Google recently made an unexpected and controversial announcement: they will no longer operate Universal Analytics starting July 2023 and replace it with GA4, known as GA4. As this change will have wide-reaching ramifications for reporting, you must fully understand all its repercussions before moving forward with GA4. Here’s what you need to be mindful of about GA4.
What is GA4?
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the most delinquent generation of Google Analytics, designed to provide insight into your website traffic and marketing initiatives. GA4 comes equipped with several new advantages and features, such as:
- Data gathering and analysis enhanced capabilities.
- Tools for visualization and reporting have been enhanced, providing more flexibility to use these tools for analysis.
- Flexibility and opportunities for customization increase.
GA4 may still be in beta, but it has already proven itself as an outstanding SEO tool. If you need an easy way to monitor website performance more thoroughly and precisely than ever, then GA4 should definitely be on your shortlist.
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What to know about GA4: new features?
GA4 is Google’s latest analytics platform designed to give businesses an understanding of their customers across all channels. GA4 replaces its predecessor UA in terms of functionality; both can be seen as upgrades by Google.
GA4 provides numerous advantages over UA, such as:
- Companies benefit from having access to more data by being able to store information in first-party cookies.
- GA4 comes equipped with an intuitive machine-learning model that is capable of automatically recognizing and categorizing identical events, making analysis much simpler.
- GA4 allows for improved interaction with various Google products such as BigQuery and Firebase.
- All things considered, GA4 is an advanced platform designed to offer organizations greater customer understanding. Google will still support UA, but GA4 represents its next evolution.
What to know about GA4: the downsides?
GA4 is Google Analytics’ latest iteration and brings many features businesses will find useful to their operation. However, GA4 also comes with its list of drawbacks that companies should consider before switching.
GA4 is still in the beta stage, so there may be glitches and kinks to iron out before its full implementation. Furthermore, GA4 requires more data for proper functioning compared to some companies without as much to work with; plus, not every browser and device support yet means some visitors to your website or app may not be tracked accurately.
GA4 holds tremendous potential, yet prospective users must understand any drawbacks before changing. If unsure if GA4 is suitable for your company, waiting until it leaves the beta stage may be best before leaping.
What to know about GA4: is it a requirement?
Google Analytics Universal Analytics (UA) will officially end on October 2020, and GA4 was first made available to the public in 2019.
Reasons behind Google’s decision to transition away from Universal Analytics vary, as Google identifies several possible causes for its deprecation.
- GA4 is an advanced platform with distinct advantages in terms of analysis and tracking.
- GA4 fits seamlessly with other Google products for an improved user experience.
- GA4 uses machine learning to quickly identify events, making tracking much faster.
If you’re currently using Universal Analytics, it is wise to switch over to GA4 as soon as possible. GA4 represents the future of Google Analytics, and migrating now will ensure you take full advantage of its advantages.
How do I move my data from Universal Analytics properties to GA4?
One of the primary benefits of GA4 is its ability to import data directly from Universal Analytics properties without losing any of your information.
Here’s how:
[USER/INTERFACE: GA4 Property Creation/Administration Console: GA4 Properties Creation]
- Create the GA4 Property Through either of these interfaces or consoles: (user/INTERFACE or GA4 Administration console),
- Create the Universal Analytics property and link it with the GA4 property using either your GA interface or GA Admin console. GA Admin Console
- Next, use the GA Migration tool to transfer your data from Universal Analytics to GA4. You’ll find this feature within both the interface and administration console of GA4.
Once your data has been moved, you’ll be able to leverage all the capabilities GA4 can offer – such as advanced data analysis and reporting. Plus, GA4 comes equipped with integration options so you can utilize existing Universal Analytics data within GA4.
What happens if I don’t migrate my data?
GA4 is Google’s current analytics platform and will eventually be replaced with Universal Analytics (UA), with GA4 remains the sole supported option after July 2023, when Universal Analytics officially expires.
Concerns may arise among those who haven’t switched over yet since switching could mean losing data if settings aren’t changed before when UA closes down; however, Google has stated that it won’t happen this way: information will still be accessible until July 2023, but access may become harder.
Though transitioning to GA4 as soon as possible is essential, there’s no rush. Your data won’t be lost even if you do not switch before its closure on July 20, 2023; nevertheless, GA4 offers many advantages over UA and deserves your consideration even if the deadline slips past.
Is GA4 better than Universal Analytics?
Google offers GA4 and Universal Analytics web analytics tools as web analytics options, with GA4 being more recent. Universal Analytics remains more popular. GA4 may have some advantages over its more established rival, such as being more accessible and faster to use than Universal Analytics; however, Universal Analytics still includes features not present in GA4, like customizable variables. Which option works better for you?
Answering that question depends entirely on your needs and requirements for a website analytics program. GA4 may be suitable if you want a quick and user-friendly tool with essential functions, while Universal Analytics could offer more extensive tools with advanced features. In any event, choosing the appropriate tool depends on personal considerations as each case varies significantly.