Universal Analytics will stop collecting web engagement data on June 30, 2023. Google Analytics 4 will be Google’s only web analytics platform after July 1, 2023. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is a new methodology for collecting data, requiring businesses to set up a new property, not just upgrade their existing Universal Analytics account.
What happens to current Google Analytics integrations?
Native integrations between GA4, Search Console, and Google Ads will all need to be turned on again in your GA4 property. Suppose you have a 3rd party tool currently integrated with Universal Analytics. In that case, you will need to figure out if and when that tool provider is releasing a tool that will allow you to incorporate it with GA4. GA4 does not copy your remarketing audience.
Google Analytics 4 Features & Benefits
Cross-platform tracking
Complete user journey tracking
Advanced analysis
Big Query integration
Why hire a professional to migrate your business to GA4?
A professional can:
Understand and determine what you need to measure
Setup GA4 to collect data that matters to you
Validate tracking is setup correctly
Visualize GA4 data in a dashboard
Train you and your team on Google Analytics 4
Provide coding knowledge to explain Big Query
Correctly configure and interpret new metrics
Accurately compare UA to GA4 metrics
What are the risks associated with relying on Google to set up GA4?
Google is automatically updating accounts to GA4, but there are risks involved with allowing them to take the wheel on this:
Google is only planning to migrate a few basic settings meaning the migration may not be complete
Google is only migrating certain conversion events and tags
Google support is often lacking
Suboptimal or incorrect integration with Google Tag manager
Forces old event structure instead of leveraging the power of new structure
Leaves out newly available information
Lose the opportunity to re-evaluate and validate current measurement
GA4 is in ongoing development; new features and recommended changes are being continuously updated
Default settings only collect the minimum amount of data
eSpark partners with Labyrinth Digital for Google Analytics 4 migrations. Click here to reach out to our partner for help with GA4.
Kelly Martin is a seasoned Digital Marketing Specialist with AmpliSell. Graduating from Texas State University in 2019, Kelly quickly made a name for herself in digital marketing, seamlessly merging innovative strategies with tried-and-true practices. At AmpliSell, she has been instrumental in boosting the digital footprints of the business, leveraging cutting-edge tools and data-driven insights. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kelly is keenly interested in emerging tech trends and dedicates herself to continuous learning. When not immersed in her work, she can often explore the latest social media trends or attend digital marketing conferences to hone her craft further.