The countdown to Google Analytics forcing everyone to use GA4 has officially begun. If this left you feeling a little scared or unsure then you’ve come to the right place. Follow our step-by-step guide to setting up GA4.
Table of Contents
- How to setup GA4?
- Should I enable data collection with existing global site tag?
- Will GA4 mess up my Universal Analytics data?
- Can I hire someone to setup GA4?
How To Setup GA4?
Login to your Google Analytics account.
If you don’t already have a Google Analytics account
If you don’t already have an account then you’ll see a screen prompting you to create one and Google will walk you through the process.
If you have an existing Google Analytics account
If you have an existing account then make sure you’re in the right Google Analytics account that you want to setup with GA4. You can verify this by looking at the top left corner and seeing the name of property you’re in next to the Google Analytics logo. Once you’ve confirmed you’re in the right account then click on the gear icon in the bottom left corner. This will take you to the admin section of your Universal Analytics account.
Look for the Property column (the middle column) and click on GA4 Setup Assistant. On the next screen click on “I want to get started” under I want to create a new Google Analytics 4 property. You’ll be presented with a pop-up asking if you want to create the GA4 property. There will be an option to use your existing global site tag(s) for GA4. We recommend leaving this unchecked and then click on “Create Property”. Voila, you now have a GA4 property in the same Google Analytics account as your Universal Analytics data.
Should I enable data collection with existing global site tag?
We recommend setting up your Google Analytics accounts with Google Tag Manager rather than the global site tag. Why? Well Google Analytics has gone through many code changes in the past few years whereas Google Tag Manager (GTM) has only had 1 recent-ish change. Plus, you have added flexibility with GTM over the global site tag. To see what’s right for you or how to transition to GTM then contact one of our google analytics experts.
Will GA4 mess up my Universal Analytics data?
Nope. Setting up a GA4 account will only prepare for your GA4 data to be tracked alongside your Universal Analytics data. This is great as it will allow us to check GA4 data against Universal Analytics.
Can I hire someone to setup GA4?
Yes, our team of Google Analytics experts has successfully transitioned dozens of clients over to GA4 and GTM. Schedule a free consult with our GA4 experts.
Have you setup GA4? Tell us what you think about GA4 in the comments below.
Written by Mikhail Cherniss
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