Google Analytic 4 (GA4) – Introduction
GA4 stands for Google Analytics 4, is the latest version of Google’s web analytics platform. The new analytic version was officially announced in October 2020 and is now the default version for all new Google Analytics accounts. GA4 provides businesses and website owners with insights into their audience’s behavior and engagement on their website. Furthermore GA4 is designed to be more user-friendly, with a simplified interface and improved data tracking capabilities.
GA4 – Fundamentals Principles
- Understanding Visitors: GA4 helps you know who visits your website or app, where they come from (like which country or website), and what they’re interested in.
- Tracking Actions: It tracks what people do on your site or app, like clicking on buttons, watching videos, or buying products. This helps you see what’s popular and what’s not.
- Seeing Trends: GA4 shows you patterns over time, like if more people visit on weekends or if a certain page gets more views during specific times of the day. This helps you plan better.
- Improving Performance: By understanding how people interact with your website or app, you can make changes to improve their experience. For example, if you see that many people leave your site after visiting a particular page, you might want to redesign that page to keep them engaged.
Below you can find a brief overview of the 5 main differences between Universal Analytics and GA4.
- Data Collection Model. Probably the most important difference between Universal Analytics and GA4 is the underlying data collection model. Universal Analytics uses a cookie-based tracking system, where data is collected from individual sessions on a website.
- User Interface. Another major difference between Universal Analytics and GA4 is the user interface. GA4 has a much more modern and streamlined interface, making it easier for users to navigate and find the information they need.
- User-Centric Data Analysis. GA4 places a stronger emphasis on user-centric data analysis, as opposed to session-based analysis in Universal Analytics. This means that GA4 collects and analyzes data on a per-user basis, rather than on a session-by-session basis. This allows for a more complete understanding of a user’s journey and behavior on a website, which can help businesses better optimize all marketing strategies.
- Tracking Capabilities. Universal Analytics has a wide range of tracking capabilities, including the ability to track events, e-commerce data, and cross-domain tracking. However, GA4 takes tracking to the next level with its enhanced event tracking. It can track a wider variety of events and provides more detailed information about each event.
- Data Retention. GA4 has a default data retention period of 14 months, while Universal Analytics retains data for 26 months by default. However, both versions allow users to adjust the data retention period based on their needs.
Why you need GA4 ?
The benefits of the GA4 are extensive GA4, although some limitations do remain. For example GA4 allows businesses to gain valuable insights into user behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates. It also let you track the entire user journey from discovery to purchase, helping you identify which pages or features are most effective in driving conversions.
Furthermore, GA4 uses machine learning to provide advanced insights and predictions, making it easier for businesses to make data-driven decisions. It also offers cross-device and cross-platform tracking, giving businesses a holistic view of their customers’ interactions across different devices and channels.
Additionally, GA4 has a new event-based tracking system, which allows for more flexibility and customization in tracking user actions, making it easier to measure specific goals and actions.
To Conclude
To conclude, although Universal Analytics and GA4 are versions of Google Analytics, both differ in their data collection model, interface, tracking capabilities and focus on user-centric data analysis. As the digital landscape is constantly evolving at an accelerated manner. It is important for businesses and users to constantly stay up to date and keep adapting in order to be successful with their services and products. This new version GA4 is a powerful tool for businesses looking to optimise their online presence and improve their overall performance.