In this blog, we are going to break down the ways a business can add a GA4 property to a site\/app that already uses analytics or a brand new property for a business with no background in analytics. For both cases, you can use Google Tag Manager as a way to facilitate installing and setting up your new GA4 property.<\/p>\n
How to Add a Google Analytics 4 Property to a Site or App That Already Uses Analytics<\/h2>\n
If you are looking to install and use GA4, chances are you may already have a working Google Analytics property. You and your team could be using Universal Analytics for example. Even if you want to create a new property with GA4, you don\u2019t need to immediately drop your other Analytics property. A common option, especially for those who still need time to get used to the new interface and functions of GA4, is to create a GA4 property that collects the same data as your other UA or Google Analytics property. These properties are linked with your website or app in order to collect data on user behavior. Note: If you make a new GA4 property from within an existing Google Analytics or Universal Analytics property, the new GA4 property becomes the new default option. In order to start using GA4 from scratch, you first need to create a property\/account. You can start by visiting the Google Marketing platform<\/a>. To create an account, you can simply click the \u201cGet started today\u201d option. GA4 properties collect user data from websites and apps through data streams. In order to make a data stream, and link your website to GA, press the \u201cWeb\u201d button in your GA4 window. After pressing \u201cWeb,\u201d input your website\u2019s URL as well as an appropriate name for the data stream. If you have installed Universal Analytics through gtag.js, some data should automatically be transferred to your GA4 property. However, if you use Google Tag Manager (which I use as well), you still have a few steps to complete before you\u2019re off and running.<\/p>\n Congratulations, you now have a working GA4 property which is collecting data.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> Your program will run \u201cEnhanced Measurement\u201d by default, meaning GA4 will record data from actions like link-clicking, scrolling, searches, and so forth. You may want to customize some of the features within \u201cEnhanced Measurement,\u201d so be sure to double-check it.<\/p>\n If you are finding the information too technical and complex, you can seek Google Analytics Consultation<\/a> from the best digital marketing company near you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n 1). It can be easily upgraded by copying and pasting the GA4 tracking code script in the section of your website Follow these steps:<\/p>\n i) Start the process by clicking the \u201cAdmin\u201d button appearing in the left bottom corner of your GA4 screen.<\/p>\n ii) Under Property, click on the \u201cData Streams\u201d option, then select the \u201cWeb\u201dout of 4 choices. Next press on the arrow (>) to land on \u201cWeb Stream Details\u201d page.<\/p>\n iii) Now, you will see a left sliding window opening with title \u2018Web stream details\u2019, then scroll down and click on \u201cView Tag Instructions\u201d under Google Tag. Next again a new left sliding window will appear and in \u201cInstallation instructions\u201d, please go with \u2018Install manually\u2019 choice.<\/p>\n iv) Finally follow this simple instruction by Google written over there: 2). You can also connect your existing UA Property in Google Analytics to GA4 using Measurement ID e) Now go to your existing UA Property, then click on Admin >> Tracking info (under Property) >>Tracking code<\/p>\n f) Go down and select the option \u201cConnected Site Tags\u201d<\/p>\n g) Paste the Measurement ID inside \u2018Enter ID of tag to connect\u2019 under Connected Tags. 3). UA can also be upgraded to the latest tag i.e. GA4 by adding a new \u2018Config\u2019 directive in the existing code of the website In Conclusion\u2028 <\/strong>Using and navigating Google Analytics programs can be complicated. Ultimately though, they can help you get in-depth insights into the behaviors of your users and the effectiveness of your digital marketing. You may not want to jump right into GA4 without using the more completed, more familiar UA first. Or, if you do want to start using GA4, you might find some value in using both programs alongside each other first. If you need technical help navigating the new GA4 account or migrating your tags and data from UA to the new GA4, OpenSource Technologies, a leading digital marketing company<\/a> with GA4 Certified Experts, is ready to help.<\/p>\n
\nThe GA4 Setup Assistant <\/a>is a tool within Google Analytics that can help you install and set up GA4 to match the data collection of your existing GA property. If you are using UA, you may have an \u201cUpgrade to GA4\u201d<\/strong>
\nbutton available to you. If so, click it, and if not, here is a step-by-step look at upgrading GA4:
\n![\"GA4](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Admin.png\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Get-Started.png\")
<\/li>\n![\"Tag](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tag-Installation.png\")
<\/li>\n![\"Data](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Web-Property.png\")
<\/li>\n![\"Setup](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Web-Stream-1024x485.png\")
<\/li>\n![\"Web](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Measurement-ID-1024x605.png\")
<\/li>\n![\"Choose](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Choose-Tag-Type.png\")
<\/li>\n![\"GA4](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Google-Tag-Manager.png\")
<\/li>\n
\nIf you create a new property in this way, you can easily collect data in both GA4 and your previous analytics program like UA.<\/p>\nSet up a New Analytics Profile for a Website and\/or an App (GA4)<\/h2>\n
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0 Set up Analytics on your website and\/or app.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0 Write the name of your Account in the \u201cAccount Name\u201d bar. For now you can leave all of the check boxes checked (unless you need to restrict your Account).
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0 Write the name of your Property under Property Name, and your time zone and your local currency in the given spaces below.
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0 On the final setup page, you will be asked to specify the size of your business, as well as what you intend to use GA4 for.
\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/New-Setup.png\")
\nOnce you set up your account, you can create tags and data streams for your account in order to monitor the activity of users on your business\u2019s given app or website.<\/p>\nYour Data Stream<\/h2>\n
\nWhen you are ready, press the \u201cCreate Stream\u201d option.
\nOnce you have created your data stream, you must then install it onto your website to enable data collection. If you need help installing GA, thankfully Google Tag Manager can help you do so!<\/p>\nInstalling GA4 with Google Tag Manager \u2013 an Option for New and Existing Analytics Users<\/h2>\n
\n
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\n*A quick note<\/strong>: right now, the real-time reports have some bugs\/glitches, and they may take time to start generating properly. When I tested out my GA4 on my website, the GA4 configuration fired and the tag sent a page view.\u00a0I could see the page view in the real-time reports, but the user count still displayed \u201c0.\u201d
\nOnce given a few minutes, the real-time reports showed me, and the amount of users in the past 30 minutes went up to \u201c1.\u201d\u00a0In another case I waited around 15 minutes before GA4 started collecting data visibly. When you create a new property, you may need to give it some time before it starts properly working. Properties that are 1+ days old usually work fine.<\/em><\/li>\n\n
Without using Google Tag Manager, GA4 tracking code can be added in 3 different ways to your website.<\/h2>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-2-300x120.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Data](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-4-300x99.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-5-300x56.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCopy and paste it in the code of every page of your website, immediately after theelement. Don\u2019t add more than one Google tag to each page.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Install](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-6-300x157.png\")
\nv) In maximum 1-2 days, you will see the website data flowing to your New version of Analytics, GA4.<\/p>\n
\nSimply, put the GA4 Measurement ID inside \u2018Connected Tags\u2019 option under Property in older version of Analytics, i.e. UA.
\nFollow the steps below:
\na) Press the \u201cAdmin\u201d placed on the left bottom corner.
\nb) Click the \u201cData Streams\u201d and select \u201cWeb\u201d
\nc) Press the arrow (>) under \u201cData Stream\u201d to land on the \u201cWeb Stream Details\u201d page.
\nd) Copy this GA4 \u2018Measurement ID\u2019 present on the top right corner.<\/p>\n![\"Web](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-7-300x157.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"All](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-8-300x119.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-9-300x25.png\")
<\/p>\n
\nh) Now, don\u2019t wait to click on the \u201cConnect\u201d button to link Universal Analytics property and GA4 property.<\/p>\n![\"Connected](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-10-300x103.png\")
<\/p>\n
\nThis is another very popular method that you can use if you already have a (gtag.js) analytics code on the website and you want to add GA4 Measurement ID to your site. By adding a second \u201cconfig\u201d directive to the existing analytics code.
\ni) First, go to the backend of the website, where you can make changes to the source code.
\nii) Search for Global Site Tag in the code.
\niii) Add an additional \u201cconfig\u201d directive having GA4 Property \u201cMeasurement ID\u201d just after UA Config in line number 12 and before .<\/p>\n![\"GTAG](\"https:\/\/ost.agency\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/GA4-Step-11-300x103.png\")
<\/p>\n