In just a few weeks, Google will stop processing data from its old Universal Analytics system, and use GA4 exclusively. If you haven’t made the switch to GA4 by July 1, you’ll start missing out on visitor information, so make sure you transition before then (contact us if you need assistance).
Because there’s always a bit of hesitancy about leaving behind an analytics tool that you’re familiar with, to something brand new, we thought we’d talk about some of the positives with switching to GA4.
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics that offers new and improved features for website owners and digital marketers. While the previous version of Google Analytics (Universal Analytics) focused on tracking web pageviews, GA4 offers a more comprehensive view of user behaviour across multiple platforms and devices.
In this post, we’ll discuss five great things about GA4 that make it a must-have for any website owner or digital marketer.
1. Cross-Platform Tracking
One of the most significant changes in GA4 is its ability to track user behaviour across multiple platforms and devices. With GA4, you can track user interactions on your website, mobile app, and even your offline business. This allows you to gain a more comprehensive view of your users’ behaviour and how they interact with your brand.
For example, if a user visits your website and later downloads your mobile app, GA4 can track that user’s behaviour across both platforms. This allows you to understand how users interact with your brand across different platforms and optimise your marketing strategies accordingly.
2. Enhanced User Privacy
GA4 places a strong emphasis on user privacy, making it a valuable tool for website owners and digital marketers who want to comply with data privacy regulations. GA4 uses a privacy-centric approach to data collection, which includes advanced machine learning techniques to protect user data while still providing valuable insights.
For example, GA4 uses a technique called “data modeling” to fill in gaps in data when users opt-out of tracking. This means that even if a user opts-out of tracking, GA4 can still provide valuable insights into their behaviour based on similar users’ data.
3. Improved Data Analysis
GA4 offers new and improved data analysis tools that make it easier for website owners and digital marketers to understand their users’ behaviour. For example, GA4’s “Analysis Hub” allows you to create custom reports and analyse your data in new and insightful ways.
The Analysis Hub also includes advanced machine learning capabilities, such as “Exploration,” which allows you to analyse your data without having to specify a particular question or hypothesis. This means that you can gain new insights into your users’ behaviour and make data-driven decisions.
4. Deeper Insights into User behaviour
GA4 provides deeper insights into user behaviour, allowing you to understand your users’ actions and intentions better. For example, GA4’s “Events” feature allows you to track user interactions with specific elements on your website, such as buttons or forms.
This means that you can understand how users interact with specific elements on your website and optimise your website’s design and user experience accordingly.
5. Integration with Google Ads
GA4 is fully integrated with Google Ads, making it easier for website owners and digital marketers to optimise their advertising strategies. GA4’s integration with Google Ads allows you to track and analyse the effectiveness of your advertising campaigns across multiple platforms and devices.
For example, you can use GA4 to track the effectiveness of your Google Ads campaigns on your website and mobile app. This allows you to understand how users interact with your ads across different platforms and optimise your advertising strategies accordingly.
Get started with GA4 today
GA4 offers new and improved features that make it a must-have for any website owner or digital marketer. From cross-platform tracking to enhanced user privacy and improved data analysis, GA4 provides valuable insights into your users’ behaviour and allows you to optimise your digital marketing strategies accordingly.
To help get started with GA4, or Google Analytics in general, get in touch and we can set you up and make sure your website is reporting the data you need to make better decisions, and help your digital marketing be a whole lot more effective.