19/01/2023
If you want to learn how to use Google Analytics 4/ GA4 properly (the only Google Analytics option from 1st July this year 😱 ), and already have some expertise in UA and GTM, keep reading .... Otherwise feel free to ignore this post as you may find it quite boring haha 🤣
I've collated some short video tutorials that helped me get up to speed with GA4, but only cover the essentials/what I was feeling anxious about - so it's not too overwhelming. (Note this assumes you have already created a GA4 Property/ies and installed the tag on your website/s).
I now feel confident that I can learn the rest on the go, without doing an expensive GA4 and time-consuming course!
So I thought I'd share these particular tutorials here 🤗
(Working through these will also help you to prepare for the latest Google Analytics Certification exam, however that's not really necessary unless you offer Google Analytics services to others):
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1. Creating Events (and non-sales Conversions (no longer called 'Goals')) in GA4:
https://www.analyticsmania.com/post/how-to-track-events-with-google-analytics-4-and-google-tag-manager/
2. Setting up eCommerce Tracking (needs Data Layer installation*):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClSLdoNKZMI&t=13s
Tip: Shopify will be able to link directly with GA4 from March so wait for that for those sites!
*More info about installing/setting up the eCommerce Data Layer using GTM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyZQLQITeV4
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqyatmet2_w&t=19s
3. Creating Audiences in GA4 (to use to target within Google Ads, to compare results etc):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rW_QYfm5yU
4. Creating data Segments (for 'Explore' reporting), e.g. people who have added a product to their cart/ triggered specific Events:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk65ZbJEAxA&t=0s
Tip: you can also tick 'Build an Audience' from Segments
5. Reporting:
5.a. Within GA4 Property:
Acquisition Reports (to see the volume of traffic and conversions that have come from Google Ads vs Facebook Ads vs organic social vs Email Campaigns etc): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldSOshmM5s8
Plus see point 4 above as this covers 'Exploration' Reporting
Tip: UTM parameter tracking for GA4 (always create/add UTM parameters to ads running Facebook ads, so you can see the results by ad in GA): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl5OcKM22Ro
5.b. Linking to Google Data/Looker Studio etc:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoU4Hzrle2k
&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS2qWA8Xnp4
Tip: Data/Looker Studio has GA4 threshold issues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcrAZLzO0Lg
(eg. split up charts over multiple pages, or use 'Extract Data' instead of the Ga4 connector, use BigQuery.... may be further fixes otherwise can always copy and paste from GA4 directly or now).
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Hope that helps! If you have any other suggestions in terms of must-know tips, I would love to hear about these in the comments :)
In this guide, you will learn how to track events with Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager. Also, you can watch a video tutorial.