How to Switch From Universal Analytics To Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics 4 is a brand-new property created for the measuring of the future. To better understand the client experience, it gathers data from both the website and the app, using event-based data rather than session-based.

It includes privacy protections, cookieless measurement, behavioural modelling, and conversion optimisation. Additionally, it has predictive features that provide direction without using complicated models. At the same time, direct integrations with media platforms encourage users to take action on your website or app.

Standard Universal Analytics properties will stop processing data on July 1, 2023. So after July 1, 2023, you’ll be able to see your Universal Analytics reports for a while. After that, however, only Google Analytics 4 properties will receive new data.

Setting up your GA4 is much simpler in theory than in practice. Even though it is comparable to UA, there are enough changes that your setup is not very straightforward. First, you don’t want to simply turn on the switches. Additionally, you want to confirm that your reporting is organised to benefit your company.

The best person to assist you in your migration to GA4 is Google, so if you’re starting from scratch, we strongly advise consulting its useful GA4 Migration Guide. However, we’re here to offer a few practical hints, alterations, and customisations that will quicken the migrating procedure.

If you don’t change your data retention policy, the point of this exercise is lost. For example, the default setting for the data retention time in Google Analytics 4 is two months. Therefore, you must modify this setting to 14 months, the second option, which takes you well over UA’s finish line, if you wish to prevent reporting gaps. Remember to manually export your data every 14 months if you want a greater date range.

This is how you do it:

1. As seen on the GA4 homepage, navigate to Admin in the lower left corner.

2. The Data Settings link is in the second column.

3. Toggle to Data Retention.

4. From the drop-down option, choose “14 months.”

5. Press “Save”

The following tip isn’t as critical, but it’s still significant if you want clean data. You should filter off any IP addresses that originate from your team members, much like your current UA property. This is a really easy technique to ensure that the reporting is more accurate.

To get them as near to one another as feasible, don’t forget to incorporate the current filters from UA into GA4.

This is how you do it:

1. Compile a list of every IP address used by your internal team

2.Go to Admin, Data Streams in GA4 and choose the data stream for your website

3. Go to “configure tag settings”

4. Show all tagging options

5. Go to “Define internal traffic”

6. After selecting Create, enter the IP address and label the filter as you would normally. You can accomplish this individually or by grouping several IP addresses. Make sure the label remains “Internal.”

7. To get back to the main Admin page, click back a few times. Click Data Settings> Data Filters after that.

8. A pre-configured inner traffic filter is available. To edit, click anywhere. The filter state must be changed from Testing to Active at the bottom. If you’re not sure you’ve completed everything correctly, wait about a week before checking your data to ensure everything is in order. Change the filter’s state to Active after that. Be careful since these filters are irreversible; you cannot change them and get your data back.

Do not forget to link your GA4 property to Google Search Console. Using Google Search Console, you may monitor any search-related information, such as what users look for before visiting your site and how your site is performing.

This is how you do it:

1. Select the property you want to link from the Admin page.

2. In the Properties column, choose Search Console links under Product Links.

3. Click the link, then select Accounts.

4. Pick the appropriate account.

5. Select “Confirm” Next

6. Choose a stream of web data

7. Following a review, press the Submit button

You can link your Universal Analytics and GA4 properties together in this situation. However, you can’t link more than one Analytics property to a Google Search Console property.

Using Google signals data, you can learn more about your consumers from their Google accounts. For example, if the user has Ads Personalization enabled, Google can create a persona based on the websites a user visits and how they interact with various browsers and websites.

Although this is more beneficial for PPC than SEO, it’s still worthwhile to perform.

You will be prompted to enable Google signals when you create your GA4 account. We advise turning this switch on. (This could have GDPR repercussions because it involves cross-platform data exchange; if unclear, visit your legal team and revise your privacy policy.)

Conversions are now referred to as “Goals” or “Goal Completions” in UA instead of “Goals” or “Goal Completions.” But, again, you’ll need to manually set things up because GA4’s setup is slightly different from what you’re used to. And you should probably complete this step as soon as possible if you want year-over-year data next year.

Goals and completions are no longer divided into Categories, Actions, and Labels in GA4. Instead, everything is now grouped under the Event name you designated as a Conversion.

We ensure that the appropriate analytics tracking is configured for each client. We want our clients to be fully aware of the results of their SEO modifications month after month. You might not even be aware of the potential you’re missing if your analytics reports are a confusing maze. Contact us right now if you need assistance setting-up Google Analytics 4!