How to Get Started with Your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Transition

Here’s a look at the major differences between GA3 and GA4.

In the revamp, Google has given GA3 a face-lift. The reporting interface is very different to its predecessor. Many of the reports and metrics that you have grown used to have either been removed or replaced.

When you log into GA4, you may notice fewer reports than with GA3. This is because GA4 reports are generated once you start tracking events - these do require some manual setup.

On the previous GA3 system, a ‘session’ refers to a combination of events, page views, and transitions by the user within a certain timeframe. It basically includes everything the customer did while they were on the website.

With GA4, sessions aren’t limited by time. It won’t create new changes if a user changes mid-session from laptop to mobile, for instance. This means your session count will be lower and more accurate. The average session time will also change. Average pages per session are no longer included.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of switching to GA4.

GA4 is much more user-focused than previous versions. This allows you to use a single set of metrics and dimensions to look at website and app data, giving you a better overview of the customer journey with your business.

It can track users across multiple platforms, meaning that if they look at your website and then download the app and make a purchase, GA4 can track that journey. This gives you the tools you need to more accurately track your customers, and gives a better insight into consumer behavior.

GA4 comes with a lot of new features, one of them being the ‘View user’ snapshot feature. Just click on ‘View user’ in the top right corner of the ‘Realtime report’ and it will show a snapshot for a single user.

This can include user information such as what device they are using, their location, how they engage with your brand, and whether they made a purchase.

GA4 gives you control over how user data is collected and used. This can benefit both you and your customers, as they too have more control over how their data is used by you. It will help you comply with the most recent privacy regulations. You can edit settings by, for example, excluding specific events and user properties from ad personalization.

This new analytics platform is designed to be more flexible and adaptable, especially as we move to a future where cookies will be less commonly used. Privacy is a growing concern for users and regulators, so by using GA4 you are actively taking steps to work with them.

Now you have an idea of what GA4 is and how it can benefit your business, you may want to make the switch. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started with Google Analytics 4.

Now that you have created a GA4 property, when a customer enters their information into your website, it will feed into this. So the analytics and customer behavior can now be tracked across different devices. GA4 includes 3 data streams: website, iOS and Android.

Below is how you would go about adding a data stream to GA4:

1. Head to ‘Admin’ > ‘Data Streams’ > ‘Property’

2. Click on Web, iOS, or Android and follow the instructions to set up each platform type.

3. Click ‘Create Stream’

4. Repeat any time you want to add additional data streams

To funnel website information into Google Analytics, you need to use tags. To do this, go to the property you created and click on the ‘Web’ data stream. The steps then differ according to whether you are adding tags to frequently used CMS platforms, or whether you are adding it to less-known CMS platforms.

Although it can be unsettling having to move from one system to another, GA4 offers many advantages that can truly benefit your business’s website. Follow the steps above to start your new journey with Google Analytics 4 and see what this tool can do for you and your growing business.