How to upgrade to Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
As Google Universal Analytics (GUA) ceased on 30th June, 2023
Google Analytics and how it can help to generate more leads and sales.
What are the consequences of not upgrading to GA4?
You could be sitting there without any tracking or may not have proper tracking in place. If you want more website visitors, want to know where visitors are coming from, search ads or social, and you want to understand your revenue and conversion rate you need analytics. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will help you to understand how many leads you are getting and how much they are costing you.
GUA officially ceased on 30th June 2023. You need to export your current Universal Analytics (GUA) data within the next few months as it won’t be migrated to GA4 six months after July 31st 2023. This is far from straightforward and a process in transition.
It could prove very costly if you are not tracking, reacting and responding to vital visitor data and in effect have no analytics in place.
Websites are a great way for businesses to generate quality leads, and substantially increase turnover. You need accurate tracking data to achieve this, which is why Google Analytics is critical to online businesses.
What even is Google Analytics 4?
If you have a website and you are interested in tracking its performance, you will have heard of Google Analytics. The latest version of Google Analytics, GA4, is data tracking software that allows business owners to monitor key business metrics. RIP Universal Analytics. 2012/2023.
Used by 95% of all online businesses, Google Analytics anonymously tracks website visitor data, recording key information; search terms, visitors, pages visited, clicks, scrolls, forms, device types products purchased etc. Allowing business owners to monitor key business metrics, with up-to-date sales data, to enable you to make the best business decisions possible.
If you do not react and respond to vital visitor data, it could prove very costly.
What has changed from GUA to GA4?
Google believes GA4 integrates far better with Google Ads, Search Console, other Google Apps and selected third-party apps. Google is adapting to a new version of a cookieless web. The new version uses ‘cookieless tracking’ (Cookie permissions are the irritating pop-ups that interrupt you when you visit websites, necessary to keep up with privacy laws like GDPR).
Hiccups we have spotted that may throw you:
- “Which metric do I look at now?” Things have changed
- Getting your head around tracking the important data
- Getting integrated with Google Ads and the Search Console
- A wee bit of trouble tracking those crucial conversion figures
- Scratching your head looking at assisted conversions and bounce rates
If you are nodding your head, don’t fret! You are not alone in this GA4 maze.
Like trading in a trusty old car for a newer, shinier model. The buttons aren’t where they were, and the radio is all digital…but the ride is so much smoother!
What is missing in our shiny new GA4?
- The Universal Analytics views? Gone
- Solid IP filtering? A little ‘hit and miss’
- Certain reports you will have to create manually *Expert stuff really
- Some bumps with custom dimensions *Expert stuff
- Those reliable recurring email reports. Goodbye. Phew, thank goodness
The perks of GA4, the silver lining
- Crisper, clearer data, tailored for you and Google’s hungry algorithms
- Supposedly seamless tracking, whether on your site or app
- Ditch the coding with codeless event tracking
- Fancy, tailor-made reports. Once learned, pretty powerful
- A sprinkle of AI magic for top-notch insights and predictions
- Upgraded audience integration with Google Ads
- An emphasis on the whole customer journey
The cherry on the top – most of these snazzy features are geared to help us in a future where cookies crumble (or just don’t exist).
Why did Google upgrade?
Data laws have become very restrictive. Google is adapting to a new version of a cookieless web. Without cookies, you cannot gain information about the website user/vistor journey.
What do I do?
Upgrading effectively is proving quite a technical process. Even though Google has provided two years’ notice and basic tools. Thousands of businesses haven’t upgraded. It takes time to get used to the new version. SEO professionals understand, research, learn and understand the software. Industry sentiment suggests even web developers/SEO specialists are finding the switch challenging to configure.
You either upgrade yourself if you are tech-savvy. It is easy to begin with but reasonably tricky to get the whole thing configured to a level where it’s reporting all the necessary and correct data. You will need adequate permissions and settings across the whole account. The upgrade takes at least 30 steps to set up very basic analytics.
Or if you need to but don’t really understand the nuance or don’t really understand what you are looking at and want this ‘hellish’ job done for you. Or if you want the results without the investment in learning, downtime etc.; use a reputable SEO professional or Web Developer.
What if I need help?
We all need to future-proof our digital analytics game, so getting familiar with GA4 is essential.
Embracing and mastering GA4 now ensures you will get ahead of most of your competitors. It’s not just about adapting but thriving in tomorrow’s digital landscape.
What do I ask for?
If you have already migrated to GA4 but feel a tad overwhelmed about the next steps, you are not alone. Ask an expert to check if you are set up on GA4 in the correct manner, that you are tracking all the relevant metrics properly. Ask for a report on all the work carried out on your behalf.
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- Add An Admin User To (GA4) – Google Analytics 4
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- What is Google Search Console and what does it do?
- How to Optimize Your Website for Local Search
I’m Phil Gregory, the MD and founder of Peak District SEO.
I’m an SEO & Google Ads Consultant with 27+ years of experience in I.T and helping UK Businesses improve website performance.
I built my first website in 1998, then I discovered the joys of website optimisation and never looked back.
If you want a no-nonsense, no-hard-sell approach and to actually get your website fixed with a solid, affordable, long-term approach, hit the contact button today.
Peak District SEO is a UK-based Digital Marketing Company.
We help businesses make more money, using traditional Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) , Ai Search / GEO and paid advertising (PPC).
Why Peak District SEO?
27+ years of experience.
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Our customers have hundreds of page one and position 1 rankings, and we can prove it.
We’ve helped hundreds of SMEs in the UK
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Our customers have hundreds of page one and position 1 rankings and we can prove it.
