Hello, fellow marketers! We have some exciting news and a tiny bit of farewells to bid. It’s time to officially bid adieu to Universal Analytics as it makes way for its younger and more powerful sibling, Google Analytics 4. But don’t worry, this transition is nothing to fear. In fact, it’s an opportunity to enhance your website performance measurement and take your digital marketing to the next level!
Universal Analytics has served us well over the years, but it’s time to step into the future. Yesterday, like a sign in the sky, many of us were greeted with a foreboding message as we logged into our UA accounts:
“This property is scheduled to stop processing data very soon. Once this goes into effect, you’ll need a Google Analytics 4 property to measure website performance.”
That’s right – the sunset of Universal Analytics has begun, and it marks a historic moment in the world of digital marketing. Advertisers are now compelled to migrate to Google Analytics 4 in order to track their websites and campaigns effectively. Unless, of course, they want to search for another analytics alternative outside of the Google realm.
But how does this migration work? Well, Google has rolled out the UA shutdown in stages to ensure a smooth transition. Some marketers may still have access to certain data for a short while. However, all properties that are currently functioning are queuing up for deletion, which will happen on a rolling basis. So, keep an eye on the timeline!
Google has been giving us the heads up about this migration for over a year now. They’ve been quite adamant about the move to GA4 and have made it clear via Twitter and the Analytics Help Center:
“Today, we begin shutting down Universal Analytics as we welcome you to Google Analytics 4. This will not happen overnight, so some Universal Analytics properties may continue to process data. However, all properties have now been added to the queue, and those that have not completed the upgrade will jumpstart on a rolling basis. Google Analytics 4 is our next-generation measurement solution, and it has replaced Universal Analytics.”
Is your curiosity piqued? Are you wondering what to expect from this shiny new Google Analytics 4? Well, buckle up! GA4 is a next-generation measurement solution that provides deeper insights and a more holistic approach to tracking. It offers advanced features like cross-device tracking, enhanced analysis, and machine learning-powered insights. It’s a game-changer for digital marketers like us!
Now, let’s talk timeline. The UA shutdown will be rolled out in stages until July 2023:
– March 2023: Google automatically created a GA4 property for marketers who didn’t opt out of the automatic property creation option. Existing site tags were used wherever possible.
– July 2023: UA stops processing hits, including standard properties in accounts that also contain 360 properties. Marketers will still have access to previously processed data in their UA property until July 2024.
– July 2024: All marketers, even those with 360 properties, will bid their final farewell to the UA user interface and API.
Exciting, isn’t it? But we know you’ve got questions about how to migrate to GA4 and make the most of this new era in digital marketing. Luckily, Google has got your back. Check out their “Learn how to make the switch” guide for a detailed deep dive into the migration process.
So, dear marketers, it’s time to embrace the power of Google Analytics 4. Say goodbye to Universal Analytics and get ready to unlock a whole new world of insights and measurement capabilities for your business. We want to thank the thought leader as the source for this content and such awesome teachings on the subject, and we hope that this article can help you and your business! Here’s the link to his post: [source link]
Stay tuned for more updates and tips on mastering GA4 in future blog posts. Until then, happy analyzing!
