Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics, and it’s a big change from the previous versions. Google Analytics 4 (replacing Google Universal Analytics (UA)) is a free web analytics service that provides insights about your website traffic and marketing campaigns. One of the most significant changes is the way GA4 collects and processes data.
Google Analytics 4 includes several new features, such as:
- Support for multiple measurement IDs: You can now use multiple measurement IDs to track different types of data in Google Analytics 4.
- Enhanced data collection: Google Analytics 4 collects more data than the previous version, so you can get more insights into your website traffic and marketing campaigns.
- Improved reporting: The new reporting interface in Google Analytics 4 makes it easier to find the information you need.
After rolling out GA4 across multiple websites, I can conclude that at times there were a few “Got ya” moments for the team. It is easy to see why can be tricky to set up and use if you’re not familiar with the product and when completing migrations from UA, especially if you haven’t recently reviewed how tags are setup for specific websites.
Here are five expert tips to help you get started with Google Analytics 4:
1. Use the Setup Wizard
The first step to using Google Analytics 4 is to set up your account using the Setup Wizard. The Setup Wizard will guide you through the process of setting up your account and will help you decide which features you want to use. After you’ve set up your account, you can start tracking your website’s traffic and analytics.
2. Choose Your Tracking Code
There are two types of tracking code for Google Analytics 4: global site tag (gtag.js) and analytics.js. Choose the one that’s right for your website.
The global site tag is a JavaScript snippet that collects and sends data to Google Analytics. It is placed on every page of your website and is used to track pageviews, unique visitors, and other important factors.
The Google Analytics tag is a smaller snippet of code that is placed on specific pages of your website. It is used to track specific events, such as clickthrough’s or form submissions.
Both types of tracking code are important for tracking different aspects of your website traffic. However
3. Set Up Your Property
Once you’ve chosen your tracking code, you need to set up your property with Google Analytics 4. This will allow you to collect data about your website traffic.
In Google Analytics 4 (GA4), you need to use a different tracking code for each property you want to track. GA4 properties can’t share tracking codes, so each property needs its own unique code.
To find your tracking code for a GA4 property, go to the Admin section of GA4 and select the property you want to track. Then, go to the Tracking Info page and you’ll see your tracking code under the “Tracking ID” section.
Remember, you’ll need to use a different tracking code for each GA4 property you want to track, so make sure you keep track of all your codes!
4. Create Your Views
After you’ve set up your property, you can create views to segment and filter your data. This will help you better understand your website traffic.
Google Analytics 4 offers a new and improved way to segment and filter your data. With this new tool, you can create views to better understand your audience and what they’re doing on your website.
To create a view, go to your Google Analytics 4 property and click ” Create View.” From there, you’ll be able to select the data you want to include in your view and set up any filters you want to apply. Once you’ve created your view, you can start to segment your data and understand your audience better.
5. Explore the Reports
Google Analytics 4 offers a wide range of reports that can help you track your website’s performance. These reports can be customized to your specific needs, allowing you to track the metrics that are most important to you. The reports can also be exported, so you can share them with others or take a closer look at the data later.
There are four main types of reports:
Real-Time reports show you what’s happening on your website right now.
Audience reports show you who your website visitors are and what they do on your site.
Acquisition reports show you where your website visitors come from.
Behavior reports show you what your website visitors do on your site.
You can access the reports by logging into your Google Analytics account and selecting the “Reports” tab. Explore the reports to see which ones are most useful for your needs.
Google Analytics 4 is a powerful tool that can help you to better understand your website traffic and how users interact with your site. However, it can be difficult to set up and use if you’re not familiar with it.
If you’re just starting out with Google Analytics 4, we recommend reading some tutorials or taking a course to learn the basics. Once you have a good understanding of how it works, you’ll be able to use it to its full potential and get insights that can help you improve your website.
For further details, visit https://analytics.google.com/.