The following is an overview of how we convert websites that currently use Universal Analytics (UA) over to use Google GA-4. If you need help with this, please reach out using the form below. We’ve converted accounts ranging from “quick and easy” to “infinitely complex”.
If you’re a website owner or marketer, you may be familiar with Universal Analytics (UA) – the previous generation of Google Analytics. However, Google has now released a new version of their analytics tool called GA-4 (Google Analytics 4). If you’re currently using Universal Analytics on your website, you may want to consider upgrading to GA-4 to take advantage of its new features and insights. In this article, we’ll discuss how to convert a website from Universal Analytics to GA-4.
Step 1: Create a GA-4 Property The first step is to create a new GA-4 property. This can be done in the Google Analytics admin area. Once you’re logged in, click on “Create Property” and select “GA-4”. Follow the prompts to create your new property. You will also need to link your GA-4 property to your existing Google Analytics account.
Step 2: Update Your Tracking Code Once you have created your GA-4 property, you will need to update your tracking code on your website. The tracking code for GA-4 is different than the tracking code for Universal Analytics. You can find your GA-4 tracking code in the admin area of your GA-4 property.
To update your tracking code, you’ll need to replace the existing Universal Analytics tracking code with the new GA-4 tracking code. You can either do this manually, or by using a plugin or tag manager. Be sure to test your new tracking code to ensure that it’s working properly.
Step 3: Set Up Event Tracking GA-4 provides more advanced event tracking than Universal Analytics. To take advantage of these new features, you will need to set up event tracking on your website. This involves adding custom code to track specific actions on your website, such as clicks on buttons or downloads of files.
You can set up event tracking in the admin area of your GA-4 property. Once you have set up event tracking, you can use it to gain insights into user behavior on your website.
Step 4: Import Your Data If you have historical data from Universal Analytics that you want to import into GA-4, you can do so in the admin area of your GA-4 property. This will allow you to see all of your data in one place, and take advantage of GA-4’s advanced analysis tools.
To import your data, you’ll need to set up a data stream in GA-4 that is connected to your Universal Analytics property. Once the data stream is set up, you can import your historical data into GA-4.
What kind of events can GA-4 track for me?
Here are some examples of events that can be tracked using GA-4:
- Button clicks: You can track clicks on buttons on your website, such as “Add to Cart” buttons or “Subscribe” buttons. This can give you insight into how many users are engaging with your calls-to-action.
- Form submissions: You can track when users submit a form on your website, such as a contact form or newsletter sign-up form. This can help you understand how many users are converting on your website.
- Video plays: You can track when users play a video on your website, as well as how long they watch the video for. This can help you understand how engaging your video content is.
- Scroll tracking: You can track how far users scroll down on your website pages. This can help you understand how much of your content users are engaging with, and where they may be dropping off.
- Outbound link clicks: You can track clicks on links that lead users off of your website, such as links to social media profiles or partner websites. This can help you understand where users are going after leaving your website.
- Downloads: You can track when users download files from your website, such as PDFs or whitepapers. This can help you understand how many users are engaging with your content.
- Internal searches: If you have a search bar on your website, you can track when users search for something using that search bar. This can help you understand what users are looking for on your website.
To sum up, converting a website from Universal Analytics to GA-4 involves creating a new GA-4 property, updating your tracking code, setting up event tracking, and importing your data. By following these steps, you can take advantage of GA-4’s advanced features and insights to gain a deeper understanding of your website’s performance.
