Google Analytics 4 has undergone a series of transformational changes compared to the previous version of how it used to be. Now, you will have the power to track user journey throughout the websites as well as applications. With Google Analytics 4 you can easily implement data collection with high accuracy.
You also have key changes like Event based data model, enhanced privacy, data controls, cross platform tracking, automated event tracking, predictive insights using AI, and plenty of more. Here, we will learn what Google Analytics 4 has to offer with their latest version upgrade.
What Is Google Analytics 4?
Google Analytics is a tool used for tracking, measuring and analysing how users interact with your web page, mobile applications or other devices. It help business, marketing, developers as well as analysts on various parameters, such as
- Understand user behavior
- Measure effectiveness of marketing campaign and approach
- Improve customer experience
- Make data driven decisions
The official Google Analytics 4 was launched in mid October 2020. However, the beta version was launched way back to July 31, 2019 with the name “App + Web”. Google analytics 4 became mandatory by July 1, 2023 where people need to use the latest version i,.e GA4 only.
Also, GA4 replaced the Universal Analytics (UA) starting July 1, 2023. GA4 is the latest version of Google Analytics where users can easily perform tasks like tracking, improving customer experience, handling insights, and more. GA4 is suitable for SEOs, data analysts, business owners, digital marketing strategies or more in getting a better understanding of data to serve their clients better.
Read More: What are Tracking Codes in Google Analytics? Types, Why It Matters & Best Practices
Google Analytics 4 Key Takeaways
- Google analytics 4 is the latest version of Google analytics integrated with Smart AI assistant
- GA4 provides you with enhanced measurement events for event tracking without the need for code changes
- With enhanced measurement you can automatically measure interactions and content on your sites in addition to standard page view measurement.
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Features of Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
The latest version of Google Analytics has many features rolled out for an effective Event based data model, enhanced privacy, data controls, cross platform tracking, automated event tracking, predictive insights using AI and more.
1. Event Based Tracking
You can track every interaction using Google Analytics which includes click, scrolls, purchases, page views, and more. With these event tracking you will have more details about an interaction resulting in deeper insights and better decision making.
2. Cross Platform Tracking
You can easily track customer journeys from data available on websites and applications.
3. AI Powered Insights
With GA4 you can easily implement predictive metrics such as churn probability, purchase probability, predictive revenue and more. With automated insights you can easily highlight trends and anomalies throughout the web.
4. Real Time Reporting
Get real time insights from events, conversions, user activity and more using a feature called “View User Snapshot”. By using this feature you can easily watch an individual’s interaction or activity with the website or application.
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5. Collecting Data
You can easily collect data, events, import data from external systems, integrations, measure ecommerce, measure lead generation, first party data, and more with Google analytics 4.
6. Enhanced Measurement Events
With the latest Google Analytics 4 you get a tool which enables additional event tracking without the need for changing code and GTM container setups.
What Are the Uses of Google Analytics 4 (GA4)?
The latest version of Google analytics provides you with clear insights on user behaviors, interactions and navigation patterns throughout the customer journey on the application or website.
You can use the data available from GA4 to fine tune your marketing strategies, build more effective marketing techniques, optimise your content, and much more.
1. Analysis on Broader Scale
With Google analytics 4 you can get an easy understanding or arrangement of the complex funnels which are often confusing and chaotic. You will get a complete summary of how users are interacting on your platform to better optimise your content for better conversion.
2. Better SEO Strategy
With Google analytics 4 you can better analyse your data for Search Engine Optimisation where you can connect with Google Search Console for better insights. You can discover keywords for which more people are coming to your site and track the visitors activity after they reach your application.
When you get better insights with more traffic and engagement on specific content, you can create more content around the keyword. You also get to track visitor journeys to understand the path from initial phase to conversion.
3. Make Better Campaign Performance
When you use GA4 you have a variety of insights available to frame better campaigns for your brand. With GA4 you can track the exact demographics of your audience. With AI insights available you can get a more detailed version of the customer’s entire journey.
You can easily track the behaviour of customers on different channels. Take help from the Google Analytics admin panel to maximize your analytics and drive informed decisions.
4. Analyze Ecommerce Performance
With GA4 you can easily perform Ecommerce analytics which can be used to gather insights for optimised inventory based on the customer’s behavior. You can use these collected data to decide which stock to increase or decrease based on customer’s behavior.
5. Improve User Experience
With better customer insights data and analytics you can provide your customers with better user experience. You can analyse what percentage of visitors are clicking, reading, watching videos, and more using better data insights to improve user experience on your website or application.
6. Tracking Conversions
You can easily monitor sign ups, downloads, clicks, leads from submissions, and other activities which can be used as important key events for easy reporting.
How to Get Started with Google Analytics 4?
You will need to have a Google Marketing Platform website and access to the website backend. With google analytics you can make better use of the available data and interactions with users and make your marketing campaigns better.
1. Create An Account
You have to start by creating your Google Marketing Platform account. Click on “Sign in to Google Marketing Platform” to start with the login process.
- Click on the Analytics → Setup option on the home page under analytics.
- You have to choose “Start Measuring” to start with your marketing campaigns and promotions.
- You will have to provide all information about your account moving ahead. It includes account creation, business details, property creation, business objectives and data collection.
2. Complete Account Information & Settings
You have to start setting up your personal account information such as account name, and sharing settings.
3. Set Up Property
Now you have to set the property name in the box with the “Reporting Time Zone” and the “Currency” based on your business preferences or priority. It can be used to hold data for any selection of websites or applications you choose. You can make multiple properties from Google analytics 4.
- You will be prompted with some of the business related questions in the “Next” page. Select based on what fits your business the most such as small, medium, large or very large business based on the number of employees.
- It’s time for you to choose your business objective you are looking for through Google analytics. You can select from multiple options like Generate leads, drive online sales, examine user behavior, get reports, and more.
- At the end, you will have to accept the terms and conditions set by the Google analytics team to complete the preliminary setup for Google Analytics 4.
Set Up Data Stream With Google Analytics 4
After you complete the preliminary stage you need to connect both web and mobile application data through an advanced feature known as data steam.
- You have to click on the “Web button” to start setting up the web data stream.
- You have to add your site URL and then allot a stream name for your site. Keep enhanced measurement turned on by default.
- Click on the “Create Stream” button.
- You can get “tag instructions” to get the complete installation instructions for adding the GA4 code to your website or CMS such as WordPress.
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Add GA4 Tracking Code To Your Website
In this stage you will have to connect your website to Google Analytics by installing tracking code on your website. This will help GA4 to collect insights from your website. You can select from either of these three options to add GA4 code on your website.
- Manual Installation
- Install with CMS or website build
- Use Google Tag Manager
Click on the “View tag instructions” to check the complete instructions on how to set up the Google analytics 4 code to your website.
1. Manual Installation
When you are moving ahead with manual installation, you will get a javascript code which you can copy and paste in the code of every page of your website immediately after the <head> tag element.
- When you are using WordPress you can paste the code using a plugin such as Insert Headers and Footers or by editing the theme’s template.
- On Shopify you can add the code directly into the Google analytics section within the Admin dashboard section.
2. Installation with a CMS (WordPress)
When you connect the data stream using a CMS such as WordPress, follow the given steps below.
- Log In to your WordPress Website admin page.
- Go to the “Plugin” section and select the “Add Plugin” option.
- Search for the “Site Kit by Google”
- Click on the “Install Now” and “Activate” option.
- Now, you have to sign in with your Google account after the plugin is activated.
- Click “Proceed” to verify ownership after selecting the email you are using to connect the data stream.
- Click on “Set up google analytics”
- You can also test your website using an optional “Scan” button at the bottom.
How to Check If Your GA4 Is Working?
You can confirm whether or not your GA4 is properly connected to your platform.
- Go to the Reports → Realtime to open your website in a new separate browser window.
- When the GA4 is set up in the correct manner you will see all important information on the dashboard.
In case you do not see any details on your platform you can use the “Google Tags Assistant” to check whether code is properly placed on your website. Check for “GA4 DebugView to flag any error with the event tracking option. Make sure your Google configuration tag is properly set up. If you have completed setup recently then wait for 24-48 hours to let the data and insights properly.
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Google Analytics 4 FAQs
Q1. What is Google Analytics 4?
Ans: Google Analytics 4 is the latest version of Google analytics where you can track, measure and analyse how users interact with your web page, mobile applications or other devices.
Q2. When was Google Analytics 4 launched?
Ans: The official Google Analytics 4 was launched in mid October 2020. However, the beta version was launched way back to July 31, 2019 with the name “App + Web”.
Q3. Is Google Analytics 4 the latest version?
Ans: Google analytics 4 is the latest version of Google analytics with improvised customer interaction, tracking and analytics.
Q4. Is Google analytics 5 available?
Ans: No, Google Analytics 4 or GA4 is the latest version of Google Analytics available online for businesses, SEOs, digital marketers, and more.
