{"id":8084,"date":"2023-04-11T14:02:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T14:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thewebkitchen.co.uk\/?p=8084"},"modified":"2023-04-11T14:02:52","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T14:02:52","slug":"what-is-google-analytics-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewebkitchen.co.uk\/what-is-google-analytics-4\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Google Analytics 4?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Google Analytics 4 (or GA4) is the latest version of the web analytics tool created by Google. It was launched in October 2020 and is a significant update to the previous version of Google Analytics (Universal Analytics or UA).<\/span><\/p>\n Google Analytics was first launched in 2005, when Google acquired Urchin Software Corporation. It was initially called Google Analytics Premium and was only available to paying customers but in 2007, Google launched a free version of Google Analytics, which made it accessible to a much wider audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2013, the version of Universal Analytics we all know and love was introduced. This included many new tracking capabilities and improved integration with other Google products. Since then UA has remained largely unchanged.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2020, Google launched Google Analytics 4<\/a>, a major update to the platform that introduced a new data model and new features such as cross-device tracking, machine learning-powered insights, and enhanced privacy controls.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the primary reasons GA4 was created was to address the changing landscape of digital marketing and the increasing complexity of user behaviour across different devices and platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n With the rise of mobile devices, social media, and other digital channels, traditional web analytics tools such as UA were no longer enough to provide a complete picture of user behaviour. UA was primarily designed for web tracking, while GA4 provides a more comprehensive approach that includes tracking across mobile apps, web, and offline interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n GA4 is built on a new technology infrastructure and provides a more comprehensive approach to tracking user behaviour across different devices and platforms. It allows marketers and website owners to gather more data and insights about their users, including data on app usage, web browsing, and offline interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n There are several key differences between GA4 and UA:<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, GA4 provides a more modern and flexible approach to web analytics and enables marketers to gain deeper insights into their customers’ behaviour and optimise their marketing efforts accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n While GA4 offers many advantages, there are also some downsides to be aware of:<\/span><\/p>\n In March 2022, Google announced they would be sunsetting Universal Analytics<\/a> and from July 2023 it will stop processing new data altogether. Accounts will remain active and be accessible for 6 months but by the end of 2023, Universal Analytics will be no more<\/a>.<\/p>\n We’ve been making the switch for all of our clients since July 2022 and so most new GA4 account will contains 12 months of data. There’s a learning curve to the new UI and data model but we’re excited about the opportunities GA4 will bring to user behaviour analysis and ultimately what that could mean for improved marketing efforts and user experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhy was Google Analytics 4 created?<\/b><\/h2>\n
The benefits of GA4 (and differences from UA)<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The downsides to Google Analytics 4<\/h2>\n
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Making the switch to GA4<\/h2>\n