6 (Easy) steps to Upgrade to Google Analytics 4 [GTM & Gtag.js]

Praveen MP
How to Upgrade to Google Analytics 4


Google Analytics released a new version of Google Analytics which is Google Analytics 4 and it was announced on Oct 14, 2020. So in this blog post, I will be explaining how to upgrade to Google Analytics 4.

It is revolutionary and it is Google's vision for the Future of Google Analytics, but still many content creators, marketers, and online entrepreneurs don't know "What is Google Analytics 4".

Google Analytics 4 is the new version of Google Analytics that has AI-powered Insights which also has improved tracking of users even across multiple devices, gives customer-centric measurements, and provides more granular data for a better understanding of people on the user's properties.


The homepage of Google Analytics will look like the following image,




Now you know what is GA4, let's see about "How to upgrade to GA4".


How to Upgrade to Google Analytics 4



  1. Login to your Google Analytics account.


  2. On the left navigational panel, select "Admin", from the main page select the "Upgrade to GA4" option under your account property.


  3. From the following page, under the "I need to create new Analytics property", select "Get Started".


    4. Fig - 1


  4. Now the Google Analytics will open a wizard box, from which your account can 


    • Create a Google Analytics 4 Property


    • Copy basic account settings from your Universal Analytics property


    • Activate enhanced measurements


    • And also "Enable data collection using your existing tags" (check-in the box to enable it)


    • "Data collection" may not enable users who aren't using global site tags currently to collect data from their website. But still, users can upgrade their accounts and can enable data collection after upgrading them.


  5. Select "Create Property" from the wizard box.


    6. Fig - 2


  6. Now your Google Analytics 4 is created for your property.

Fig - 3



You can use this method to upgrade all your properties to GA4.

Now you learned "How to upgrade to Google Analytics 4" but there is another step you have to do, which is to tag the Tracking code of the newly created property in Google Analytics 4 into your website.

So let's see about adding Google Analytics code to Websites.


Tagging Google Analytics Code to Websites



There are actually 2 methods to install the Google Analytics code into your website depending upon your preference, those methods are 

  • Adding Global Site Tag (gtag.js)
  • Using Global Tag Manager (GTM)

So I will explain those 2 methods and let you select your preferred method.

First, see about tagging code using Global site tag (gtag.js)


Tag Installation using Global Site Tag (gtag.js)


  1. Select "Setup Assistant" under the property menu of the Admin page.


    2. Fig - 4


  2. Select "Tag Installation" under the Collection menu.


    3. Fig - 5


  3. From the following page on Data streams, select the stream (website or app) for which you want to install the code.


    4. Fig - 6


  4. On the following Website stream details page, select "Global Site Tag (gtag.js)" under "Add new on-page tag" and copy the given code.


    5. Fig - 7


  5. Now paste that copied code as the first item into the <head> of every webpage you want to measure.

Fig - 8


If you don't want to delete that old code (which is being used by old Google Analytics to track your website) then,

  1. Switch to "Use existing on-page tag" under Tagging Instruction of website stream details page.


  2. Now click on the Google Analytics option and read the instruction.


    3. Fig - 9


  3. Copy that shown Measurement Id.


  4. In a separate window, open the Google Analytics property that controls your on-page tag.


  5. Go to Admin > Tracking Info > Tracking Code.


    6. Fig - 10


  6. Click Connected Site Tags under Global Site Tag (gtag.js).


    7. Fig - 11


  7. Connect your measurement Id.


Fig - 12


By this method, you can implement the new on-page tag using old GA without changing the code on your website manually by yourself.

Thus this how to install GA4 global site tag into a website.

Let's see about adding installing Tag into the website using Google Tag Manager.

If you aren't currently using Google Tag Manager on your website, you should install it on your website then do the following steps.


Tag Installation using Google Tag Manager



  1. Copy the Measurement Id from the Website stream details page.


  2. Open the Google Tag Manager container that’s implemented on your page.


  3. Click Tags > New.


    4. Fig - 13


  4. Click Tag Configuration and select GA4 Configuration.


    5. Fig - 14


  5. Paste the copied Measurement Id into the Tag configuration.


    6. Fig - 15


  6. Select to trigger the tag on All Pages (to measure data from all pages of your website).


    7. Fig - 16


  7. Save and publish your tag configuration.


Fig - 17


Fig - 18


For using this method, you should have created a Google Tag Manager account and installed it on your website. 

I would recommend you to install GTM on all your websites because it will help you install tags such as measurement and marketing Javascript tags on your website without manually editing your website code.

Thus these are the 2 different methods to upgrade your Google Analytics to the new Google Analytics 4.

Now let's see about reasons to upgrade to GA4.

If you want to learn these steps in a video format, watch the following YouTube Tutorial.




Why should Upgrade to GA4?


There are several benefits of upgrading to Google Analytics 4, some are

1. Improved tracking of users

The new GA4 has an "Average Engagement time" option, it can track users even when they're scrolling your page, how long of the page does user saw, and actually measures how long the user stayed on your page.

2. Collects User-based Information

The old GA was based on browser cookies but the new GA4 is based on user information., which means

When a user watches your Youtube video with their account on mobile and switched to their computer which is also logged in with the same account and visited your website, Google Analytics 4 can tell how the user found you first whether by your YouTube channel or by your blog.

You can track customer's purchase journey across your website, YouTube channel, and apps.

3. Enhanced Measurements

Google Analytics 4 uses Enhanced Measurements which automatically tracks every file downloads, site search, video engagement, page engagement, internal and outbound clicks, and much more.

You don't need any additional code to paste on your website. All you have to do is simply turn on "Enhanced Measurements" on your GA4 property.

This upgrade also helps Google to understand more clearly about your website that may help your website's rankings.

Thus these are some major advantages of upgrading to Google Analytics 4.


Conclusion



I think I have given a clear explanation of how to upgrade your Google Analytics account and it's properties. 

I also have given the advantages of upgrading to GA4 above this conclusion.

I hope you find this blog post helpful.

Please comment on your thoughts about this blog post and about my website.


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Praveen MP

Posted by Praveen MP

Sharing my knowledge in Blogging, Adsense, YouTube, SEO, and Affiliate Marketing for Beginners. Being passionate about Blogging.

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