Here is a technical guide for switching from Universal Analytics (UA) to Google Analytics 4 (GA4):
Step 1: Create a GA4 Property First, you’ll need to create a new GA4 property in your Google Analytics account. This will be a new tracking code that you’ll need to add to your website.
Step 2: Install GA4 Tracking Code Next, you’ll need to install the GA4 tracking code on your website. You can do this by adding the code snippet to the header section of your website’s HTML code. You can find the code snippet in your GA4 property under the “Admin” section.
Step 3: Link UA and GA4 Properties In order to transfer data from your existing UA property to the new GA4 property, you’ll need to link the two properties. You can do this in the “Admin” section of your GA4 property. Under the “Data Streams” tab, click “Add Stream” and select “Web.” Then, follow the prompts to link your UA property to your GA4 property.
Step 4: Set Up Data Import After linking the properties, you’ll need to set up data import to transfer data from your UA property to your GA4 property. This can be done in the “Admin” section of your GA4 property under the “Data Import” tab. Follow the prompts to set up data import from your UA property.
Step 5: Create Custom Events and Parameters In GA4, events and parameters are used to track user interactions on your website. You’ll need to create custom events and parameters in your GA4 property to track the same interactions that you were tracking in your UA property. You can do this in the “Events” section of your GA4 property.
Step 6: Update Your Website’s Tags Finally, you’ll need to update your website’s tags to ensure that they’re sending data to your new GA4 property. This includes updating any Google Tag Manager (GTM) tags or other tracking scripts that you’re using on your website.
By following these six steps, you can switch from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4 and continue gathering accurate data and insights on your website.