Every business wants to optimize its online presence. Analyzing the users’ experience is a sure way to determine what works for digital marketing. If you want your website to rank better, “shaking hands” with Google is one of the best ways to do so. Even if you’re not a number-cruncher or like looking at graphs, it’s good to maintain a good relationship with Google.
How Google Analytics 4 Affects You
The next generation of Google analytics is arriving. Google Analytics 4, also known as GA4, was introduced in 2020 as a replacement to Universal Analytics. By July 1, 2023, everyone must upgrade to Google Analytics 4. According to Google, “GA4 is designed for the future of measurement.” Organizations will no longer view data through Universal Analytics. Instead, the data will flow into GA4. Digital marketers will still be able to track website usage and success, just in a new format. However, GA4 is more than just a newer version of Universal Analytics. While both versions collect data about the customer journey on websites and apps, GA4 collects and presents analytics a bit differently.
How Universal Analytics and GA4 Differ
One of the biggest differences is GA4’s event-based data model, instead of a session-based model. What does that mean? In a session-based model, analytics are sent through a web browser as cookies. The cookies track actions during a “session,” like page views and clicks. GA4 monitors “events,” so it logs these different types of data points without differentiating between them. This works better for tracking via different mobile devices.
Another difference is customer lifecycle tracking. Reports show the various customer stages of acquiring, engaging, monetizing, and retaining. Additionally, organizations can create custom reports using little or no coding. In the Explorations section, users can interact with data for advanced analytics.
GA4 also leverages artificial intelligence more than Universal Analytics did. Google Analytics 4 determines predictive analytics, so organizations can better plan their campaigns and activities to engage users. And aligning with today’s focus on data privacy, GA4 improved the privacy controls in reporting.
How Packerland Websites is Responding to GA4
As Google introduces Google Analytics 4, Packerland Websites is taking action. Every new website we build is equipped with GA4 instead of Universal Analytics. Additionally, the Packerland Websites team will add GA4 to its current websites over time. The Packerland Websites’ team wants all clients to have access to the most current measurement techniques to analyze their digital marketing strategies.You can view your website analytics via analytics.google.com. Contact us for more information about GA4 and other marketing tools and techniques like blogging, newsletters, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization).