An Interesting View into GA4 and Its Main Features

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Stanislav F.
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6 minutes
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Jan 17, 2023
The most recent version of Google Analytics, known as GA4, was released by the company in October 2020. Advertising for this release highlighted the advanced capabilities of the new product. If you still need to switch to GA4, you'll want to keep reading.


If you haven't already switched to GA4, you'll want to keep reading. Let's take a closer look at GA4 and why we should begin the migration immediately.

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Technically, What Is GA4?


The newest version of Google Analytics is called GA4. It's a radical redesign of the data-gathering and analysis process, incorporating the best parts of Universal Analytics and adding innovative new tools to make the most of the possibilities offered by big data and machine learning.



What's the Difference between GA4 and Universal Analytics?


Google designed GA4 from the ground up using a new architecture, and this is the main difference. The idea of a session consisting of many pageviews was crucial to the development of Universal Analytics. In contrast, events play a central role in GA4. Pageviews, clicks, form submissions, and bespoke events are all examples of events.


There are numerous significant repercussions of this architectural shift. To begin with, this means that GA4 has a far larger data set to capture than Universal Analytics. Secondly, this means that GA4 will provide you with even more information on your users' actions when they're on your site or app. Thirdly, this expands the scope of GA4 beyond just monitoring website traffic.



What Are the Main Features of GA4?


Analysis and Reporting


In GA4, Google added a reporting area with a new set of tools for conducting in-depth research and analysis. The choice of website or event upon which this is based is entirely up to you. The new analytical tool also allows you to transfer your data to BigQuery, where you can perform additional analyses.


Better Insights with Machine Learning


GA4's use of machine learning to deliver superior insights is another major boon. To provide you with a fuller view of your users, GA4 uses a technique called "probabilistic matching" to combine data from multiple sources.


Consider a scenario in which you have parallel campaigns set up on Google Ads and Facebook Ads. GA4 can employ probabilistic matching to combine the results of the two campaigns into a single cohesive totality.


Using machine learning, GA4 can give you insights that are impossible to obtain using Universal Analytics, and this is just one example.


BigQuery Integration


Integrating with BigQuery, Google's cloud-based data warehouse service is one of GA4's most interesting new capabilities. As a result, you can move the information gathered in GA4 to BigQuery for further processing.


This is helpful for two reasons: first, you have practically infinite space for your data, and second, you can perform complex analyses that were previously impossible in Universal Analytics without the help of an external connector.


When you export your data to BigQuery, you may use SQL to do sophisticated queries that aren't available in the GA UI. Alternatively, you may utilize machine learning to learn from your data.


Indeed, it's clear that GA4's compatibility with BigQuery is a major step forward for any data analyst.


Improved Data Model


The method of data collection has been updated significantly for GA4. Data was gathered in Universal Analytics by inserting tags into each page of a website. Rather than counting pageviews, GA4 keeps tabs on user interactions, or events, in real-time.


As a result, GA4 can now accurately and extensively track user behavior.


Take a search bar on a website as an example. It is possible to monitor traffic to SERPs with Universal Analytics. On the other hand, GA4 allows you to monitor actual searches in real-time, regardless of the page the user is currently viewing.


This event-based paradigm also makes it feasible to track user interactions that do not necessarily take place on a web page, such as offline conversions or in-app purchases. This is accomplished by recording the user's IP address whenever the interaction takes place.


This event-based paradigm also makes it feasible to track user interactions that do not necessarily take place on a web page, such as offline conversions or in-app purchases. This is accomplished by recording the user's IP address whenever the interaction takes place.


In a nutshell, GA4's enhanced data model gives you a more full and more accurate picture of how visitors are interacting with your site or app.


Conclusion

Indeed, GA4 is a powerful tool that has many features to help businesses grow. The main features include the ability to track conversions, create custom audiences, and track results. GA4 also allows businesses to create customized reports and view results in real time. Overall, GA4 is a great tool that can help businesses thrive and succeed in the long run.


If you are looking for a well-trusted data-driven marketing agency, look no further than our expertise here at Stats Agency. We are a small team of experts bringing client data satisfaction. We also make your brand stand out in an overcrowded digital space using the most professional and efficient approaches to acquiring user data and building convertible landing pages. Call us today for more information about our data-driven services.

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