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Goodbye Universal Analytics!?! What You Need To Know About Googles Announcement - read the full article about July Google update, Search engine optimization and from Loves Data on Qualified.One
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Hey there, Benjamin from Loves Data here.
Welcome back! Google has just announced their plan to sunset Universal Analytics next year.
So if youre using the previous version of Google Analytics, you have until the end of June 2023 to transition to Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
In this video, Im going to cover some important questions people are asking about moving from Universal Analytics to GA4.
Since Universal Analytics will stop working next year, its critical that you begin planning your move to GA4.
So in a moment, Im also going to show you how to quickly add GA4 in parallel to your existing Universal Analytics property.
It also means its a good time to start learning more about the features and reports available in GA4, so Ive also included links to my GA4 courses and extra resources in the description below this video.
Okay, lets cover some important questions...
What happens after June 2023? Your Universal Analytics properties will stop processing data into reports.
From 1 July 2023, you will see zeros in your reports (only historical data will be available).
And if youre using the paid version of Google Analytics, so GA 360, then you will have three more months to migrate to GA4.
What happens to data in Universal Analytics? Google has said you will be able to access your historical data for at least six months after Universal Analytics stops processing data.
This means you have until the end of December 2023 to download any historical data and insights.
After this time, you wont be able to access any of your reports in Universal Analytics.
How can I check which version of Google Analytics Im using? Its pretty easy to check if youre using Universal Analytics or GA4.
Lets head to Google Analytics to take a look...
Okay, Ive already logged into Google Analytics and were looking at one of Googles demo properties.
There are a couple of easy ways to tell if youre looking at Universal Analytics or GA4.
The first thing to look at is the main menu on the left...
If you hover over the menu and see Home, Reports, Explore, Advertising, and Configure, then youre looking at a GA4 property.
The other way to tell is by selecting the property and view selector at the top...
You might find that your GA4 property has a name that makes it easy to tell, like we can see here, but this isnt always the case.
Instead, look at the property ID below the name...
We can see the ID is 213025502...
If this ID only contains numbers, then youre looking at a GA4 property.
But we can see below this, the other property has an ID that starts with a UA...
So this is a Universal Analytics property.
Lets select the Universal Analytics property...
You will also see that Universal Analytics properties contain reporting views...
So lets select a reporting view...
You will notice the menu is different to what we saw in GA4.
Remember if you see Home, Reports, Explore, Advertising, and Configure, then youre looking at a GA4 property.
Since we cant see Reports, Explore, Advertising, or Configure in the menu, this means were looking at a Universal Analytics property.
Now lets select Admin...
Since were looking at the admin area for a Universal Analytics property, we can see there are three columns.
So this is another way to tell what type of property youre looking at.
If we select a GA4 property...
Then there are only two columns.
So theyre some different ways you can identify if youre using Universal Analytics or GA4.
Can I upgrade Universal Analytics to GA4? Unfortunately, you cant simply upgrade your Universal Analytics property to a GA4 property.
Instead, you need to set up a new GA4 property in parallel to your existing Universal Analytics property.
Can I move data from Universal Analytics to GA4? No, unfortunately, this isnt possible.
There is no way to import data from Universal Analytics into GA4.
The best option is to set up GA4 in parallel to Universal Analytics.
Lets take a look at the steps to setup GA4 in parallel to your existing Universal Analytics property...
One of the easiest ways to get up and running is to use the GA4 Setup Assistant.
Lets select this...
I recommend using the option at the top that says I want to create a new Google Analytics 4 property, so lets click Get Started...
The option to collect data using your existing tag might be available for your property, but my suggestion is to install the tag separately using Google Tag Manager.
So leave this option deselected and click Create Property...
Now click See your GA4 property...
Google Analytics provides some recommended steps to help you get started.
So lets select Tag Installation...
Now we need to select the data stream...
And on the top right corner you will see the Measurement ID...
Lets copy this...
And now lets head to Google Tag Manager...
We need to create a new tag...
Lets name the tag Google Analytics GA4...
And lets select Tag Configuration...
We need to choose GA4 Configuration as the tag type...
And now we need to paste the measurement ID we just copied...
Now lets select Triggering...
And select All Page...
This will mean our new GA4 tag will fire on all of the pages on our website.
Now we can save the tag...
You can preview the tag to check that the tag is working correctly, but Im happy with my tag, so Im going to click Submit...
Ive now added GA4 to my website in parallel to the existing Universal Analytics tag.
So theyre the steps to add the GA4 tag to your website.
This will now automatically collect page views and details about some other important actions taking place on your website.
If youve implemented any customizations, then you will also need to set these up in Google Tag Manager so that theyre sent to Google Analytics.
How do I set up and configure GA4? If youre using Universal Analytics, I recommend listing out any customizations youve made (think event tracking, filters, ecommerce tracking, etc.).
Then you can use this list to ensure you replicate those customizations in GA4.
Ive included a link to get my GA4 Checklist in the description below this video.
How can I learn more about GA4? Ive included links to my other GA4 tutorials on YouTube in the description below this video.
And if youre looking for a course to guide you through everything you need to know about GA4, then check out my courses.
Ive also included links in the description.
So theyre some of the most important questions people are asking about moving from Universal Analytics to GA4.
Im working on a GA4 FAQ video, so if you have another question you would like to see me answer, theres a link in the description that will let you submit your GA4 questions.
Are you using GA4 yet? Id love to know! And if you found this video helpful, please like it so I know to make more videos like this one.
Ill see you in the next video.
Loves Data: Goodbye Universal Analytics!?! What You Need To Know About Googles Announcement - Search engine optimization