If you have ever wondered who visits your website, where they come from, or what they look at whilst they’re there, then you’ve been thinking about the data that Google Analytics provides.
Google Analytics is an important tool that gives you insights to your website’s performance. It helps you understand your audience better and enables you to make decisions based on the activity of that audience.
However, with effect from 1st July, Google will be retiring its old version, Universal Analytics, and rolling out a more advanced tool, Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
This update is critical and needs your attention before the end of this month.
Here’s what you need to know and the steps to take:
- What is happening? Google is replacing Universal Analytics with GA4. After July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics will stop working, so it’s vital to switch to GA4 to keep tracking your website’s performance.
- Why does this matter? GA4 offers more detailed information about your website’s activity, helping you make even better decisions for your business.
- What you need to do:
- Identify which version you are currently using. The chances are that if you set up Google Analytics before October 14, 2020, you’re probably using Universal Analytics. If it was after that date, you’re likely to already be using GA4.
- If you’re not already using GA4, upgrade to it as soon as possible, to start collecting new data and to become familiar with the new system.
- After July 1, 2023, your old data will still be available for at least six months, but you should use this time to save all reports that you will want to access in future.
Switching to GA4 isn’t just a recommendation. If you want to continue to have meaningful data which helps you understand your website’s performance and base business decisions upon it, then the switch is crucial.