Okay, so now it’s official, July 1, 2023, it will be when GA4 will entirely replace Universal Analytics. Numerous giants have already started migration from UA to GA4 and now, there will be simply no option for the businesses who were reluctant to switch. But, hey, what if we tell you that in the race of GA4 vs Universal Analytics, GA4 is winning it? Yes, GA4 is way more efficient and better, refined, and advanced as compared to Universal Analytics.
Now, when it’s mandatory to use GA4, our experts further list and explain insights into the platform. Check them out, and make sure that you don’t migrate on this platform by being an unknown bee to it.
What is GA4 Analytics?
Basics first! What exactly GA4 is? Just like UA, GA4 is a platform that helps businesses to understand the user’s purchase journey and plan out the growth marketing strategy accordingly. Primarily focused on session-based data, GA4 demands only a Google Analytics account.
Here, only a single platform, single account, and a single property, and you can track insights for both, the web and app.
GA4 vs Universal Analytics: How Do They Differ?
So, how does GA4 differ from Universal Analytics? If you have been using UA for a while, you might be knowing that UA used two metrics: Total Users & New Users. While GA4 uses three metrics, Total Users, Active Users, and New Users.
UA did take different screen view properties, while GA4 combines everything in one and presents you the data altogether, which reduces the platform requirements to a good extent.
The point where currently UA gets some edge is the filter support. UA did support filters which allow the businesses to be more specific, while GA4 at this point doesn’t support filters. However, with the passing of time, it is believed that GA4 will introduce filters.
GA4 Migration Checklist: Things to Do For Smooth Migration
So, what are things that you must nail to ensure that your migration from UA to GA4 is smooth? Checkout the GA4 migration checklist explained by our experts below.
- Research Your Own UA Account: What? I have been working on it for a long-time and still, I need to research my UA account? Yes, you need to. There would be several aspects that you might not have explored and used. It’s important for you to know every aspect of your UA to ensure that you face no difficulties while migrating to and using GA4.
- Decide the GA4 Structure & Manage User-Permissions: The next step is to decide on the GA4 structure and manage the user permissions to give important access. Try to structure your GA4 account such that you need not change the same in the future.
- Identify the Data You Want to Migrate: Once you are done with setting up your GA4 account, now is the time to identify the data that you wish to migrate. Also, you can filter out several aspects that you believe won’t be useful and hence, reduce the complexities on the GA4 platform.
The data does vary as per the business. Hence, firstly, it’s important to know your business, try to predict future trends, and ensure that you select the right data for migration on GA4.
- Setting the Parameters: Once you are done with deciding the data to be migrated, now is the time to set up the custom parameters. Here, you need to know the difference clearly between GA and UA4. Both of these platforms come with different scopes and working modes, and you need to stay absolutely clear of the same.
Setting up the custom parameters might seem simple. However, that’s a bit tricky and one of the most important aspects of migration.
- Execute and Track: Lastly, just execute your growth marketing strategy and keep on tracking the results by using your GA4 account. For any business to succeed online, it’s a must to keep on tracking the results and GA4 is definitely a reliable tool to do so.
Keep tracking the stats using GA4, recognize the loopholes in your strategy, and make efforts to cover them.
Yes, GA4 will come with its own set of challenges in terms of understanding the workflow and technicalities. But, with the efficiency the platform provides and with the advancements predicted, understanding and using GA4 is absolutely worth it.
Keeping the above-explained GA4 migration checklist in your mind and nailing every aspect covered in the same would make the UA to GA4 migration easy for you to a good extent. If you are still wondering if GA4 is really a good platform, then just stay assured as GA4 if used well, can really make your business thrive. Hence, hire a growth marketing agency to migrate to GA4 with peace and without any doubts in your mind.
