![\"Website](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GA4-800.jpg\")
\nGoogle Analytics 4 (GA4) is a completely reimagined analytics platform \u2013 the biggest change to Google\u2019s analytics product since its inception in 2005.<\/p>\n
\nGoogle Analytics 4 (GA4) is a completely reimagined analytics platform \u2013 the biggest change to Google\u2019s analytics product since its inception in 2005.<\/p>\n
Even though there are exciting new features in the GA4 platform, for many, this change is daunting. Migrating to a new platform takes work and many are unsure of where to start.<\/p>\n
This task is made even more daunting with an approaching deadline \u2013 on July 1, 2023, all standard Universal Analytics will stop processing data. For premium users of Universal Analytics 360, Google has extended the sunset date from October 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024. In this article, we will give a high-level overview of GA4 so you can get a better understanding of the changes that you can expect to see, and how to get started. Here are some quick links so you can jump to a specific section:<\/p>\n Google Analytics 4 is not just an update to Universal Analytics \u2013 it\u2019s a whole new platform.<\/p>\n GA4 was designed to meet evolving needs; website owners need to be able to track the customer journey across many channels and devices (like websites and apps). In addition, privacy is a growing concern.<\/p>\n Google says this<\/a> of GA4:<\/p>\n It allows businesses to see unified user journeys across their websites and apps, use Google\u2019s machine learning technology to surface and predict new insights, and most importantly, it\u2019s built to keep up with a changing ecosystem.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Google goes on to point out some of the main differences between Universal Analytics and GA4:<\/p>\n Universal Analytics was built for a generation of online measurement that was anchored in the desktop web, independent sessions and more easily observable data from cookies. This measurement methodology is quickly becoming obsolete. Meanwhile, Google Analytics 4 operates across platforms, does not rely exclusively on cookies and uses an event-based data model to deliver user-centric measurement. When it comes to the nitty-gritty details, there are several ways that UA and G4 differ in how they collect data, and in the metrics reported. Let’s look at that next.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go over what we believe to be the most significant change to Google\u2019s analytics in how it collects data: Events.<\/p>\n This change impacts everything from the way sessions are recorded to the way the reports are set up. In other words: It’s a fundamental change.<\/p>\n One of the biggest differences between UA and G4 is \u201cevents.\u201d GA4 is based on the idea that any interaction (such as page hits, ecommerce hits, and social hits in UA) is an event. So in GA4, all the interactions are recorded as events. A Universal Analytics event<\/strong> has a Category, Action, and Label and is its own hit type. In Google Analytics 4 properties, every “hit” is an event; there is no distinction between hit types. For example, when someone views one of your website pages, a page_view event is triggered.<\/em><\/p>\n Google Analytics 4 events<\/strong> have no notion of Category, Action, and Label and, unlike Universal Analytics reports, Google Analytics 4 reports do not display Category, Action, and Label. Therefore, it\u2019s better to rethink your data collection in terms of the Google Analytics 4 model rather than port your existing event structure to Google Analytics 4.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Some of the old hit types in UA have been converted to GA4 events. For example, a page view hit would be converted to a page view event.<\/p>\n UA had report categories such as \u201cAcquisition,\u201d \u201cBehavior,\u201d etc. \u2013 all the associated reports were in those sections. GA4 doesn’t have that (for the most part).<\/p>\n For example, the data for the page views report in GA4 is in Engagement > Events > page_view.<\/p>\n Users will need to recreate some of those reports using event counts. If you want it to look exactly the same in GA4 as in UA, you need to create the report or use the Explorations<\/a> option in GA4.<\/p>\n When it comes to metrics, there are a lot of little changes that will add up to a big change overall for tracking. Here are a few changes we think are significant:<\/p>\n Sessions are counted differently in GA4 versus UA. For example, there isn\u2019t a midnight cutoff for sessions in GA4 like UA had, and GA4 doesn\u2019t start new sessions for users who come in from different campaigns.<\/p>\n The statistical estimates that GA4 uses for sessions, however, should deliver higher accuracy and lower error rates in data reporting.<\/p>\n Bounces are measured differently in GA4. In the new platform, the bounce rate is the percentage of sessions that were not engaged sessions.<\/p>\n An engaged session in GA4 lasts 10 seconds or more, has one or more conversion events or has two or more page or screen views.<\/p>\n If a user doesn\u2019t meet any of the criteria listed, then it is considered a bounce.<\/p>\n Contrast that with the traditional bounce rate in UA, which measured if someone only visited one page on a website and didn\u2019t trigger any other event.<\/p>\n Those who are used to tracking goals in UA will need to get familiar with conversion events in GA4.<\/p>\n In GA4, you will identify a key event important to your business. Once that event is hooked up on your website, it can be promoted to a conversion event inside of GA4.<\/p>\n Depending on how your goals are set up in UA, you may get a close equivalent in GA4.<\/p>\n But Google notes that there are some differences between UA and GA4 that may make it difficult to do an apples-to-apples comparison:<\/p>\n Universal Analytics supports five goal types: destination, duration, pages\/session, smart goals, and event goals. GA4, in contrast, only supports conversion events. It may not always be possible to use GA4 conversion events to precisely duplicate some UA goal types. For example, it\u2019s not possible to duplicate a smart or duration goal using GA4 conversion events. <\/em><\/p>\n UA counts only one conversion per session for the same goal. GA4 counts multiple conversions per session for the same conversion event.<\/p>\n Your UA reports may be excluding data based on view filters<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n You can find out more on how to set up a conversion in GA here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go over a high-level overview of how to get going with GA4.<\/p>\n Google outlines three ways to get started with GA4<\/a>:<\/p>\n To encourage people through the process, Google provides<\/a> an outline overview of how to make the switch to GA4, with labels that show how much effort is involved in each step.<\/p>\n The Setup Assistant (from Google<\/a>):<\/p>\n The GA4 Setup Assistant wizard does not backfill your new GA4 property with historical data. Your GA4 property only collects data going forward. To see historical data, use the reports in your Universal Analytics property.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A word of warning before you get started: Google has already sent out emails to Google Analytics users that they would be automatically migrated to GA4 starting the first week in March 2023 if they hadn\u2019t already completed the process.<\/p>\n (Check out: Google\u2019s GA4 Auto Migration: Here\u2019s Why You Should Opt Out<\/a> at Search Engine Land for a good overview on this topic.)<\/p>\n That means, for some, that Google will have already configured a GA4 property with basic settings.<\/p>\n You will want to check to see where you stand before proceeding. And you will most definitely want to ensure that the settings made for you are, in fact, what you wanted. Once you have installed GA4, you will want to verify the install and customize settings as needed.<\/p>\n You can test the GA4 install by using the GA4 Tag Assistant<\/a> Chrome extension or the GA4 DeBugView<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can verify that the tracking code is properly sending data to the GA4 account by heading to Reports > Realtime to see that the data is loading.<\/p>\n As with any system, you need to check often to ensure that data is being collected and processed correctly, and that the GA4 website is properly configured. Validate the installation and operation of GA4 on a regular basis \u2013 at least once a week.<\/p>\n Address any issues identified during validation as soon as possible to ensure accurate data collection.<\/p>\n At this point the system is installed and gathering data. Wait at least a day or two before you can see meaningful data coming in.<\/p>\n Using the GA4 Setup Assistant, you can configure your property settings<\/a>.<\/p>\n This includes:<\/p>\n Conversions:<\/strong> The Setup Assistant can migrate goals from UA to conversions in GA4 for you, but you should still review them to make sure they’re correct. The migration isn’t always perfect. Go to Admin > Property Settings > Conversions to verify.<\/p>\n Custom dimensions and metrics:<\/strong> Custom dimensions and metrics<\/a> can be created by defining their name and scope and assigning them to the relevant data stream. Go to Admin > Property > Custom definitions to modify.<\/p>\n Take note:<\/strong> Unrelated to any particular settings in the Setup Assistant, you should be aware of any data protection laws and regulations that may apply to your website and ensure compliance. GA4 should be compliant out of the box, but any extra data you capture may not be.<\/p>\n So make sure that you are not storing any information about a user that isn’t spelled out in your privacy policy, and that your privacy policy is compliant with whatever laws you are subject to (GDPR, CPRA or something else). The following section is helpful for those who don’t already have a pre-existing UA account and\/or don\u2019t use Google Tag Manager, nor have the help of a CMS to install GA4. Follow the steps in this section to get started with GA4.<\/p>\n The following section is helpful for those who don’t already have a pre-existing UA account and\/or don\u2019t use Google Tag Manager, nor have the help of a CMS to install GA4.<\/p>\n Follow the steps in this section to get started with GA4.<\/p>\n With GA4 deadlines looming for Universal Analytics users, it\u2019s important to start the process of setting up GA4 right away. While you are doing this, you may still reference UA data until you make the switch.<\/p>\n Migrating to GA4 is a big change, but the insights you’ll get into your customer lifecycle will be well worth it.<\/p>\n We’ve packaged all of this information into a handy 20-page e-book that you can save and refer to over and over. Get your free copy of Google Analytics 4: What It Is and How To Get Started<\/a> today!<\/p>\n Inundated with SEO data and unsure how to apply what it is telling you? Our SEO experts can help you make sense of it all, plus give recommendations to implement in your program that gets better results. Contact us<\/a> for a free consultation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As the landscape of digital analytics evolves, migrating from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is becoming increasingly essential. GA4 is more than an upgrade of Universal Analytics; it’s an entirely reimagined platform designed to meet the unique needs of website owners. This whitepaper will assist in your migration process and understanding any differences between both platforms.<\/p>\n Understanding the Key Differences<\/strong><\/p>\n The first step in migrating to GA4 is understanding the fundamental differences between the two analytics platforms. While Universal Analytics is anchored in the desktop web and relies on cookies for data collection, GA4 operates across platforms and employs an event-based data model. This shift in approach allows GA4 to provide more user-centric measurement and better adapt to a changing digital ecosystem.<\/p>\n Data Model Differences<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the major differences between Universal Analytics and GA4 is the shift from sessions to events. In GA4, every interaction on your website or app is recorded as an event, providing a more granular view of user behavior. While this change may require rethinking your data collection strategy, it offers deeper insights into user journeys across different channels.<\/p>\n Metrics Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n GA4 introduces changes in metrics like sessions, engagement rate, and conversions. Sessions are now counted differently, without a midnight cutoff, which may affect session counts. The engagement rate now considers engaged sessions lasting 10 seconds or more, or those with conversion events or multiple page views. Conversions are now represented by conversion events, which may not always duplicate the same goals as Universal Analytics.<\/p>\n Have you made the jump from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4? This step-by-step guide explains what GA4 is, how to install it and how to get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":192716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1382,18,1383,1232],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"
\n(You can learn more about significant dates in this help file from Google<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n
What Is GA4?<\/h2>\n
\nAnd though Universal Analytics offers a variety of privacy controls, Google Analytics 4 is designed with privacy at its core to provide a better experience for both our customers and their users.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nData Model Differences<\/h3>\n
Events<\/h4>\n
\nGoogle explains:<\/p>\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/UA-hit-type-event.png\")
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pageview-attribute.png\")
Metrics Updates<\/h3>\n
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Sessions<\/h4>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/sessions.png\")
Engagement Rate<\/h4>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/bounce-rate.png\")
Conversions<\/h4>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/conversions.png\")
Ways to Get Started with GA4<\/h2>\n
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![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/switch-to-ga4.png\")
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GA4-setup-assistant.png\")
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\n<\/a><\/p>\nVerifying and Customizing Your GA4 Install<\/h2>\n
Verifying the Install<\/h3>\n
![\"Realtime](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GA4-report-menu-233x379.png\")
Customizing the Settings<\/h3>\n
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![\"Property](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GA4-property-settings-setup.png\")
\n<\/a><\/p>\nGetting Started with GA4 if You Don\u2019t Have UA or Google Tag Manager<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Create a GA4 Account and Get the Tracking Code<\/h3>\n
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Step 2: Install the Tracking Code on the Website<\/h3>\n
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Step 3: Configure GA4 Conversions and Custom Dimensions<\/h3>\n
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Step 4: Monitor the GA4 Account for Data Accuracy<\/h3>\n
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Get Started Now<\/h2>\n
Get Your Free GA4 E-Book<\/h3>\n
<\/a>FAQ: How do I migrate to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) from Universal Analytics, and what are the key differences between the two platforms?<\/h3>\n
Migrating to GA4: Step-by-Step Guide<\/h3>\n
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Tips for a Smooth Migration<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Step-by-Step Migration Procedure:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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