How To Setup Google Analytics 4 & What Each Report Means…
As you should be aware by now, Googles Universal Analytics is becoming redundant from July 2023. Data will be stored in Universal Analytics for up to 6 months, and thereafter it will be removed. If you would like to know more about Google moving to Google Analytics 4, you can read all about it here in our previous blog: https://bluecheesedigital.com/google-analytics-4-update/
The next stage to this is setting up Google Analytics 4, and this blog will show you how to connect Google Analytics 4 to your website. We will also cover some of the parameters in Google Analytics 4 (which are different from Universal Analytics) to help give you a better understanding.
How to connect Google Analytics 4 to Universal Analytics
Note* — This method requires you to have setup the Google Analytics 4 property in your analytics account.
- Go to https://analytics.google.com/analytics/ and login to your account
- Click on the existing property for your website, where you want to connect both Univeral Analytics & Google Analytics 4
- Click on ‘GA4 Setup Assistant’
- Locate ‘I want to connect to an existing Google Analytics 4 property’
- Click on the dropdown menu and select your existing Google Analytics 4 property and click on ‘Connect Properties’
- Great, your analytics data is now connected to your property
- In a separate window, open the Google Analytics property that controls your existing Universal Analytics on-page tag
- Go to: Admin > Tracking Info > Tracking Code
- Click “Connected Site Tags” under the global site tag (gtag.js)
- Connect your new Google Analytics 4 measurement ID, which is found in your data stream on your Google Analytics 4 property
You may find that you don’t have to follow steps 7–10. On some occasions, your Google account will say it’s not connecting to any data. Following those steps adds double reassurance.
Now your Google Analytics 4 is setup, it’s time to explain what each report means when viewing the dashboard.
Acquisition
The Acquisition dashboard on Google Analytics 4 shows how new users find your website; be it through search engines, social media, or by directly typing in your website URL. If you’re using any ads (such as Facebook or Google, for example), you will also see any data associated with the ad campaign, if you have set this up.
This is a great tool and the tool you’re likely to be using most to see how your campaigns are working, and how much traffic you’re receiving as a result.
Engagement
If you’re familiar with Universal Analytics, you won’t be aware of this reporting dashboard. ‘Engagement’ very similar to ‘Behaviour’ in Universal Analytics. The purpose of the Engagement dashboard is to allow you to measure user engagement. This engagement could be if a user scrolls on your website, where they click through to (their journey), and if they have submitted a form; for examples.
Within the Engagement section you will be able to setup your “custom events” and “goals”. Are you using Google Tag Manager? If you are, you will love this tool as data is more visible than Universal Analytics.
Monetization
Do you sell items on your website? If you do, this is the dashboard report for you. The Monetization dashboard enables you to see the revenue you generate for the items on your website. You will also be able to create reports to see which product on your website is the most popular; or the least. This will allow you to optimise your website for your customers and create additional campaigns to drive more sales.
Within Monetization, you will see how successful your ad campaigns are and how much revenue they actually generate.
Retention
The Retention dashboard allows you to understand how frequently your website users revisit your website, and how long they engage with your content after their first website visit. If you want to have a successful website, retention should be high on your list. This is why impressions count.
If your website is slow and hard to navigate, you will find that your retention levels on your website could be quite poor. Although, if your retention levels are not very high, it doesn’t necessarily mean your content is poor, or boring, it could just be how your business model works; as you may be a service provider opposed to selling products.
If you would like to learn even more about Google Analytics 4’s dashboard reports, you can look through Google’s help center here:
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9212670?hl=en
Is Google Analytics 4 a change for the better?
How do you feel about the changes in Google Analytics 4? Do you feel it’s a change for the better or a change for the worse? At Blue Cheese Digital, we understand the mindset “if it aint broke…”, but generally feel it’s a great move. V4 allows brands and smaller businesses to protect customers’ privacy more, whilst also allowing a more streamlined approach to analytical data.
Do you need help setting up your Google Analytics account? We can help! Please get in touch through the contact form, here: https://bluecheesedigital.com/contact/
