Google Analytics 4 is replacing Universal Analytics, GA4 is the next-generation measurement solution from Google, and it is replacing Google Universal Analytics (Google UA) next year. On July 1, 2023, the Google Universal Analytics properties will stop processing new hits. What does this mean – your analytics will no longer be tracking your website analytics in the UA analytics. But don’t panic, you have over a year to move to the updated Google Analytics 4. You can run both in parallel and see get used to the GA4.
Make the Switch to Google Analytics 4
If you still rely on Universal Analytics, we recommend that you complete your move to Google Analytics 4. First, you need to add GA4 in your Google Analytics admin panel, and once that is done add the updated GA4 tracking code to your website. Leave the old code active and that way you’ll get analytics on both the old and new platform.
If you have questions on the Google Universal Analytics end of life or need help setting up the new Google Analytics 4, shoot us a message and we’ll help you out. If you are a client of Euro-Pacific Digital Media, we will do the update and installation of Analytics 4 as part of our updates package during 2022.
Put Google Analytics 4 at the core of your measurement
Now’s the time to create a new Google Analytics 4 property and ensure that your setup is complete. If you haven’t started collecting data in your Google Analytics 4 property, you should do so now. This will allow you to gather the historical insights you need to measure your results over time when Universal Analytics stops processing hits. If you are already collecting the data you need in Google Analytics 4, you should ensure your remaining setup is complete.
You can continue to use and collect new data in your Universal Analytics properties until July 1, 2023. After that, you will be able to access your previously processed data in Universal Analytics for a period of at least six months. We know your data is important to you and we strongly encourage you to export your historical reports during this time.
In the coming months, Google will provide a future date for when they will fully sunset Universal Analytics. On this sunset date, you will no longer be able to see your Universal Analytics reports in the Analytics interface or access your Universal Analytics data via the API.
Google Advertisers: Use Google Analytics 4 data in Google Ads
Once your Google Analytics 4 property setup is complete, you can start viewing reports and using Analytics data in your Google Ads account. To take full advantage of all that Google Analytics 4 has to offer, sign in to Google Ads and do at least one of the following:
- Import conversions (for bidding), making sure to remove any Universal Analytics goals from conversion settings in Google Ads to avoid duplicate conversions.
- Add Analytics audiences to a campaign or ad group (for remarketing).
What to expect when comparing metrics between Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics
As you set up Google Analytics 4, you may want to compare the reported results in your Google Analytics 4 property against those in your Universal Analytics property. This article explains the extent to which you can and cannot compare metrics between Universal Analytics and Google Analytics 4. Read More About Google Analytics 4
Don’t forget, if you have questions on the Google Universal Analytics end of life or need help setting up the new Google Analytics 4, shoot us a message and we’ll help you out. If you are a client of Euro-Pacific Digital Media, we will do the update and installation of Analytics 4 as part of our updates package during 2022.
Euro-Pacific Digital Media is a Google Partner – click here to find out more.
