The Future of Analytics – A Beginner’s Guide To Google Analytics 4
New interface, tag template, terminology, data model, configuration options, and more – Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is here with all its new and exciting features designed to make data collection and analysis simpler and more efficient. The next-generation data analytics platform was introduced by Google in 2020 and will completely replace the original Universal Analytics (UA) properties by 1st July 2023.
So what sets GA4 apart from the Universal version?
The defining feature of GA4 is that it will allow for Web and App data to be collected separately, or in one continuous property. It tries to eliminate the need for manual stitching and workarounds between platforms and delivers unified data for easy and more efficient analysis. Furthermore, rather than focusing on individual touchpoints, GA4 allows you to map and analyse the entire customer journey. It helps you optimise your campaigns and website interface to deliver a better customer experience.
Now that you know what GA4 offers, here’s how you can get started.
How To Install Google Analytics 4
- Create a GA4 account from the Google Analytics website using your email address.
- Next, create a new GA4 property by going into the Admin section on your dashboard and then clicking on Create Property in the Property section. Follow the instructions and fill in all the data about your company/website.
- Select the correct account and the correct property in the Admin dropdown, enter your website URL and name your data stream to start collecting data from the right source. Next, choose any additional metrics you want to measure beyond the standard ones that are pre-selected. You will now get a unique measurement ID and a unique stream ID once a data stream is created.
- Retrieve your global site tag (the “G” ID) from the data stream page you just created and enter it into the relevant field in your CMS backend. Alternatively, you can use Google Tag Manager to set up and manage tags.
- Use the “Configure” option on your GA dashboard to configure and customise tracking settings, including events, conversions, and audiences to suit your specific requirements, and. You can also connect your GA4 account with other Google tools and services, such as Google Ads and Google Search Console.
What Can You Do With Google Analytics 4?
GA4 is a more advanced version of Universal Analytics (UA4) and offers tons of exciting features that make it a must-have tool for marketers. Here are some of the things you can do with GA4 which allow you to better track and analyse valuable data from your website and mobile application.
Track Events
Events provide a deep insight into user behaviour and how they interact with content on a website or app. GA4 allows you to track these events or user- actions so that you can optimise your site or app to give better performance.
Some of the events you can track are:
- Automatically Collected Events – Page Views, Scrolls, Outbound Links, Clicks, and Video Plays.
- Enhanced Measurement Events – Product Views, Checkouts, Searches, and Add-to-Cart actions.
Track Conversions
GA4 allows you to track conversions across websites, apps, offline stores, and other properties, and give it to you in one easy-to-view report. This can help you make data-driven decisions and optimise your content and campaigns accordingly. Whether it is increasing sales, sign-ups or downloads, tracking conversions can help you achieve more than one business goal.
GA4 Reports
One of the biggest advantages of using GA4 is the in-depth reports that help you better understand and modify your website and app. It offers several effective reporting features such as real-time reports, acquisition reports, engagement reports, retention reports, and reports snapshots, all of which give better insights into the quality and performance of your website or app.
Data Visualisation
Another great feature of G4 is the emphasis on better data visualisation. It offers more visual data representation in the form of appealing charts that make it easier to read and understand insights from the data collected. These visualisations make it more convenient to identify trends and patterns for users who prefer visual data processing to number processing.
Google Analytics 4 is the future of data analytics. Now is the right time to install and integrate Google Analytics 4 on your business website or app and start reaping its benefits as soon as possible.
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