A Guide to GA4 for Small Businesses

Posted on 25th July 2023

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is Google’s latest analytics tool, taking the mantle from Universal Analytics tool as of July 2023. It is designed to provide a more comprehensive and advanced understanding of user behaviour across various digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps, and other internet-connected devices. GA4 represents a significant shift from the previous version, Universal Analytics, focusing on an event-driven data model rather than a pageview-centric approach. GA4 offers several key enhancements that small businesses should be aware of. Here we look at them in more detail:

Enhanced Insights: GA4 leverages machine learning algorithms to offer rich insights into user behaviours. This enables companies to identify key patterns, take actionable steps, and predict important trends.
Flexible Data Modelling: The new technology allows for a more flexible approach to data modelling. With up to 25 parameters per event, businesses can design custom dimensions and metrics to suit their specific requirements.
Audience Customisation: By leveraging user behaviour and demographics, businesses can create custom audiences. This enables targeted messaging and promotions, with the ability to change and archive the data at any time. Moreover, GA4 will automatically review audience memberships to ensure relevance and accuracy.
Improved Tracking: GA4 enables tracking of each interaction on a website or app as an event. This flexibility in tracking provides a better understanding of user journeys and interactions.
Cross-Device Tracking: GA4 has the capability to track users across multiple devices. By combining data based on User ID, Google Signals, and Cookies, it offers a comprehensive overview of a customer’s journey across channels and devices.
Enhanced Campaign Monitoring: Close integration with Google Ads enables GA4 to provide more accurate data on campaign performance and user behaviour. This symbiosis allows for campaign optimisation through GA4’s user interface.
Privacy Controls: GA4 introduces improved privacy controls, including a feature called Consent Mode. This empowers users to decide how their data is shared with Google and other third parties.
Advanced Search Capability: GA4 offers a search bar that enables businesses to quickly find relevant customer data in one place, facilitating efficient analysis.
Enhanced Ecommerce Tracking: GA4 provides improved tracking and reporting for e-commerce businesses. It offers a clearer picture of customer behaviour, including product views, add-to-cart actions, and completed purchases. This data helps businesses optimise their online stores and marketing strategies.
Streamlined User Interface: GA4 introduces a more intuitive and user-friendly interface compared to its predecessor. It simplifies the process of navigating through reports, setting up goals, and accessing important metrics, making it easier for small businesses to make data-driven decisions.
Deeper Integration with Google Products: GA4 seamlessly integrates with various Google products and services, such as Google Ads, Google Optimise, and Google Data Studio. This integration allows businesses to leverage the combined power of these tools to gain comprehensive insights and optimise their marketing efforts.
Real-time Data Analysis: GA4 offers real-time data reporting, enabling businesses to monitor their website or app performance and make instant adjustments as needed. This immediate access to data empowers small businesses to respond quickly to user behaviour and market trends.
Funnel Analysis: GA4 provides a visual representation of user behaviour through the funnel analysis feature. This allows businesses to identify drop-off points and optimise their conversion funnels to maximise conversions and revenue.
Event-based Tracking: GA4 focuses on event-based tracking, allowing businesses to track specific actions or interactions that occur on their websites or apps. This level of granularity provides a detailed understanding of user engagement and enables businesses to optimise their digital experiences accordingly.
Data Retention: GA4 offers longer data retention periods compared to Universal Analytics, allowing businesses to access historical data for a more comprehensive analysis. This extended data retention ensures businesses have access to valuable insights even months or years after the data was collected.

It’s important for small businesses to adapt to GA4 as it offers a robust set of features and capabilities for gathering and analysing data. By leveraging these tools effectively, businesses can gain a competitive edge, optimise their marketing strategies, and make informed decisions to drive growth and success.

How can GA4 be used to determine future trends?

GA4’s machine learning capabilities enable it to analyse historical data quickly and accurately, revealing trends and patterns that may indicate future behaviour. However, it is crucial to consider other factors such as consumer behaviour, market conditions, and competitive pressures when making business decisions.

Google Analytics 4 offers several benefits for businesses. Firstly, its event-driven data model provides a more comprehensive understanding of user behaviour by tracking a wide range of user interactions beyond traditional pageviews. This allows businesses to gain deeper insights into how users engage with their digital properties. Secondly, GA4 enables cross-platform tracking, providing a unified view of user activity across websites, mobile apps, and other devices. This holistic perspective allows businesses to optimise their marketing strategies and deliver a seamless user experience.

Lastly, Google Analytics 4 leverages machine learning capabilities to provide advanced insights and predictive analytics, empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions and identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for growth.

While GA4 may not be perfect yet, it represents the most powerful iteration of Google’s analytics software to date. With its enhanced insights and control over digital presence, small businesses should familiarise themselves with GA4 for their analytics needs.

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Author Bio: Paul Morris is the Managing Director of Bristol based digital marketing agency, Superb Digital. He has over 20 years experience in the field and has written for the likes of Search Engine Watch, Business West, Business Leader and Search Engine People.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.