Whether you are working towards paid traffic or organic marketing efforts, monitoring your website’s performance is the key to success. This allows you to track what efforts are working and which need improvements.

For marketers and business owners alike, Google Analytics was the place to do this. However, As of July 1, 2023, all of the current Google Analytics users must have migrated to the new Google Analytics 4 system. This new GA4 will replace the previous GA3 system, also called Universal Analytics.

GA4 is a complete revamp of the current Google Analytics platform. This new platform promises to be more accurate when analysing data, better at predicting user behaviour and overall help its users even more than before.

So, how will this affect you and your business? Well for starters, if you don’t make the switch you risk losing valuable consumer insights. Luckily for you, we have put together everything you need to know about GA4’s new system below.

What Exactly Is GA4?

GA4 is a complete redesign of the current Google Analytics platform. The new GA4 offers new key features that differ significantly compared to the older Universal version. These differences are seen across the user interface, navigation and architecture. You may also notice that metrics and reporting features have changed. This is supposed to offer increased accuracy and functionality, along with an improved user experience.

What are the benefits of GA4?

According to Google, there are numerous new benefits associated with GA4. Overall, the platform is more accurate than the current version of Google Analytics. This means businesses and marketers will get improved precision in terms of consumer behaviour insights and data tracking.

Google also rolled out its Machine Learning with GA4. This new feature is geared specifically towards supporting marketers. What machine learning software does is, collect data from users and then use that data to learn based on their journey. This offers marketers real-time behaviour monitoring capabilities. These capabilities support them when identifying which target audiences are more likely to convert based on past performance and trends.

GA4 also offers new codeless tracking of events. This tracking system can identify users’ interactions on websites and apps without the use of cookies. These are called identity spaces and provide marketers with visibility of the entire customer journey.

With increased privacy data concerns today, it makes sense that GA4 will reduce the reliance on cookies and start using machine learning. This AI-driven model will offer stronger predictive power and provide businesses with even more data to work and market from.

How do I get started with GA4?

Like learning your way around any other new platform, GA4 can feel intimidating when you first try switching over, but eventually, you’ll get the hang of it with more use. The best part is, that at the moment Google still allows you to test out the new GA4 while maintaining a Universal Analytics account. Making this the perfect time for you to prepare before GA3 is gone forever. If you’re interested in setting up GA4 for yourself, there are a few actions you will need to take.

First, you’ll obviously need to have a Google Analytics account. Once logged in, simply head into the Admin Area.

Then click on the gear-shaped icon at the lower-left corner of your screen.

Then select “Properties” from the sidebar and click on “GA4 Set Up Assistant”.

From there, you’ll be able to set up your GA4 and start tracking your website’s data using an existing tag or by setting up Google Tag Manager and adding the analytics tag yourself.

If you were able to do this correctly, then congratulations! You have just successfully upgraded your Universal Analytics to GA4.

Our Final Thoughts

With its scope of new features and insights, this latest version of Google Analytics seems to be an essential component for any businesses looking to grow their marketing performance in 2023.

Despite the mixed reviews, these new AI-driven insights will hugely benefit businesses looking to gain greater control over their marketing this year.

Upgrading to Google Analytics 4 may feel intimidating, but the sooner you start the easier it will be. Especially, while you can still use both systems side by side.

If you are ready to get started with the new GA4 upgrade, contact Finsbury Media for a free consultation today.