If you’ve spent any time in Google Analytics recently, you’ll notice the push to upgrade your site to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is being heavily pushed. In fact, Universal Analytics will no longer work effective July 1, 2023. So, if you’re looking to stay ahead of the game, it’s time to start thinking about upgrading.
In this blog post, I will discuss what GA 4 is, how to upgrade to it, and the benefits to doctors of doing so. I will also provide some resources for getting started with GA 4. So if you’re interested in learning more about this new version of Google Analytics, keep reading!
What is GA4?
GA4 is the latest version of Google Analytics, and it offers a number of new features that doctors can take advantage of to improve their marketing efforts.
If you’re interested in geeking out on this, here is a comparison of all the new features of GA4 vs. UA.
One interesting change is how GA4 will count sessions.
Session counting: Some aspects of session counting in Google Analytics 4 differ from Universal Analytics. In Universal Analytics, a new campaign will start a new session regardless of activity. In Google Analytics 4, a new campaign does not begin a new session. This may lead to lower session counts in your Google Analytics 4 property. Late hits may also be a factor. Late hits are hits that aren’t sent immediately. In Universal Analytics, hits are processed if they arrive within 4 hours of the close of the preceding day. In Google Analytics 4, events are processed if they arrive up to 72 hours late. Because Google Analytics 4 events are processed across a wider time range, you may see higher session counts in your Google Analytics 4 property, as well as variations in reported figures within these 72 hours. For example, a user loses service while browsing your website on their mobile device and then regains service 48 hours later. Google Analytics 4 processes the late hit, while Universal Analytics doesn’t, leading Google Analytics 4 to produce a higher session count. Logged Google Analytics 4 events are uploaded automatically when iOS apps are backgrounded. This is not the case in Universal Analytics. As a result, iOS-related metrics may be significantly higher in your Google Analytics 4 reports.
Google
How to Upgrade to GA4
Already have UA set up? Simply follow the prompts Google provides for an easy upgrade.
If you do not have Google Analytics set up for your website, simply create a new property in your Google Analytics account and select “Google Analytics 4” as the data streaming destination. Then, you can start using all of the new features that GA4 has to offer!
The Benefits of Upgrading to GA4
There are a number of benefits to upgrading to GA4, including:
Improved insights: With the new features in GA4, you’ll be able to get even more insights into how your site and content are performing. This will allow you to make more informed decisions.
More accurate data: The new features in GA4 will also help to ensure that your data is even more accurate.
Better patient experience: The improved audience reporting and new conversions API will allow you to provide a better experience for your patients. This is because you’ll be able to track how they interact with your site and respond to your content even better.
How to Get Started With GA4
If you’re interested in getting started with GA4, there are a few resources that you can use:
The Google Analytics Help Center: The help center contains a wealth of information about GA4, including how to set up your account and use the new features.
The GA4 Developer Guide: The developer guide contains detailed information about the new features in GA4 and how to use them.
The Google Analytics YouTube Channel: The channel contains videos about how to use the new features in GA4.
I hope you found this blog post helpful!