Step By Step: How To Switch From Universal Analytics To GA4

Google’s Universal Analytics has been one of the most valuable and powerful digital marketing tools since it launched to the public in 2013. Over the last decade, this powerful means of collecting and organizing website traffic data helped countless business and digital marketing specialists increase web traffic and acquire new customers. But with recent government regulations regarding online privacy, the Universal Analytics we all know will soon go offline on July 1st, 2023. After Universal Analytics goes away, you will need to use a Google Analytics 4 account to collect web traffic and user engagement data. 

Why You Need To Create A GA4 Account As Soon As Possible

While Google Analytics 3 (UA) does not end until July of 2023, now is a vital time for users to create a GA4 account. You will still be able to use your Universal Analytics account alongside the new GA4 account until the sunset date. This beneficial overlap gives you ample time to learn the new tools, features, and data points unique to GA4. Also, because the legacy form of Google Analytics runs parallel to GA4, the two versions do not share data. Creating a GA4 account now gives this powerful new tool time to collect enough data to generate useful Google Analytics reports before Universal Analytics goes offline.

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Step By Step: How To Set Up Google Analytics 4

As an existing and experienced user of a Google Analytics property, switching from a GA3 account to a GA4 requires a number of steps. In this GA4 tutorial, we’ll walk you through the necessary steps to set up a new Google Analytics 4 account. 

Step 1: Open your existing Universal Analytics property.

Step 2: On the left-hand navigation, click on the “Admin” button with the gear icon.

Step 3: You will be met with three columns. Focus your attention on the middle column called “Property”.

Step 4: Click on the first option in the column, titled “GA4 Set Up Assistant”.

Step 5: On the next screen, you will see a prompt that reads “I want to create a new Google Analytics property” – click on the blue “Get Started” button.

Step 6: This pop-up will appear, go ahead and click on “Create and Continue”.

Step 7: Go to your Google Analytics 4 property by clicking on the blue “Go to your GA4 property” button.

Step 8: Once you are in your property, you will need to retrieve your G- code, which is essentially the UA code for GA4 properties. To retrieve it, click on “Data Streams”.

Step 9: Click on your data stream.

Step 10: On the far right, you will see your G- code. Go ahead and copy that code.

Step 11: Embed the Google Analytics code onto your website, the steps for this will vary depending on your website platform.

Step 12: After you have embedded the Google Analytics code on your website: Test it out to see if it is working properly by visiting your website, and seeing if this section of GA4 populates with data.

If it does, that is a good sign. Give it a couple of days and you will start seeing more complete data coming through.

Keep Learning More About GA4

After a decade of relying on Universal Analytics in its various forms, changing over to a new analytics platform can be a bit scary and intimidating. However, Global Reach is here with our regular Google Analytics 4 tutorials to help make the changeover easier. Like its predecessors, GA4 will be an indispensable tool for shaping and refining successful digital marketing strategies. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel for more information on GA4 and other marketing tools.

Need More GA4 Help? Get Expert GA4 Services From Global Reach!

Are you still not sure about GA4, or don’t have an existing Google Analytics account? Don’t worry, Global Reach has a staff of digital marketing consultants and Google Analytics specialists standing by to help you set up your GA4. Our Google Analytics experts can assist with analyzing all the data to see if you are reaching your targeted audience. Global Reach's Google Analytics consulting services can help make crafting a successful online marketing campaign easy and painless!

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