Should I to set up Google Analytics 4?
Yes, Universal Analytics will stop processing data in July 2023 since it’s a tool that has become obsolete.
Actually, you should switch to Google Analytics 4 as soon as possible so that you can accumulate enough historical data in your Analytics 4 account before Universal Analytics goes out of business.
Here, we will show you how to set up Google Analytics 4.
But first, let’s define what it Google Analytics 4 is and what are the main differences between Universal Analytics and Google Analytics 4.
What’s Google Analytics 4?
According to Google, “Google Analytics 4 is an analytics service that enables you to measure traffic and engagement across your websites and apps.”
And you can do that through reports that can be customizable.
What Are The Main Differences Between Universal Analytics And Google Analytics 4
1. Machine Learning –
Google Analytics 4 uses machine learning to deliver smarter analytics.
2. Events –
Google Analytics 4’s unit of measurement is events, as opposed to page views and sessions, which are used by Universal Analytics.
3. Interactions and Engagement Measurement –
With Universal Analytics, we measure the bounce rate; now we can expand the information with metrics such as scrolls, clicks or file downloads.
4. Privacy and data protection –
Google Analytics 4 puts the focus on user privacy and data protection.
5. Customer Journey –
Better tracking of the customer journey across different sessions and across both applications and web pages, allowing us to more accurately attribute conversions.
6. Multidomain measurement –
Google Analytics 4 incorporates multidomain measurement, which allows us to unify in a single flow the different domains of a brand.
7. BigQuery –
Free integration with BigQuery.
How To Add a Google Analytics 4 Property
1. How To Add a Google Analytics 4 Property To a Site That Has No Analytics
1.1. Create an Analytics Account (if you don’t have one)
☐ Go to https://google.com/analytics
☐ In Admin, in the Account column, click Create Account.
☐ Provide an account name. Configure the data-sharing settings to control which data you share with Google.
☐ Click Next to add the first property to the account.
1.2. Create a Google Analytics 4 Property
Keep in mind that you need an editor role to add Properties to your Analytics Account. You can add up to 100 properties.
☐ In Admin, look at the Account column to make sure that you’ve selected the right account. Then, in the Property column, click Create Property.
☐ Enter a name for the property (e.g. “My Business, Inc website”) and select the reporting time zone and currency.
☐ Click Next. Select your industry category and business size.
☐ Click Create and accept the Analytics Terms of Service and the Data Processing Amendment.
1.3. Add a Data Stream
☐ In the Property column, click Data Streams, then Add stream.
☐ Click iOS app, Android app, or Web.
If you click Web:
☐ Enter the URL of your primary website, e.g., “example.com”, and a Stream name, e.g. “Example, Inc. (web stream)”.
☐ Enable enhanced measurement. Enhanced measurement automatically collects page views and other events.
☐ Click Create stream.
2. How To Add a Google Analytics 4 Property To a Site That Already Has Analytics
☐ In Google Analytics, click Settings Admin (lower left).
☐ In the Account column, make sure that your desired account is selected. (If you only have one Google Analytics account, it will already be selected.)
☐ In the Property column, select the Universal Analytics property that currently collects data for your website.
☐ In the Property column, click GA4 Setup Assistant. It is the first option in the Property column.
☐ Click Get started under I want to create a new Google Analytics 4 property.
If your site uses the gtag.js, tag, you have the option to Enable data collection using your existing tags.
☐ Click Create Property. Once this process is complete, you will see “You have successfully connected your properties” at the top of your Google Analytics 4 Property Setup Assistant page.
How To Add Google Analytics 4 Tracking Code To Your Website Using Google Tag Manager
Some people confuse Google Tag Manager with Google Analytics. It’s not the same.
According to Google, Google Tag Manager is a tag management system (TMS) that allows you to quickly and easily update measurement codes and related code fragments, collectively known as tags on your website or mobile app. Once the small segment of Tag Manager code has been added to your project, you can safely and easily deploy analytics and measurement tag configurations from a web-based user interface.
So let’s add GA4 tracking code to your website.
☐ Log in to your Google account and visit https://tagmanager.google.com/
☐ Click Add a new tag option, under New Tag.
☐ Click Tag Configuration.
☐ Select Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration from the Choose Tag Type window.
☐ Enter GA4 Measurement ID.
Where can I find the GA4 Measurement ID?
☐ In Admin, make sure that you have the desired account and property selected.
☐ In the Property column, click Data Streams, then click your web data stream.
☐ Your “G-” Measurement ID appears in the upper right portion of the panel
Once you’ve entered the GA Measurement ID:
☐ Click the Triggering option.
☐ Select All Pages from Choose a trigger window.
☐ Rename this tag from Untitled Tag to GA4 Configuration Tag or the name of your choice.
☐ Click the Save button to save this tag.
☐ You can preview the changes by clicking the Preview button. Enter the URL of the website and click the Start option. Check if the GA4 Configuration Tag appears under Tags Fired.
☐ Now go back to Google Tag Manager Tab and click on the Submit.
☐ You can edit the Version Name and add a detailed description of the changes made in this version.
☐ Click Publish.
Conclusion
We recommend you not to wait any longer and configure Google Analytics 4.
Google Analytics 4 is a tool that as a business owner will help you to measure more accurately the behavior of users on your website.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need help. We will be happy to guide you.