Demystifying Google Analytics 4: Five Tips for an Easy Transition (Part 2 of 5)
In the ever-evolving landscape of data analytics, the emergence of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) as Google's primary web analytics tool marks a shift in the way businesses track and analyze performance.
On July 1st, UA gets replaced with the newer generation Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and legacy UA properties stop processing new website analytics. To prepare for the upcoming deadline, check out the need-to-knows of GA4 we’ve already outlined and read on for some quick recommendations to make your transition smoother:
Involve key stakeholders: Plan ahead and get input across teams before migrating to GA4.
Consulting with key stakeholders in your organization will provide time to consider critical areas during migration, like account structure, historical data collection, and the KPIs used to track website performance.
Use the GA4 Setup Assistant: Set yourself up for success by automating the process.
When you do start making the move, make things easy with the GA4 Setup Assistant. Doing so will help to automate some of the required steps, track your overall migration process, and skip some of the manual fuss. This is a great feature to take advantage of especially when you’re a team of one.
Start tracking events: Get up close and personal with GA4 and track website events.
The best way to get comfortable with GA4 is to start using it, and a great first start is creating and tracking website events. If you haven’t tracked events in Google Analytics before, this part will take some time getting used to. Start small, and again, don’t forget to lean on stakeholders for support.
Compare & contrast data: Use GA4 regularly to familiarize yourself and compare data.
You might notice discrepancies between UA and GA4, which is to be expected given the differences in the way the platforms measure data. Take the time to notice and adjust to those differences, it will be essential in navigating GA4 with confidence.
Consider your options for historical data capture: Determine the best way to export and save your UA data.
Your UA property won’t be deleted immediately after the deadline. You’ll still be able to access your account and all of its data for up to six months post deadline, which means you’ll have some time to think about how you’ll want to export and store all of your historical data. Use this time wisely and ascertain the data-saving options for your business; not all of your data and setup will migrate automatically to GA4.
Thankfully, once you have your GA4 account set up, we’ve made an effortless data connection with Tixr possible so focus on what’s important: harnessing the power of GA4. Stay tuned for the next blog in our GA4 series, coming soon.
