Want to get to know Google Analytics 4 and how you can use it for your business? Well then, you’ve come to the right place!
In this blog article, we’re going to go over what Google Analytics 4 is, why it’s important, what some of its benefits are, when you should switch, and more.
So stay tuned as we dive into the world of data and explore the benefits of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and what it can do for your business!
What is Google Analytics 4?
Google Analytics 4 is a powerful analytics tool that offers invaluable insights into your website’s performance, user behavior, and marketing effectiveness. GA4 first debuted in October 2020, allowing businesses an enhanced dashboard to gain further insight into the health of their website and the various fronts of their marketing efforts.
When Should I Switch To Google Analytics 4?
If you’re already using Google Analytics 3, otherwise known as Universal Analytics, you may not want to leave the tool that you’ve come to know and love. Universal Analytics was beloved by most business owners since 2012, and many who are accustomed to the Universal Analytics platform are often reluctant to convert.
However, as popular as this tool is, Google will be sunsetting Universal Analytics on July 1, 2023. In a nutshell, you do not need to upgrade to Google Analytics if your analytics workflow is working well for you, however, once July 1 of 2023 comes, websites that have not upgraded to GA4 will no longer be able to access data processed by Google Analytics 3.
But don’t worry! Google Analytics 4 provides huge improvements that any business owner can appreciate.
What Are The Benefits Of Upgrading To Google Analytics 4?
Here are a few of the benefits that you, as a business owner, can reap from Google Analytics 4.
1) Enhanced Data Collection and Integration
Google Analytics 4 comes with a more advanced data model, which allows for greater flexibility and scalability. This more advanced data model that GA4 uses is event-based, thus enabling you to track and measure a wide range of user interactions on your website.
This includes clicks, page views, downloads, video plays, and more. Furthermore, GA4 is designed to work seamlessly with Google’s BigQuery, as well as other apps in the Google software ecosystem, further facilitating the integration of your analytics data with other data sources for more comprehensive analysis.
2) Improved User Privacy and Compliance
In today’s world, user privacy is paramount. GA4 is designed with privacy at its core, ensuring that your business complies with the latest data protection regulations.
It offers features like Consent Mode and IP anonymization, which help you respect user privacy preferences and comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other data protection laws.
GA4 also provides a flexible data retention policy, allowing you to determine how long your data is stored.
3) Advanced Analysis and Reporting
One of the key advantages of Google Analytics 4 is its powerful analysis capabilities. With GA4, you can leverage the power of Google’s machine learning algorithms to gain predictive insights into user behavior, such as the likelihood of user churn or conversion.
The new Analysis Hub also offers advanced segmentation and exploration capabilities, allowing you to dive deep into your data and uncover valuable insights.
4) Cross-Platform Tracking
As more users access your website through multiple devices, it’s essential to understand their journey across these different touchpoints. GA4’s cross-platform tracking feature enables you to measure user behavior across your website and mobile apps, providing a unified view of user interactions.
This helps you identify any gaps in the user experience and optimize your marketing efforts for better results.
5) Enhanced Ecommerce Features
GA4 comes with a set of ecommerce specific features that help you better understand and optimize your online store’s performance.
With enhanced ecommerce tracking, you can monitor product views, add-to-cart actions, and purchase data, providing valuable insights into your sales funnel.
The improved attribution modeling in GA4 also helps you understand the impact of your marketing efforts on conversions, enabling you to optimize your ad spend for maximum ROI.
6) Plethora of Customization Options
GA4 offers greater customization capabilities, including the ability to create custom dimensions and metrics, as well as custom event tracking as we mentioned before.
Other highly customizable options include custom dashboards and reports so you can see the metrics and KPIs that are important to you and your business, custom audiences and segments so you can tailor your marketing efforts to key target demographics, and custom funnels so you can visualize and identify bottlenecks, drop-off points, and opportunities for optimization in your conversion process.
Should I Be Concerned About Anything Before Upgrading To Google Analytics 4?
Any business can appreciate the value and insight that Google Analytics 4 offers as the tool is free to use. This is fantastic as it makes the analysis tool accessible to businesses of all sizes and budgets. Your web developer might charge a small fee to install GA4 onto your website as the process is a bit technical, but once installed, the service is simple to use and will be free from then on out.
Another concern people often has is the learning curve associated with a new analytics tool. Due to the high level of customization offered by GA4, the setup phase is often longer than what people have been accustomed to with previous tools.
The final concern is with data migration from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4. At the moment, there is no method to transfer old data to the new platform, so unless you’re an analytics guru, it’s advised to seek a professional to run GA4 alongside GA3 to help recreate the metrics and events that you’re concerned with so your data continuity remains somewhat intact.
How can we help?
At Rogue Wave Marketing, we reveal the uniqueness of every brand through inspirational and impactful messaging and content catered for your audience.
Final Thoughts On Getting To Know Google Analytics 4 And How To Use It For Your Business
Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting your journey into the world of digital analytics, GA4 is the perfect companion for enhancing your business’s online presence. Google Analytics 4 offers a host of benefits for businesses looking to harness the power of data and unlock new opportunities for growth. With its advanced data collection, user privacy features, powerful analysis capabilities, cross-platform tracking, and enhanced e-commerce features, GA4 is the ideal analytics solution for businesses of all sizes.
Embrace the future of digital analytics and upgrade to GA4 today to supercharge your online success! If an upgrade of this magnitude to your website is outside your comfort zone, then don’t be afraid to ask your web developer to complete it for you.
Need a web developer? The talented web developers at Rogue Wave Marketing are here to help! Don’t hesitate on upgrading your site to Google Analytics 4, contact us today to get started!
