To provide a comprehensive understanding of GA4, we’ve gathered insights from nine industry professionals, including CEOs and SEO Specialists. From the improved attribution model in GA4 to the need for UTM tracking, this article offers a diverse range of perspectives on what’s important to know about GA4.
- Improved Attribution Model in GA4
- GA4’s Shift to Event-Based Tracking
- Emphasis on User-Centric Data
- Transformative Effect on Data Analysis
- Traffic Number Differences in GA4
- User-Centric Tracking and Privacy Compliance
- Focus On Key KPIs With GA4
- Shift in Data Tracking Approach
- Need for UTM Tracking
Improved Attribution Model in GA4
GA4 has been difficult for some and maybe easy for others (doubtful about that though!). However, there is one thing that GA4 has improved upon its predecessor, Google Analytics, which is the Attribution Model.
Businesses have long been looking for a way to properly attribute their leads and revenue to the right source. With GA4’s cross-channel, data-driven attribution model, they can do that effectively now.
Whether it’s user interactions with email marketing, paid ads, social media, or any other source, GA4 takes a wide range of touchpoints into consideration to grant you more insights into your marketing efforts.
With proper attribution to the right channels, you can better analyze customer behavior and tweak your marketing strategy for better customer experiences. GA4’s attribution model gives credit to the right touch points across the customer journey.
Subodh Doharey, Account Director of Search(Execution), RepIndia
GA4’s Shift to Event-Based Tracking
One key thing to know about Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is its focus on event-based tracking, as opposed to the session-based model in Universal Analytics. This shift allows for more granular data collection and a better understanding of user behavior across platforms. It’s crucial to get familiar with this new tracking method to make the most out of GA4’s capabilities.
John Cammidge, Ads Expert for Google Search, JTC Consultant
Emphasis on User-Centric Data
Understanding Google Analytics 4’s (GA4) increased emphasis on user-centric data is essential. In contrast to its predecessor, GA4 prioritizes the user journey. It provides a more thorough picture of user interactions across platforms and devices.
Accept the user ID and event tracking features to realize its full potential. These give you the ability to monitor particular user actions and comprehend cross-device behavior. By doing this, you gain a deeper understanding of user engagement, enabling you to create marketing strategies and user experiences that are more effective and personalized.
Although the switch to GA4 could seem difficult, learning its user-centric methodology can offer priceless insights for enhancing your online presence.
Graham Grieve, Founder, A1 SEO
Transformative Effect on Data Analysis
Whether you adore or detest GA4, one crucial thing to know is its impact on data analysis. GA4 introduces a new way of tracking user behavior, focusing on events rather than page views. This shift allows for a more comprehensive understanding of user interactions across various touchpoints.
By tracking specific events, such as button clicks or video plays, GA4 provides deeper insights into user engagement and conversion. GA4 incorporates machine learning to generate predictive metrics, enabling businesses to anticipate user behavior and optimize their strategies accordingly.
Regardless of your opinion on GA4, recognizing its transformative effect on data analysis is essential for staying ahead in today’s digital landscape.
Lukasz Zelezny, SEO Consultant, SEO Consultant London
Traffic Number Differences in GA4
It’s important to know that GA4 uses an event-based tracking system, while Universal Analytics uses a session-based tracking system. Therefore, when we compare the traffic between GA4 and Universal Analytics, the numbers don’t match.
Also, because of the stricter data collection policies, if users opt out of the data collection, their activities will not be tracked on GA4. However, Universal Analytics tracks all users.
Mei Ping Mak, Director of SEO and Web, Weave Asia
User-Centric Tracking and Privacy Compliance
One crucial aspect to understand about Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is its enhanced focus on user-centric tracking and privacy compliance.
GA4 has been designed to adapt to the changing landscape of digital marketing, where user privacy and data protection are paramount. It uses an event-based tracking model, allowing businesses to track user interactions more granically while respecting user consent and privacy preferences. This is a significant shift from Universal Analytics, which primarily relied on cookies and sessions.
The importance of this shift cannot be overstated, especially in a world where privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA are becoming increasingly stringent. Adhering to these regulations and respecting user privacy is not just a legal obligation but also a way to build trust with your audience.
Therefore, understanding how GA4’s user-centric tracking works and how it aligns with your marketing strategies is essential for making informed decisions.
Bruno Gavino, Founder and CEO, CodeDesign
Focus On Key KPIs With GA4
GA4 is critical to use, whether or not we like it. The most important thing to know is which KPIs are the most important for your business and how to build your reports around that. Don’t distract yourself with vanity metrics. It’s easy to get lost in the numbers with GA4, but it’s important to stay focused on the metrics that will actually get meaningful results.
Different businesses will have different sales funnels, and those funnels will have insights that can be discovered by looking at the right metrics. Your content team doesn’t need to be writing 10,000-word blog posts if your engagement rate is only 15%. You might find that short-form content is more engaging for your target audience!
Bryan Sekine, SEO Specialist, Carrot
Shift in Data Tracking Approach
Whether you have a positive or negative opinion about GA4 (Google Analytics 4), one crucial thing to know is that it represents a significant shift in how data tracking and analysis are approached.
Unlike its predecessor, Universal Analytics, GA4 focuses on event-based tracking and user-centric data, emphasizing the importance of understanding user behavior across various platforms and devices.
This means that adapting to GA4 and gaining proficiency in event tracking and user-centric analytics is essential for businesses and marketers to stay competitive and make data-informed decisions in the evolving digital landscape.
Rajat Chauhan, Digital Marketing Manager, Ace Infoway
Need for UTM Tracking
TikTok traffic will be attributed to “direct” unless you are using UTM tracking. It’s easy to overlook this, and it can easily be addressed. There are countless UTM generators; find one and start using it on your Linktree and your TikTok profile if you want to track leads coming from that platform.
Frank Olivo, CEO, Sagapixel SEO
