Google Analytics (GA) is a complimentary tool that entrepreneurs and marketers can utilize to obtain valuable insights regarding their website’s performance.
GA can track the number of visits to your site and provide information on the geographical locations of your visitors.
Beyond that, Google Analytics 4 provides real-time insights into when and where visitors decide to engage or disengage.
This capability makes it an exceptional tool for businesses of all sizes to maximize the value of their online efforts. Understanding what works and what doesn’t allow for targeted improvements.
Crucially, GA4 is designed to deliver these insights while respecting the privacy of individual users.
Google Analytics 4 was officially launched in October 2020, intended to succeed Universal Analytics (UA), which was the modern iteration of GA3.
To evoke a sense of nostalgia, Google opted to revive the previous name for this new version.
When it debuted in 2012, UA represented a significant advancement, offering enhanced tracking features that delivered a more comprehensive understanding of user behavior than its forerunner.
However, GA4 goes beyond mere aesthetic updates; it is an entirely new platform.
It leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer more profound insights and predictive analytics functionalities.
A primary difference between GA4 and UA is GA4’s emphasis on event-based tracking, enabling greater flexibility and detail in data collection.
In essence, this allows it to analyze various specific user interactions.
There have always been restrictions on how Google Analytics (GA) identifies individuals online, and fortunately, such limitations still exist. Detailed information is gathered only from users who have opted for Personalized Ads.
GA4 addresses privacy concerns through an innovative approach known as Signals.
This method allows for the anonymous collection of data, which is then processed in a way that safeguards private information. It has also extended this capability to mobile applications.
While it was somewhat confusing to have both GA4 and Universal Analytics (UA) operating simultaneously, it has ultimately been beneficial that Google decided to discontinue Universal Analytics on July 1, 2024.
If you had a UA profile and hadn’t transitioned yet, your account was automatically migrated to GA4 in March 2024, consolidating all the best features of GA4 in a single, accessible location.
However, let’s explore what Google Analytics can offer you and your business.
GA4 collects data from your website, Google, and your visitors. This information is then presented in a way that provides a comprehensive overview of your online performance.
Google Analytics 4 offers more than just click counting; it enables you to monitor various user interactions such as:
For instance, consider a vibrant music venue in Liverpool that sells tickets online. With Google Analytics 4, they can analyze user actions leading up to a purchase decision (or lack thereof).
By tracking these interactions, they can identify which promotions yield the best results.
The goal is to utilize these forecasts to inform decision-making for improved outcomes.
This would enable ticket sellers to allocate more resources to the most effective strategies.
GA simplifies the process for businesses to establish and monitor their individual objectives, such as:
For e-commerce sites, you can monitor sales performance and transactions, with this data presented in a variety of user-friendly formats.
The updated GA4 is now integrated with Google Ads and the Google Marketing Platform, enabling the creation of targeted advertising campaigns.
GA4 is a web-based application, which means there’s no need to download or install anything.
To get started, you’ll need three key components:
1.) An account: You can log in using your Google account if you prefer.
2.) A property: Once you’ve set up your account, you can create a Property within Google Analytics 4. Each property corresponds to a distinct website or mobile app and serves as a separate tab for the associated data. You can manage multiple properties within a single account.
3.) A tracking code: This code is automatically generated when you create a property. You’ll need to copy and paste this code into the HTML of your website to enable GA functionality. The tracking code typically has one of two formats: “G-XXXXXXXXX” or “UA-XXXXX-X”.
If you are using a GoDaddy website, integrating the tracking code is straightforward. Simply go to your Product page, find Airo, Website Builder, or Online Store, and click Manage to access your website.
From the main menu, select Edit Website to enter your website builder. Click on Settings in the top right corner, then navigate to Analytics & Tracking.
Select Google Analytics and enter your tracking code.
Note that it may take up to 24 hours for data to start appearing.
For users not utilizing the GoDaddy website builder, you’ll need to manually insert the HTML snippet with your tracking code into your web pages. You can refer to Google’s support documentation for detailed instructions on how to do this.
You can get hands-on experience with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) by using Google’s pre-configured Demo Account. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the world of web analytics with real business data from Google’s Merchandise Store.
As a beginner, a new Google Analytics account linked to your Google account will be automatically created, with the demo account already set up and ready for you to explore and learn from.
Upon your first visit to Google Analytics 4, you’ll encounter the GA dashboard.
Featuring a clean and minimalist design, this serves as your primary center for tracking and analyzing website data. Welcome aboard
The dashboard displays essential metrics, allowing you to easily assess the performance of your website.
For example, you can observe:
You can customize and create shortcuts for the data that matters most to you, enabling swift access to the information you need.
On the left side of the dashboard, you’ll find the side panel, which allows you to delve into the various unique features and sections that GA4 provides.
While there are just four main categories in this navigation pane, each offers a wealth of information and options.
The platform brims with features, which might seem daunting at first. However, it is designed to be user-friendly, enabling even those who are new to analytics to navigate it with ease.
GA4 primarily offers two types of reports.
Basic metrics like Pageviews, Sessions, and New Visitors reveal how frequently your site is accessed, track individual visits, and assess the number of new users compared to returning visitors.
Traffic data from Organic Search and Referrals helps you evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing strategies.
Additionally, statistics on Bounce Rates, Cost of Conversion, and Time on Page give you a snapshot of your website’s overall health and performance.
Together, these metrics deliver valuable insights into traffic and engagement, which you can leverage to enhance your website’s performance.
While there’s a lot to cover in a single post, here’s a brief overview of the main reports:
Audience Analytics offer in-depth insights into your website visitors, which is clearly beneficial for targeted marketing efforts.
In the GA4 platform, this section contains information about the devices used by visitors to access your site, as well as their levels of engagement based on interactions such as clicks and shares.
(Note: If you’re utilizing Google’s Demo Account, you may not have access to these features due to account limitations.)
Acquisition Reports in GA4 provide insights into how users discover your website. These reports detail various aspects, including the origins of your visitors, the effectiveness of different channels (such as paid advertising versus organic search), the results of your campaigns, and the keywords that draw in traffic.
Engagement Reports in GA4 provide valuable insights into user interactions with your website, allowing you to gauge their actions and levels of interest.
The more frequently users click, watch, or share content, the greater their engagement, indicating a higher interest in your offerings.
Monetisation reports are a new feature in GA4 that provide valuable insights into revenue generation, transaction data, and product performance.
These reports highlight the impact of specific product promotions on sales and identify which consumer segments contribute the most to revenue.
You may also encounter references to Sharing Reports. The ability to share your reports is incredibly beneficial.
Technically, all reports in Google Analytics can be shared with the appropriate permissions; it is not categorized as a separate feature.
Real-time reporting in GA4 offers instant insights into the current activity on your website.
You can monitor:
For instance, live reporting can reveal a spike in traffic following a product launch or promotional event.
With its strikingly comprehensive overview, real-time reporting ranks among the most impressive features. While not entirely new to GA4, it has seen significant enhancements in tracking capabilities and boasts a more user-friendly interface.
In the Explore section of Google Analytics 4, you can dive deeper into your website’s data and create custom visualizations to gain a better understanding of your users’ behavior. With a wide range of options at your fingertips, you can:
By leveraging these powerful tools, you can uncover valuable insights to inform data-driven decisions and improve your website’s performance.
The Advertising section is tailored to help you monitor the performance of your ads, whether they originate from Google Ads or social media platforms.
It provides insights into user interaction with your ads and the revenue they generate for your business.
GA4 offers seamless integration with Google Ads, allowing you to view your campaign performance in one convenient location.
For instance, if you’re promoting your online store, GA4 enables you to track the number of clicks on your ads and whether those clicks resulted in sales. Utilize this information to make informed decisions about how and where to allocate your advertising budget more effectively.
For any website owner, GA4 is a vital tool, brimming with features designed to help you reach your goals—be it boosting revenue or simply increasing clicks. And yes, it’s completely free! If you have a moment, take some time to experiment and explore its capabilities as you begin your GA4 journey.
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