Google Analytics 4.0 and All Things Marketing
I’m starting an online discussion group on the topic of marketing. If you are interested in presenting, listening, talking, and learning you are welcome to join. It should be fun and informative. Bring your favorite drink.
The day and time are Wednesday, July 20 · 4:00 – 5:00 pm
The frequency is once per month on the third Wednesday.
Join Google Meet with this link: https://meet.google.com/ous-cbuf-vab
Click on the Google Calendar image below or this link to add the event to your calendar.
Here is a list of topics we can talk about. Not all at one time. Maybe for the first discussion, we will keep it simple and start with introductions.
Let me spell that out for you - DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. The reason is that GA4 can’t start collecting data until the code has been added to your website.
Maybe you have seen the emails from Google but in case you haven’t Google is “upgrading” Google Analytics. As of July 1, 2023, GA3 will no longer be processing data. In other words, version 3 will be gone. Instead, every company using Google Analytics for website data will need to install GA4 with a new Property and new code and number on the website.
Upgrading isn’t a difficult task, but it does require an understanding of what to do and the time to make the change. Google has already added a new Property under your account. All you need to do is copy the code and paste it somewhere in the code of your website (there are a variety of options). Luckily Google has provided a Setup Assistant.
You can figure out if you have the old version or the new version by looking at the source code for your website.
Use Find to find the code for Google Analytics. The number for the old version of Analytics started with UA- followed by 6 numbers a dash and the profile number. The new version starts with G- followed by a bunch-of-numbers-and-letters.
GA4 is supposed to be better. I’m just not sure who it is better for. Previously, I used quotes around the word “upgrading” because I’m unsure if this version is better. I have been logging in and out of GA since it was offered to the public on Nov 14, 2005. Has it really been that long?
I was reasonably happy with the old version. The interface is a bit clunky and performing some tasks was a bit awkward. But it worked. Maybe I’m just a Luddite.
A long long time ago (before 2005-11-14), there were dozens of software programs available and we had to pay a monthly subscription. Then Google bought Urchin and offered their version of the software for free to everyone. That must have been G 1.0. I have no idea when versions 2.0 and 3.0 were released. The upgrades were invisible to me.
Google states that “GA4 is a new property designed for the future of measurement:
Collects both website and app data to better understand the customer journey
Uses events instead of session-based data
Includes privacy controls such as cookieless measurement, and behavioral and conversion modeling
Predictive capabilities offer guidance without complex models
Direct integrations to media platforms help drive actions on your website or app”
I have logged into GA4 many times already. It is confusing and I can’t seem to find what I want. Sure, there are dashboards, reports, data, and lots of customization capabilities, BUT I can’t find simple things like a button for looking at data for the Day, Week, and Month. I used the “month” button all the time. Now it is gone. Gone like the Dodo bird. Gone like nice cool summer days in Alberta.
Now we have GA4, and we are forced to upgrade. The only good news is that we have a year to make the change.
Like I said, DO IT NOW. The reason is that data is not collected by GA4 until after the code is installed on your website.
If you don’t know how or you are too busy or you can’t be bothered, then contact me and we will help you out. NO CHARGE. Yes, you read that correctly - WE WILL DO THIS FOR YOU FOR FREE.
Contact me.
403-703-2247
