Google Analytics (as we know it) is disappearing – and we’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve!

Before we answer the, ‘what’s going on with Google Analytics?’ question - let’s address why using Google analytics is important in the first place:

Google is the largest search engine on the internet, using its analytics helps you to keep Google happy.
The data from analytics helps you make changes to your website based on real people’s actions, not just your intuition.
Recording and analysing data helps you to create the best possible content to attract more people to your website.
GOOGLE ANALYTICS IS FREE! For the majority of small and medium organisations (our favourite kind of people) you’ll never exceed its free-service limits.

What’s happening with the new Google Analytics?

Simply put, Google are introducing a new version of analytics and getting rid of their current platform, known as Universal Analytics.

DON’T PANIC – your analytics aren’t disappearing any time soon!

Has anyone seen this email in their inbox? You might have deleted it… we know some of our clients nearly did!

Google Analytics 4 is replacing Universal Analytics - Email screenshot

We’ll tell you what’s going on. Actually, it’s already happened: the new Google Analytics 4 (GA4) was introduced in October 2020. It’s available already to run alongside the current analytics.

GA4 is very similar to Universal Analytics - the version we currently use, know and love. It’s got similar functions and layout and it tracks the same data. The main difference is how it shares your data with you. How it reports to you.

GA4 is more predictive – helping you to think about what you want to change on your website next. It gives you more in-depth insights into your audience and it’s swapped out lots of numbers for graphs. It makes your data easier to read and understand – hooray!

There are other changes too, but you don’t necessarily need to know all the details – that’s where we come in! We’ve popped the important bits below:

Why do you need to change to GA4?

On July 1st 2023 the current Google Analytics platform will stop working - aka it will stop collecting new hits - meaning it won’t gather anymore helpful information for you to use.

All your existing data will stay in your account to access though.

Summer 2023 feels like a long time away though, right? So, why would we be telling you to get cracking on making the switch now?

Well, when the move from Universal Analytics (the current Google Analytics platform) to GA4, none of your historical data will move with you - the facts and figures you’ve been oh so enjoying, won’t jump ship.

Which sounds very dramatic, we know.

*heart rate rising*

BUT, if you set up GA4 now, you can start running the two platforms alongside each other. Meaning that you’ll have a healthy stash of helpful data all stored up ready to use when Universal Analytics “sunsets”, as Google like to say.

And why is that important? The more data you have in the future to understand and serve your audience, the better!

More data = better content decisions = happier website users. (And happier Google too, getting you higher up on those searches!)

Essentially, Google sets the tone for the website world. And if they are changing something, we need to understand and change with it. To give your website the best possible chance of reaching the people you want it to.

Want help making the move?

Wild SEO Agency is on top of it. We’re working on two ways to help you decipher the move to GA4:

Step-by-step video tutorials to walk you through setting up GA4 yourself. You can learn as you go and make the move o the new Google Analytics in your own time.
We can do it for you.

Are you interested?

I want help with ga4