Setting Up Google Analytics 4 (Migrating from UA)

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google's popular web analytics platform. It replaces the older Universal Analytics platform, which is being phased out and will no longer be supported by Google in the future. Businesses that are currently using Universal Analytics will need to migrate to GA4 in order to continue tracking and analyzing their website and app data. And that's what we're in the midst of doing!

How to Set Up GA4

Here’s how to set up Google Analytics 4:

1. Sign up for a Google Analytics account: The first step in setting up GA4 is to sign up for a Google Analytics account. This can be done by visiting the Google Analytics website and following the on-screen instructions to create an account and link it to the business's Google account.
2. Install the Global Site Tag (gtag.js) on the website or app: The next step is to install the Global Site Tag (gtag.js) on the website or app that we want to track with GA4. This can be done by copying the gtag.js code from the GA4 account and adding it to the website or app's codebase.
3. Create a new GA4 property: Once the gtag.js code has been installed on the website or app, the next step is to create a new GA4 property in the GA4 account. This will allow us to track and analyze data from the website or app in GA4.
4. Configure the GA4 property: After creating the GA4 property, the next step is to configure it to meet the business's tracking and reporting needs. This may involve setting up event tracking, defining custom dimensions and metrics, and choosing the data stream(s) to include in the property.
5. Link the GA4 property to other Google products: The next step is to link the GA4 property to other Google products that the business uses, such as Google Ads and Google Search Console. This will allow the business to integrate and analyze data from these products with the GA4 data.
6. Start tracking and analyzing data: Once the GA4 property is set up and configured, the next step is to start tracking and analyzing data from the website or app. This can be done by accessing the GA4 account and using the available tools and reports to view and analyze the data.
7. Migrate from Universal Analytics to GA4: Since we currently use Universal Analytics, the final step is to migrate from Universal Analytics to GA4. This may involve exporting data from Universal Analytics and importing it into GA4, and configuring the GA4 property to match the settings and configurations of the Universal Analytics property.