Introduction to Google Analytics 4 | CXl Course Review

Shout out to CXl academy for the amazing Digital Analytics Minidigree Program that is providing me with an in-depth knowledge of GA4.

The better than ever before version of Google Analytics is here. In this blog, we will cover the following topics:

• What is Google Analytics 4?
• How it differs from traditional Universal Analytics?
• What are the key features of GA4?
• Should you replace Universal Google Analytics with a newer version?
• How to Implement Google Analytics 4 using Google Tag Manager?

What is Google Analytics 4?

So, what is GA4? It’s the newest tracking platform and a completely new system that is not to be confused with Universal Analytics famously known as Google Analytics. Google Analytics 4 (formerly known as “App + Web) is a new kind of property, with different reports than what you’re used to seeing in Universal Analytics properties.

It’s basically the adoption of Firebase as the new latest model for GA4 with a brand-new UI that wasn’t previously present in Firebase. So now it’s the reunification, as well as the integration of the web, the measurement protocol, and all the other capabilities that we didn’t even have before. So, it’s the reunification of all.

Google Analytics 4 vs Universal Analytics

1. New User Interface

The biggest difference between traditional Universal Analytics and the new Google Analytics 4 is the user interface.

As you can see, in terms of the reporting menu, GA4 differs greatly from Universal Analytics. On the left of GA$, check out those waterfall menus! Reports are now grouped on the basis of a business life cycle, user data, and events. Audience configurations and all remarketing work are kept separately. The overall choices are a little more specific under each report form. There are no concealed waterfall menus, and each pre-configured report is somewhat generic.

While this can seem baffling at first, but after spending some time on it you will eventually find it easier to navigate and flexible. The data is organized by customer lifecycle — acquisition, engagement, monetization, and retention, something most marketers are familiar with.

2. New Enhanced Measurement

Google has introduced a new feature called Automatic Measurement. When you step up GA4 for the first time it is enabled by default. GA4 will automatically track scrolls, clicks, downloads, single page applaud the correct kind of page fragments, and a few other things as well, like video.

Before turning on the enhanced measurement feature, be sure you understand each option and what data will be collected. You can also turn off specific measurement options.

3. New Realtime Report

GA4 also has a brand-new interference of Realtime Reports. It is more interactive and has more data. In the older version, it does not have an option to have custom dimensions in real-time. We now have user properties or the new kind of user scope dimensions. Thus, having more flexibility with data.

4.Improvement in Debugging:

GA4 now allows you to see chronological order of everything that happened, pinpoint whether your tracking is working as expected, or if not, exactly where maybe something went wrong.

5. New funnel Reports

You can now create a meaningful funnel on a go, there are tons of features that are available now, such as trended funnel for visualization, open versus closed funnels, backward pathing, etc.

6. Free BigQuery Linking

Everyone now has access to a free BigQuery linking from the very beginning.

Main features of Google Analytics

1. It’s programmed with machine learning as the primary method of data collection, with “modeling” that can extrapolate from historical data and make predictions about web usage and user behavior. Though AI-powered insight has been there for some time, the new feature will automatically alter marketers about helpful information
2. The new Google Analytics can collect essential data for analytics without third-party cookies “The norm is that we’re going to have a mixed set of data: We’ll have event data but not necessarily a user identifier associated with it. We’ll have gaps in data altogether and this is going to be true of all measurement providers,” Ketchum said, adding, “We don’t have any specific announcements on this today, but as we get into next year, we’re going to be using machine learning modeling to support various modes of analysis in Google Analytics.”
3. Instead of the views and segment used by old Analytics properties, GA4 features “data streams”
4. Analytics 4 also provides tools to assist advertisers in complying with data regulations such as GDPR and the CCPA.

Should you replace Universal Google Analytics with Google Analytics 4?

Google Analytics 4 is currently in the early stages of development. There are still a lot of things that are missing, probably it should be coming soon. So, the best recommendation is to have dual-tagging or implementing side-by-side or in parallel to your existing version of Google Analytics. And you can do that and it really doesn’t create any issues because it tracks it in a completely separate property. So, it builds its own data. It doesn’t really affect your core Google Analytics unless you have a very advanced setup.

How to set up Google Analytics 4

There are several ways of setting up new Google Analytics accounts for your website. We will be using Google tag manager for core implementation.

1. Sign in to the Analytics account with your website’s existing property.

1. Go to the Admin section.
2. In the Account column, select the account in which you want to create the property.

4. In the Property column, select “Create Property”

5. Enter Property Details, Now Google default now to GA4, if you ever want to create a previous version click on “Show advance Property” and click on “Create a Universal Property”. After entering details click “Next”.

6. Optional business info

7. Choose the desired platform. We are going with web steam.

8. Complete the webstream creation and create stream.

9. Take a note of measurement Id

10. Go to Google tag manager. If it’s your first time here it will ask you to create an account.

11. Click on “new account” and enter details. Then create.

12. Put the code as high in the <head> of the home page as possible. The second code is optional.

13. Create a new Tag.

14. Chose tag configuration to Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration and Triggering to Set to all pages

Conclusion
Chris Mercer’s Google Analytics for Beginners course on CXL Institute is an excellent way to dive into Digital Analytics. Even if you do have some previous knowledge and some experience, do give it a chance.

You’ll be positively surprised by the details and topics covered and be able to start making changes to your Analytics reporting right after.