By Maverick 
As technology continues to advance, users will also seek analytics tools that can provide information on how people interact with the websites as well as their overall performance. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) brings a drastic change as compared to its previous version, Universal Analytics, adding on new panorama as well as features that the current age marketer will benefit from. This article intends to address the concerns of how is, how it departs from Universal Analytics, and how the user can best use this new site.
What is GA4? 🌐
Google Analytics 4 is the latest and most advanced version of Google Analytics, designed to Analyze the customer journey more holistically by incorporating multiple devices and platforms. In contrast, Universal Analytics primarily focuses on measuring the number of hits, while GA4 collects metrics through events, enabling a deeper level of analysis.
As of October 2023, both systems, GA4 suggests, allow tracking a wide variety of actions, including views or actions performed by users, thus broadening the comprehension of the use of websites and applications by users. Also in this regard, it is interesting to note that there is a paradigm shift in terms of data collection, whereby events are collected instead of sessions and hits.
Key Differences Between GA4 and Universal Analytics 🔍
Knowing the differences between GA4 and Universal analytics is important in preparation for the change. So, let’s examine the most evident changes:
Data Model: In GA4, the data structure is based on events rather than sessions, which shifts focus from sessions to individual interactions with content. Thus, user activities become more thoroughly registered.
Measurement Protocol: In Google Analytics the measurement protocol is looser thus it is also possible to measure various custom events and other parameters.
User-Centric Reporting: Unlike the previous version UA, GA4 helps in user-centric reporting, whereby reporting provides analytics throughout a customer’s life, and not only reports on specific website visits.
Integration with Machine Learning: On this part, very constructive is the incorporation of machine learning in GA4 which utilizes some aspect of Google machine learning to render insights.
Privacy and Compliance: When it comes to GA4, this is much easier to accomplish – compliance with privacy regulations such as the GPDR.
Setting Up GA4 for Your Website ⚙️
There are a few ways in which people will need to prepare for the switch to GA4, to ensure that you are capturing the right data. Here’s what you need to do:
Create a GA4 Property: Go to your Google Analytics account to set up a new property. Click on “create property” and, select “Google Analytics” upon prompt.
Add GA4 Tracking Code: In Universal Analytics, a hefty amount of tracking code had to be added, but in Google Analytics, it is also quite simple as they have only just one tracking ID to be carried out.
Configure Data Streams: Data streams for your website and any mobile apps should also be created. This enables GA4 to receive where facts come from nearly everything.
Define Events: Identify what specific events you want GA4 to report. Some events are tracked automatically in Google Analytics but you can define your own custom events too.
Link to Google Ads: In the end, if you also have Google Ads, then you can link your GA4 property with it to see the performance of your ads.
Benefits of Using GA4 🚀
GA4 provides a few advantages that may amend your analytics strategy as follows:
Comprehensive Insights: Due to the event-based approach, the tracking of particular user activities can provide more understanding of their actions, engagement, etc.
Cross-Platform Tracking: You can record users on various apparatuses and platforms, thus formulating a more complete perspective of the user’s interaction.
Enhanced Reporting: The new reporting design offers more options for modifying and flexibility in seeking relevant information.
Predictive Analytics: By making use of machine learning, Google Analytics has the ability to anticipate actions and results that the users will complete.
Improved Data Privacy: GA4 features tools ensuring users’ privacy which conforms with different international laws and policies.
Live Classes and Training Opportunities 📚
So as to ease the users’ transition to GA4, there are live classes available that focus on the details of the platform. These classes span the whole spectrum of usage from a basic setup to more complex settings up to analytics.
The scheduled classes will happen on the 25th and 26th of March, where they will find out how to use GA4 in their marketing strategies. The audience participants will encourage anticipatory interaction by posting questions and receiving real-time feedback.
Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Analytics 🔮
The migration from Universal Analytics to GA4 has begun, and it is time to follow this change if you are a business. GA4 does not only allow you to track your progress in a better way, but it also provides the marketer the means to better comprehend and connect with their target audience.
This change will provide you with additional information regarding user activity that is effective in changing your marketing plan. Explore this Website Analytics tool and find out how it can revolutionize your angle toward analytics.