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GA4 is the Only Path Forward

Migrate now or

regret it later

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Notes before we start

Registered participants will receive an email including

  • Recording of this presentation
  • This slide deck with clickable links

During this presentation we’ll walk through a new GA4 setup together

Use the Q&A link at the bottom of the Zoom to post questions

But first, a Quick Poll

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik and illustrations by Stories

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Clark Frye

Principal of Mountain View Analytics

Based in Colorado and working with clients around the globe

16 years experience in Digital Marketing Analytics working with organizations of all shapes and sizes

Primary areas of expertise:

  • Digital Marketing Analytics Strategy
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google Data Studio

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik and illustrations by Stories

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Our Agenda

01

02

03

04

What's GA4 and what are the benefits?

How do I setup GA4?

Next Steps

Q&A

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What is GA4?

01

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We’re not in Kansas anymore…

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GA4 is More Than an Update

A new approach to GA

Separate dataset from Universal Analytics (aka GA3 or old GA)

Different data model from Universal Analytics

Includes BigQuery integration

…and the only approach as of July 2023

01

03

04

02

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A New Approach to GA

“..because the technology landscape continues to evolve, the new Analytics is designed to adapt to a future with or without cookies or identifiers. It uses a flexible approach to measurement, and in the future, will include modelling to fill in the gaps where the data may be incomplete..“

- Google’s Vidhya Srinivasan

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A New Approach to GA

  • Machine Learning and data modeling
    • Modelled Conversions
      • Can take 7 days for modelled conversions to show up in reports
    • Predictive Audiences based on predictive metrics
      • Purchase Probability and Predicted Revenue

  • 3rd party cookies go away in Chrome in “late” 2023
    • Won’t impact GA, but look into server-side tracking
      • Digital Throttle clients are already here :)

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Separate GA Dataset

No way to truly “import” old GA into GA4 because the data models are different

Use Google Data Studio to see comparable metrics from each platform side-by-side

IMPORTANT - Start collecting GA4 data NOW so you have historical data when Universal Analytics stops collecting new data on July 1, 2023

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New and Separate Dataset

Start collecting GA4 data NOW so you have historical data when Universal Analytics stops collecting new data on July 1, 2023

Even if it’s a very basic GA4 implementation, start collecting that data immediately. This will give you some historical data to reference when Universal Analytics turns off

Future you thanks you

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—You

“Dear Me,

Thank you for starting to collect data in GA4 in June 2022.”

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New Data Model

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Free BigQuery Integration

With Universal Analytics, BigQuery / GA integration was only available in the GA360 accounts (enterprise GA for $$$$). With GA4, all GA accounts get access to send data directly from GA to BigQuery. Benefits unlocked through BigQuery include:

  • No sampling
  • Unlimited amount of dimensions
  • Calculate aggregated goal completions
  • Build your own Channel Grouping
  • Correct data errors on past data
  • Combine Google Analytics data with third party data sources
  • Use native BigQuery connectors to push data into advanced visualizations tools

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Seriously, Don’t Wait Any Longer

Start collecting GA4 data NOW so you have historical data when Universal Analytics stops collecting new data on July 1, 2023

Even if it’s a very basic GA4 implementation, start collecting that data immediately. This will give you some historical data to reference when Universal Analytics turns off

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How do I setup GA4?

02

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FAIR WARNING

These instructions are intended to be the first steps into the world of GA4 as there is likely more customization needed to make GA4 fit your own marketing ecosystem

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How to Setup GA4

Create a new GA4 Property

Enrich the GA4 data

Update GA4 Admin Settings

Grab coffee, lots of humility, and dig into further setup & reporting

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step

n+1

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Let’s go!

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Step 1 - Create a New GA4 Property

From within GA Admin

  1. Create a new GA4 Property within the existing GA Account
    1. recommend not to use existing tag

  • Create a new data stream
    • Type = Web
    • Keep Enhanced measurement events enabled

  • Add data collection to your website
    • Google Tag Manager
    • CMS settings (if available)
    • Hard coding or any other methods to add scripts to your website

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Step 1 - Create a New GA4 Property

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Step 2- Update Settings

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Step 3 - Enrich the data

  • Define Custom Dimensions and Custom Metrics
    • Required to surface Event Parameters in GA4 Reports

  • Create New Events through the user interface
    • Extend user engagement data and set yourself up for Conversions

  • Define Conversion Events
    • Only standard Conversion is Purchase. All other Conversions need to be defined manually

See Google’s migration guide for more information

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Step n+1 - Next steps

  • Other important considerations
    • Map non-standard UA events to GA4
    • Setup Audiences
    • Setup Ecommerce tracking
    • Add other Users
    • User-ID
    • Data Import
    • Measurement Protocol
    • BigQuery export

  • Reporting setup in GA Explore, GA Libraries, and Data Studio

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Next Steps

03

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Setup at least a basic GA4 implementation today

Start collecting GA4 data NOW so you have historical data when Universal Analytics stops collecting new data on July 1, 2023

Even if it’s a very basic GA4 implementation, start collecting data immediately. This will give you some historical data to reference when Universal Analytics turns off

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Get hands-on with the new Reports

Explore the new interface and reports available using a free Demo Account

Dig into the Reports and Explore sections to see how they’re new and different

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Other Helpful Resources

  • Measure School
  • Loves Data

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Questions?

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Thanks!

Clark Frye, Principal

clark.frye@mvanalytics.net

www.mvanalytics.net

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik and illustrations by Stories