Google recently announced that its’ Universal Analytics (UA) platform would be replaced by the new Google Analytics 4 (GA4) platform. GA4 has been available for free for some time now, however support for UA will be ending July 1, 2023. This means that all Google Analytics reporting will suddenly stop on July 1 next year for the vast majority of website owners who have not yet switched over. Most will continue to be unaware until their website reporting suddenly stops.
What’s the History of Google Analytics?
Google Analytics (GA) and Google Universal Analytics (UA) are two of the most popular web analytics platforms available today. Both of them provide a comprehensive suite of tools that can be used to track and analyze website performance and user behavior. However, there are some key differences between them that need to be taken into account when deciding which one is best for your business.
Google Universal Analytics (UA)
Google Universal Analytics is the latest iteration of Google Analytics, released in 2014. It provides users with a more comprehensive set of features compared to its predecessor, Google Analytics. The main difference between the two is the tracking method. With Google Universal Analytics, users can track data across devices and platforms, allowing for a better understanding of user behavior and website performance. UA also offers more advanced reporting capabilities, such as custom variables, custom dimensions, and custom metrics.
Google Analytics, on the other hand, is the original version of Google Analytics, released in 2005. It is still widely used by many businesses today. GA is simpler than UA and provides fewer features, making it ideal for those who don’t need a lot of complex analytics. However, it does not offer the same level of data tracking and reporting features as UA.
Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics, released in 2020. It is the first version of Google Analytics that is based on machine learning and artificial intelligence. GA4 offers a lot of new features, such as enhanced data collection, improved segmentation, automated insights, and more. Additionally, GA4 also has a new user interface that makes it easier to use and customize.
Important Takeaway
It’s NOW time to get your free GA4 version of the platform setup. Both UA & GA4 will happily operate together right now, however come July 1, 2023 UA will stop. If you fail to update to GA4 by then you will lose data and important reporting.
Get onto your agency or designer now to ensure you don’t lose important traffic and data.
