Universal Analytics – Everything You Need to Know About Migrating to GA4

The ability to measure traffic and engagement across multiple platforms allows you to realign your strategy and take you closer to your objectives. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) precisely helps you do that. No wonder businesses are increasingly moving to GA4. But the process isn’t straightforward. It involves multiple steps for which you require an SEO expert in Pune. So, here are the steps involved in migrating to GA4.

How to Migrate from Universal Analytics to GA4? – 9 Steps for Successful Migration from Universal Analytics (UA) to GA4

Here’s an overview of how to migrate from UA to GA4. Hire expert SEO services in Pune for a detailed explanation and execution of the migration process. The process can take days to some weeks, based on your site, UA architecture and the availability of the team who will execute the migration process.

1. Assess Your Existing Measurement Strategy

UA will stop collecting data on July 1, 2023. So, it is pretty obvious for you to hurry up. But don’t get hassled. Ask yourself relevant questions concerning UA tracking your business and marketing KPIs optimally, the availability of the required data in UA reports, is your UA account aligned with your business changes, etc. 

2. Prepare a Key Item List

Create a list of key items, including events, content groupings, referral exclusions, audiences, product link connections, goals, and custom dimensions. Once you create the list, assess what you need and perhaps where gaps exist, wherein you will have to create new tracking items like new goals. 

Goals are created in every reporting view. But reporting views are not used with GA4. Thus, if you look to preserve all current goals in multiple reporting views for the same UA property, list all and recreate them in the GA4 property.

3. Collect Data in UA and GA4

Google Analytics does not transfer your data from UA to GA4. You can use a technique called parallel tracking, which in other words, is collecting data in UA and GA4. To do so, review your UA architecture, check your UA tag, implement the tag on the website, set up data streams, clean up data in GA4, connect your UA properties to GA4, set up cookieless tracking, comprehend GA4 debugging and align data retention settings.

4. Align with UA and GA4 Differences

UA and GA4 are different. For instance, UA is hit-based, and GA is event-oriented. On the other hand, UA isn’t privacy-focused, but GA4 is.  

To do it, focus on understanding and changing administrator settings, enhance data collection with improved measurements, map your KPIs to GA4 on the paper, know properties and recommended events, enhance campaign tracking, build an eCommerce tracking plan and learn how to customize the reporting interface.

5. Configure Your GA4 Account

To configure your GA4 account, check for potential conversions, inspect UA commerce tracking, establish content grouping, create audience groups, check engagement data, monitor and track in-app purchases, build custom dimensions, understand user properties, activate Google Signals and ensure cross-device tracking configuration.

6. Migrate Events One by One

While migrating, look at G44 and UA one by one. Evaluate your events and conversions one by one. Check if you have marked events in GA4 as events conversions and if they are configured correctly and have the right GA4 parameters. In addition, look for GA4 parameters limitations and the events you need to manually migrate from GA4.

7. Link GA4 Account with Other Google Offerings

Now, link the products you need and which you can legally use in your country. Your SEO expert in Pune can help you check out what’s valid and what isn’t.

8. Create Reports and Data Visualization Dashboards

The next step is to create use reports in GA4. Adapt default reports that include automated insights, exploration report templates, demographics, funnel reports, etc. 

In addition, create data visualization dashboards. The best way to get started is Google Data Studio. Link Data Studio or the data visualization tool you prefer. Further, create interactive dashboards that show campaign performance, organic traffic, conversions, UA and GA4 account key metrics, etc.

9. Review GA4 Account Data

The last step is to ensure that the GA4 data is and remains reliable. To ensure it, acquaint yourself with data and account audits. Factors like data deletion requests, monitoring data collection, history change reports, and troubleshooting data filters.

You can back up your data from UA by exporting your UA reports manually to Excel, CSV or Google Sheets. You don’t have to do it immediately. You have time until June of the following year. But remember, don’t delete your UA account.

Some terms and terminologies might have appeared technical. As an SEO expert in Pune, we can help. Our SEO services in Pune, experience and proficiency in Google-based products can help you optimize your SEO strategies. Please write to us at info@brainminetech.com to learn more about how we can help you migrate to GA4.