Complete Guide To Google Analytics 4 For Beginners
If you own a website or app, you do want to know what’s going on there. Easier universal analytics used to give insights on the various activities that happened but with time a new and more advanced model came out in 2012. This was the birth of Google Analytics 4. And not to surprise 70% of the total share of the web analytics software market is dominated by Google Analytics, according to a study by Statista. What Is Google Analytics 4 (GA4)? Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the most advanced version of GA and it allows users to dive deeper into the insights of not only websites but apps too. From user interactions like clicks, purchases, and video plays to AI-driven tracking of individual users, GA4 has standout features. Some of the widely acclaimed benefits of this tool are: 1. Better Tracking Across Devices Unlike Universal Analytics it is not limited to only some devices and platforms but it allows tracking users across various platforms and devices. This not only ensures a complete view of the user journey but also throws light on the user interaction from social media and other channels. 2. Enhanced Insights for SEO By integrating with other Google SEO products such as Google Search Console, it helps to improve your SEO. You can explore the keywords that people are searching for on your website and the complete demography of the users who are landing on your site. 3. Improved Marketing Analysis Unlike Google Console, it also lets you analyse the paid traffic, tracking the marketing campaigns. From showing how people interact with ads to refining your data for better results, it can help you improve your marketing. 4. Actionable E-commerce Data It is not just a genie for normal service-based websites but also a treasure for e-commerce sites. It offers in-depth metrics on product views, purchases made and refund rates, allowing you to make data-driven decisions about inventory and pricing. How to Set Up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) For new users, it may seem a bit complicated. But here is a simple step-by-step google analytics for beginners guide that will help you set up your account in a few minutes: Step 1: Create an Account Step 2: Add Account Details On the create account page, you will have to fill in details such as account name, and data sharing preference and then click on Next. Step 3: Create a Property Now you will be moved to the next page where you need to fill in the following details: After filling all the fields with correct answers you will have to accept the terms of service and then select “Next.” Step 4: Set Up a Data Stream Data stream is a new feature that is added to the Google Analytics 4 that allows its users to take data from both the streams Web as well as App. If you want to track data from App then select App in the data stream and fill in the required details and create a stream. Step 5: Install the Tracking Code Now, that your account is all set, it is time to integrate it into your website. You can add the tracking code in three ways: For manual installation follow the steps given below: For Example: WordPress: Use a plugin like “Insert Headers and Footers” or edit the theme’s header file. Shopify: Paste the code in the Google Analytics section of your admin dashboard. Step 6: Verify the Setup If you are not sure whether the SEO Google Analytics is working right or not, you can verify the setup by following the given steps: How To Connect GA4 With Other Google Tools? Next in this google analytics for beginners guide, I’ll show you the best ways to integrate GA4 with other Google products and tools. I have learned that integrating GA4 with other Google applications like Google Search Console and Google Ads can offer various benefits. It improves your marketing campaigns since it provides additional details on users’ behaviour and how well the campaign is performing. The good news? Just as linking GA4 to other Google products is just as easy as the process described above. Follow these steps to connect GA4 with Google Search Console: Step 1: Access the Admin Panel Step 2: Open Product Links Step 3: Select Search Console Links Step 4: Choose Accounts Step 5: Select Your Property Step 6: Set Up the Link Step 7: Pick a Data Stream Step 8: Review and Submit At last, tap “Submit” so that all the integration can be confirmed. Universal Analytics (UA) vs. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) As most of the Universal Analytics (UA) users moving to Google Analytics 4, being a beginner you must wonder what the difference between the two is. I used both of the tools and here I am presenting the differences: 1. Data Models One of the primary things that differentiates GA4 and UA is how they collect data. Universal Analytics (UA) is based on a session-based model, focusing on the user sessions and pageviews only. Google Analytics 4 is an event-based model that tracks everything about the user interaction such as events, clicks, purchases, and form submissions. Unlike UA it features more detailed insights such as telling which images users click, how long they stay on the page, etc. 2. Metrics and Measurement The next difference is in the measurement and metrics both offer. Universal analytics heavily rely on traditional metrics such as sessions, bounce rate, conversion rate, etc. Google Analytics 4 has introduced many new and paramount metrics such as engagement time and rate measurement. This has improved the understanding of SEO experts on how users interact with their sites or apps. 3. Device Tracking Capabilities As mentioned earlier, UA could only track limited devices. While GA4 supports cross-device and cross-platform tracking, by assigning unique User IDs to capture the complete journey. 4. Privacy and User Data Control Moreover, the GA4 is also known for its enhanced security and privacy