What is Google Analytics 4? Google Universal Analytics
Google Analytics 4 aka GA4 is the latest version of Google Analytics released in October 2020 and provides more accurate and detailed information on website and app usage compared to its previous version, Universal Analytics.
So what exactly is Google Analytics 4 ?
What is Google Analytics 4?
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Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics, a web analytics service that allows you to monitor and report your website traffic. A more advanced version of Google Analytics (GA), GA4 uses machine learning to gain insight into users' behavior on your website. Some of the key features of GA4 are device and cross-platform metering, enhanced data privacy, and integration with other Google products such as Google Ads and BigQuery. In addition, GA4 is designed to be more flexible and customizable, allowing users to easily create and share custom reports and analytics.
How Does Google Analytics 4 Work?
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) works by collecting data about user interactions on a website, such as page views, clicks, and form submissions. This data is collected using a tracking code, which is a small snippet of JavaScript code added to the website's source code . The tracking code sends data to GA4 servers where it is processed and used to generate reports and insights about website traffic and user behavior.
GA4 uses machine learning to analyze the data it collects. With machine learning, you can automatically identify patterns and trends in user behavior. It also uses machine learning as well as a new data model that collects data in an activity-based fashion, enabling more accurate and detailed analysis of user interactions.
GA4; It uses a host of new features that enable better understanding of user behavior across devices and platforms, such as user identity, cross-device metering, and enhanced data privacy.
Overall, GA4 provides a more comprehensive view of user behavior on a website, allowing businesses to make more informed decisions about how to optimize their online presence and engage better with their audience.
GA4 is Google Analytics and it is recommended to switch from UA to GA4 to take advantage of new features and improvements.
All these new metrics and dimensions provide deeper analysis of user behavior and interaction, allowing businesses to make more informed decisions on how to optimize their online presence and engage better with their audience.
Some of these metrics or dimensions may still be available in GA4, but require additional setup, custom implementation, or a different method. The data contained in GA4 is more detailed, so it is possible to obtain similar information in a different format.
GA4 is not compatible with UA, so you will not be able to upgrade an existing UA feature to GA4. Instead, you need to create a new GA4 property and add the GA4 tracking code to your website or app. You should also keep in mind that you must have a Firebase account to create a GA4 property, as GA4 is built on top of the Firebase platform.
General steps for migrating from UA to GA4 include:
The migration will take some time and effort if you want to ensure that the data is accurate and complete. Also, some UA features are not available in GA4, so you need to use the new GA4 features to get the same level of analysis.
What are the Differences Between GA4 vs Universal Analytics?
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Universal Analytics (UA) are web analytics services offered by Google, but there are some key differences between the two. The most important of these differences are as follows:
1. Data Model
The biggest difference is the data model. GA4 uses an event-based data model that allows for more detailed and accurate analysis of user interactions, while UA uses a pageview-based data model.
2. Machine Learning
While GA4 offers more automated and accurate insights using machine learning to analyze data, UA is more limited in this respect.
3. User ID
GA4 allows the user-id to be associated with events, providing more accurate cross-device measurement, while UA requires the user-id to be applied manually.
4. Measurement across Devices and Platforms
GA4 provides more accurate device and cross-platform measurement than UA, providing a more comprehensive view of user behavior across devices and platforms.
5. Data Privacy
GA4 has advanced data privacy features such as IP masking and data retention controls that allow users to more easily comply with data privacy regulations.
6. Integration
GA4 integrates with other Google products such as Google Ads and BigQuery, while UA does not.
7. Customization
GA4 is more flexible and customizable than UA, allowing users to easily create and share custom reports and analytics.
What's in the New Google Analytics 4?
Google Analytics 4 (GA4), the latest version of Google Analytics, offers many new features and improvements over the previous version, Universal Analytics (UA).
New Metrics and Dimensions in Google Analytics 4
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) introduces several new metrics and dimensions that can help businesses gain a deeper understanding of user behavior and engagement. Some of the new metrics and dimensions in GA4 include:
1. Lifetime Value
Lifetime value measures the total value of a user over the time they interact with a website or app.
2. Retention
This metric measures the percentage of users who return to a website or app after their first visit.
3. Engagement
Engagement measures a user's level of engagement with a website or app, such as the number of pages viewed or time spent on the site.
4. User ID
This dimension allows businesses to monitor user behavior across multiple devices and platforms, providing a more comprehensive view of user behavior.
5. Events
GA4 uses an event-based data model that enables more detailed and accurate analysis of user interactions.
6. Audiences
GA4 allows businesses to create custom audiences based on user behavior and engagement, which can be used to target specific user groups with custom marketing campaigns.
7. Streams
GA4 allows businesses to create custom data feeds that can be used to analyze certain aspects of user behavior, such as e-commerce data or engagement data.
8. Predictive Metrics
GA4 includes predictive metrics such as the probability of a user converting or unsubscribing.
Metrics and Dimensions No Longer in Google Analytics 4
Some metrics and dimensions are no longer available or have been replaced in Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Some metrics and dimensions not available in GA4 include:
1. Pageviews
GA4 uses an activity-based data model; this means that pageviews are not tracked as a standard metric.
2. Sessions
GA4 uses a user-centric data model; this means sessions are not tracked as a standard metric.
3. Bounce Rate
GA4 uses a different way to measure engagement, i.e. no bounce rate metric is available.
4. Organic Traffic
GA4 uses a different way to measure traffic, meaning the organic traffic metric is not available.
5. Referral Traffic
GA4 uses a different way to measure traffic and referral traffic metric is not available.
6. Campaigns
GA4 uses a different way to track campaigns, meaning campaign metrics are not available.
7. Custom Variables
GA4 uses a different way to monitor user behavior, i.e. customizable variables cannot be used.
8. Goals
GA4 uses a different way to track conversions, meaning the goal metric cannot be used.
Google Analytics 4 Features
Some of the key features of GA4 include:
1. Event-based Data Model
GA4 uses an event-based data model that enables more detailed and accurate analysis of user interactions.
2. Machine Learning
GA4 uses machine learning to analyze data, providing more automated and accurate information.
3. User- ID
GA4 allows more accurate cross-device measurement by allowing user-id to be associated with events.
4. Cross-Device and Cross-Platform Measurement
GA4 provides more accurate device and cross-platform measurement than UA, providing a more comprehensive view of user behavior across devices and platforms.
5. Data Privacy
GA4 has advanced data privacy features such as IP masking, cookie expiration and data retention controls that allow users to more easily comply with data privacy regulations.
6. Integration
GA4 integrates with other Google products such as Google Ads and BigQuery.
7. Customization
GA4 is more flexible and customizable than UA, allowing users to easily create and share custom reports and analytics.
8. Predictive Analysis
Predictive analytics, which uses machine learning algorithms to predict user behavior and help businesses understand the probability of certain outcomes, is one of the main new features in GA4.
9. Enhanced Ecommerce
GA4 has advanced e-commerce features such as product and purchase events that allow for more detailed analysis of e-commerce data and performance.
10. New Reports
GA4 includes new reports that allow deeper analysis of user behavior and interaction, such as lifetime value and retention.
11. App+Web Properties (Combined App + Web view)
GA4 allows monitoring of both website and application data in the same property and with the same configuration.
12. Streams
GA4 allows businesses to create custom data feeds that can be used to analyze certain aspects of user behavior, such as e-commerce data or engagement data.
13. The Masses
GA4 allows businesses to create custom audiences based on user behavior and engagement, which can be used to target specific user groups with custom marketing campaigns.
14. Sandbox ( Sandbox )
GA4 has a sandbox feature that lets you test configuration and events without sending data to the property.
How to Create a New GA4 Property?
Creating a new property in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is a simple process, but you must first have a Google Analytics account. The steps to follow to create a new GA4 property include:
Log in to your Google Analytics account and click the "Admin" button in the lower left corner of the screen.
In the “Property” column, click the “+ Create Property” button.
Fill in the required information such as property name and time zone.
Click the “Next” button and enter your business information.
Select your preferred data sharing settings.
Click the “Create” button.
Choose your platform to start collecting data.
Enter your website address and click the “Create Stream” button.
Once the stream is created you will be provided with a tracking code that you must add to your website or app to enable tracking.
Add the tracking code to your website or app's codebase.
Make sure the tracking code is working correctly by visiting your website or app and checking the GA4 reports for data.
To monitor your app, you need to add the Firebase SDK to your app and link it to the GA4 property.
After you add the Firebase SDK to your app, you can use the Firebase app configuration panel to bind it to your GA4 property.
You can also track your application data in the GA4 property.
How to Migrate from Existing Universal Analytics to New Google Analytics 4
Migrating from an existing Universal Analytics (UA) property to a new Google Analytics 4 (GA4) property requires several important steps. But you should remember that all the steps you will take are for a new application, not an upgrade.
1. Create a new GA4 property
To begin the migration, you need to create a new GA4 property in your Google Analytics account. You can follow the steps we explained in the previous section to create a GA4 property.
2. Add the GA4 tracking code
After creating the new GA4 property, you need to add the GA4 tracking code to your website or app. The tracking code will ensure data is collected on the GA4 property.
3. Verify data collection
Verify that data is collected on the GA4 property by checking the reports for data.
4. Set GA4 properties
After data is collected, you can set GA4 properties such as events and user properties.
5. Create a data migration plan
Identify the key metrics and dimensions you currently use in UA and create a plan to migrate them to GA4 using existing GA4 metrics and dimensions or by creating custom ones.
6. Test the app
Test the GA4 implementation by comparing the data in the GA4 feature with the data in the UA feature. Before proceeding to the next steps, make sure the data is correct and complete.
7. Remove UA tracking code
Once you're sure the GA4 property is tracking your website or app properly, you can remove the UA tracking code from your website or app.
8. Configure cross-device measurement
GA4 provides more accurate cross-device measurement, so you must configure cross-device measurement in the GA4 feature.
9. Create custom reports and analytics
With GA4, you can create custom reports and analyzes based on your specific business needs.
10. Use the GA4 Sandbox feature
Test your app in the GA4 sandbox to make sure everything is working correctly before sending the data to the real estate
