how we can help.
For more info check out Google’s official GA4 page.
