5 things you need to know before Google Analytics changes

What’s the secret to a successful website? Although effective user interface (UI) and good web design are important, you should also use data metrics to optimize your site’s potential. Here at the Komando HQ, we trust Google Analytics to give us a bird’s-eye view of how our site is doing.

That’s why we marked our calendars for July 1. That’s when Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will officially replace Universal Analytics (UA), the older version. If you still use the older version, you could lose critical data if you don’t switch over as soon as possible.

How to tell which version you’re using

Now that Universal Analytics is going away, it’s time to see which version you’re using. Did you sign up before Oct. 14, 2020? You’re probably using UA. But if you signed up more recently, you may already be on GA4.

Not sure which version you’re using? Look at your property ID, which pops up when you click the chart icon in your toolbar.

Property selector
Image from support.google.com.
  • If you’re on UA, your property ID will start with UA and end with a number, like UA-204291539-1.
  • You’ll know you’re using GA4 if your property ID is purely made out of numbers, like 282008448.

If you don’t update to GA4, Universal Analytics won’t be able to process new data in standard properties after July 1. Simply put, all the data you collected in UA won’t import to GA4 when your program automatically switches.

So if you wait until July to upgrade, you won’t have any historical data to guide your business plans. Use this guide to migrate your site data to Google Analytics 4.

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Upgrading from Universal Analytics to GA4 may sound like a pain, but it comes with perks. You’re getting many new features and upgrades, like better privacy controls that allow you to collect and retain data in a more granular way.

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