Google Analytics 4 Configuration

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of the popular Google Analytics platform, designed to offer more advanced and flexible data analysis capabilities compared to its predecessor, Universal Analytics. GA4 was introduced in response to growing user demands for better understanding of interactions across devices and platforms, as well as improved integration with other Google tools.

Yes, Google Analytics 4 is a free tool provided by Google. Users can access its core features at no cost. However, for more advanced needs - such as handling large volumes of data or accessing enhanced analysis options - Google offers paid plans through Google Analytics 360, which is part of their premium offering.

Google Analytics 360 is designed for large enterprises, and its pricing is based on the monthly number of events generated by users on the website. The cost is typically determined individually and can reach several thousand dollars per month, depending on specific requirements and usage scale.

Yes, it’s possible to configure Google Analytics 4 on your own—just make sure to carefully review Google’s official documentation. However, we strongly recommend working with professionals. In our experience, we’ve never encountered a client implementation that was entirely correct from the start.

Step 1: Create a Google Analytics Account
→ Sign in to your Google account. If you don’t have one, register at accounts.google.com.
→ Go to analytics.google.com to open Google Analytics.

Step 2: Create a New GA4 Property (Data Stream Configuration)
→ In the admin panel, click Admin (gear icon in the bottom left corner).
→ Under the “Account” column, select the account where you want to add GA4. If you don’t have an account yet, create a new one.
→ Under the “Property” column, click Create Property.
→ Enter information about your website or mobile app.
→ Select Create a Google Analytics 4 Property and follow the instructions.

Google Analytics 4 offers a wide range of integration options with other tools and platforms. Here are some key tools that can be integrated with GA4:

→ Google Ads – Integration with Google Ads allows for tracking conversions and optimizing ad campaigns directly within GA4. It enables you to analyze how ads impact user behavior on your site and optimize them to maximize ROI.

→ Google Search Console – Connecting GA4 with Google Search Console lets you analyze search performance data. This integration helps you better understand how your site’s content is indexed and displayed in search results.

→ Google BigQuery – GA4 can export data to Google BigQuery, allowing for advanced analytics and integration with other enterprise data. This is especially valuable for large organizations that require in-depth reporting and analysis.

In addition to these, GA4 can also be integrated with Google AdSense, Google Ad Manager, Google Merchant Center, and Google Play.

GA4 allows you to track a wide range of events such as clicks, purchases, form submissions, video views, and many other user interactions on your website or app.

For e-commerce websites, we recommend implementing the following events: view_item, view_item_list, select_item, view_promotion, select_promotion, add_to_cart, remove_from_cart, begin_checkout, add_payment_info, add_shipping_info, purchase, refund, view_cart

In Google Analytics 4 (GA4), the data retention period for user and event data can be customized in the property settings. By default, GA4 offers two retention options: 2 months and 14 months

Yes, you can track mobile apps using Google Analytics 4 (GA4). GA4 is designed to monitor both websites and mobile apps, enabling comprehensive data analysis across platforms. Mobile app tracking in GA4 is made possible through integration with Firebase, Google’s platform for mobile applications.

The time required to implement Google Analytics 4 (GA4) can vary significantly depending on factors such as the complexity of the website structure, business requirements, available implementation resources, and the user’s level of expertise.

For small websites with a simple structure, GA4 implementation can take just a few days. However, for large enterprises with multiple domains, subdomains, and advanced functionalities, the process may take several weeks - or even months.

No, it is not possible to directly import historical data from Universal Analytics (UA) into Google Analytics 4 (GA4). GA4 uses a completely different architecture and data model, making the two systems incompatible. While GA4 focuses on events and parameters as the core data elements, Universal Analytics relied on a more traditional session- and pageview-based model. As a result, transferring data between these platforms isn't feasible without significant modifications.

Implementing Google Analytics 4 (GA4) may require the involvement of developers, especially depending on the complexity of your requirements and the specifics of your website or app.

Here are some areas where technical support might be necessary:
→ We recommend implementing all web analytics through Google Tag Manager, which should be added to every page of your website. It's important that GTM is correctly installed.
→ For e-commerce event tracking, we primarily rely on dataLayer scripts, which enable data to be passed to Google Analytics and other marketing tools.

Having developer support ensures accurate implementation and reliable data collection.

Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a free tool from Google that allows you to easily manage and deploy tracking tags and related JavaScript code. It enables relatively simple editing of custom HTML on a website or in a mobile app—without needing to modify the site’s core code.

Tags managed through GTM can be used for collecting analytics data, tracking conversions, running remarketing campaigns, and other marketing and optimization purposes.

It’s through Google Tag Manager that we implement GA4.

Implementing Google Analytics 4 (GA4) with a web analytics specialist like Data Wolves offers numerous benefits. We have the experience and expertise to ensure your GA4 setup is not only correct but also optimized to meet your business goals.

We guarantee that GA4 will be configured according to your company’s unique needs. This includes identifying key performance indicators (KPIs), setting up custom events and conversions, and optimizing user tracking across various devices and platforms.