How to Set Up GA4 Once and For All in 2024

Making data-driven decisions helps businesses stay ahead of the curve. Measuring visitors’ interactions on your website is one way to achieve this, and understanding GA4 setup is crucial. 

This guide will walk you through the various methods to implement GA4. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to set up GA4, positioning your business for success in the data-driven world.

How to create a Google Analytics account/property

Now, to create a Google Analytics account there are a series of steps you need to take and I will show you the steps in order. To create a Google Analytics account or property, first visit this page and click on “Start Measuring”

After you create your first GA4 property, you can use any method depending on your platform type to set up GA4 on your website. Let’s dive deeper into each of them.

How to set up Google Analytics 4

So, you have an online business, and you are interested in installing Google Analytics 4 on your website. First, you need to understand that there are a few ways to set up GA4. You can select the most relevant for you based on your resources and analytics knowledge. 

Firstly, you could use a plugin, secondly, if you are only starting your website and don’t have an engineering team behind you, the best way is to use Google Tag Manager. 

Lastly, if you are using other Google products such as Google Ads and, for them, you use GTAG. It can be more relevant for you to use the GTAG.js library for GA4 as well.

Now that you know the different approaches to setting up Google Analytics 4 for your website or app, let’s look at how to follow each approach in detail below.

How to set up GA4 using a plugin

A plugin is one of the easiest ways to set up GA4, especially using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or a platform like Shopify.

Start by choosing a GA4-compatible plugin. Popular options include “Site Kit by Google” or GA4WP by Passionate Brains. Next, go to your CMS dashboard, navigate to the plugins section, and search for your chosen plugin. Install and activate it. Follow the plugin’s setup wizard to connect your GA4 property. You will need your GA4 Measurement ID, which I asked you to save earlier.

How to set up GA4 using Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager (GTM) provides a flexible and powerful way to set up GA4, allowing you to manage all your tags in one place without needing a developer.

Step #1 Open Google Tag Manager, and click on “Add a new tag” under the “New Tag” section. 

Step #2 Click on Tag Configuration and select “Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration” tag type. Let’s name our tag “GA4 – Main Tracking Code” and paste the Measurement ID that we copied in Google Analytics 4 before.  

Step #3: Select the trigger for this tag. It will be “All Pages / Page View”. Save it.

Please check if your settings are close to mine

Step #4: Publish the GTM container.

After you publish the GTM container, Google Analytics 4 will receive your website data. You can visit your website and find yourself in the GA4 Real-time report.

How to set up GA4 using Google Tag

Google Tag (formerly known as Global Site Tag or gtag.js) is another method for setting up GA4. Here’s how to set it up: In GA4, go to your Web Stream Detail View—click on “View tag instructions” -> Click on “Install Manually.” Copy the code and place it in the header section of your website code. When you upload this change to production, Google Analytics 4 will start to receive data from your website.

How to properly check your implementation

After you have implemented Google Analytics 4 using one of the methods mentioned above, the next step is to ensure that your setup is correct and that GA4 is loaded on every page. To do this, you should use the DebugView report. You can also use the Real-time report available in Google Analytics 4, but it is not as useful as the DebugView report for this purpose.

Use GA4 DebugView to verify your setup. 

The GA4 DebugView is activated via the GTM Preview Mode or through the GA4 Debugger Chrome extension. After you activate it, navigate to your GA4 property, click “Admin” in the left-hand menu, and select “DebugView.” This will allow you to monitor real-time data and events sent to GA4. You can see a timeline of events in DebugView as you interact with your website or app. Ensure that the events are captured correctly and that parameters, such as User ID, are recorded accurately.

Check GA4 Realtime Report

The Realtime report in GA4 gives you a current overview of your website or app activity. It’s a useful tool for verifying your implementation. Here’s how to use it: In your GA4 property, go to “Reports” in the left-hand menu, then select “Realtime.” This will open the realtime report interface. The Realtime report shows the number of active users, locations, and events they trigger. Ensure that the data matches your expectations and that key metrics, such as page views and conversions, are tracked correctly.

Using DebugView and Realtime reports, you can ensure that your GA4 implementation is set up correctly, giving you accurate and actionable insights.

Do you need extra help implementing Google Analytics 4 for your product?

GA4 offers many features and capabilities that provide deep insights into your website or app performance and user behaviour. By leveraging GA4, you can track and analyse data more effectively, make informed decisions, and optimise your online presence.

At Vakulski-Group, we specialise in delivering comprehensive GA4 solutions tailored to your needs. Our expert services include GA4 implementation, customization, and data analysis. By choosing us, you can unlock the full potential of GA4 and enjoy the following benefits:

• Enhanced Data Accuracy: Our precise GA4 setup ensures you capture accurate and relevant data, giving you a clear picture of user interactions and behaviours.
• Actionable Insights: With our customised reports and in-depth analysis, you can uncover valuable insights that drive strategic decisions and business growth.
• Optimised Performance: We help you identify key areas for improvement, enabling you to optimise your website or app for better user engagement and higher conversion rates.

Imagine having a partner who not only sets up GA4 for you but also empowers you to make data-driven decisions that propel your business forward. Contact us today to start maximising the benefits of GA4.

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We will help you set up analytics and find business insights to improve the bottom line.

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What to do next after you implemented GA4 correctly  

Now that you have implemented GA4 with your product, there are some important steps I suggest you take next. Let’s look at them in this section.

Track Events with GA4 

Once GA4 is set up, the next step is to start tracking events. GA4 offers a more flexible event-based model compared to Universal Analytics, allowing you to track user interactions such as clicks, form submissions, video plays, and more. GA4 also provides enhanced measurement features that automatically track common events like page views, scrolls, outbound clicks, and more. Make sure these features are enabled to gain immediate insights. You can also create custom events that suit your needs and are not tracked automatically using the GA4 interface or by adding event tags to your website or app.

For more detailed guidance, refer to the following articles:

• GA4 Automatic Events
• GA4 Custom Events
• GA4 Recommended Events

Set up Conversions in GA4

Measuring conversions is essential for assessing the success of your business goals. In GA4, you have the ability to designate specific events as conversions or key events. To set up conversions in GA4, begin by identifying the events that represent crucial actions for your business, such as purchases, sign-ups, or downloads. Within the “key events” section of your GA4 property, select and label the events you wish to track as conversions. This will allow you to monitor how your website or app is performing in relation to its objectives. Here’s a detailed guide on how to set up GA4 Conversion Tracking.

Configure revenue tracking in GA4

If you run an e-commerce site, setting up revenue tracking is essential. GA4 allows you to track transactions and revenue by implementing e-commerce events. First, implement E-commerce events by Ensuring that you have the necessary e-commerce parameters set up in your event tags, such as item name, price, and quantity. This will enable you to monitor your sales performance and revenue generation effectively. GA4 provides detailed e-commerce reports that show metrics like total revenue, average order value, and purchase quantity. These insights can help you understand your sales performance. I recommend you to follow my dedicated article:“How to set up ecommerce tracking in Google Analytics 4”, where you can fully figure out how to set up.

Link GA4 account to Other Google Products

To maximise the benefits of your GA4 account, it’s important to link it to other Google products such as Google Ads, Google Search Console, and BigQuery. This integration provides a more comprehensive view of your marketing efforts and website performance. In the admin section, under “Product Links,” you will find a list of Google products you can link to. For linking GA4 with any Google product, navigate to the “Admin” section, select the product, and follow the instructions to establish the connection.

• Google Ads: Linking GA4 to Google Ads allows you to import GA4 audiences and conversions into your Google Ads account, enabling you to create more targeted ad campaigns.
• Google Search Console: Integrating GA4 with Google Search Console provides insights into how your site performs in organic search.
• Google BigQuery: Linking GA4 to BigQuery is beneficial for advanced data analysis, allowing you to export raw event data for deeper analysis.

For more details on how to perform these linkings, you can refer to the dedicated articles provided below:

• How to link GA4 to Google Ads
• How to connect Google Analytics 4 to Google Search Console
• How to connect Google Analytics 4 with BigQuery

Import cost and offline data into GA4

To get a comprehensive view of your marketing return on investment (ROI), you can import your cost data from non-Google ad platforms like Meta Ads and Bing Ads, as well as offline sources, into Google Analytics 4 (GA4) using the Data Import feature. This will allow you to analyse the performance of all your marketing channels in one place, making optimising your campaigns and enhancing your overall strategy easier.

Here’s how to do it. First, Prepare Your Data: Make sure your cost and offline data are in a compatible format, such as CSV. Include important details like campaign names, costs, and dates. Next, in the “Admin” section, navigate to “Data Import” and create a new data set. Follow the prompts to upload your data. Once the data is imported, you can analyse it alongside your GA4 metrics. This will help you gain insights into the performance of all your marketing channels and offline activities in one place. For a more detailed guide on how to use the data import feature, refer to this dedicated article.

Final Words on Ways to Set Up GA4

Setting up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is crucial for any business looking to gain valuable insights into their website or app performance. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can ensure a comprehensive and accurate GA4 implementation. Whether you use a plugin, Google Tag Manager, or Google Tag, each method offers unique advantages that cater to different needs and technical expertise levels.

Once your GA4 setup is complete, verifying your implementation is essential to ensure data accuracy. Use tools like the DebugView report to confirm that GA4 correctly tracks user interactions across your site. If you encounter any challenges or need expert assistance, don’t hesitate to seek professional help to maximise the benefits of GA4.

After successfully implementing GA4, the following steps involve configuring advanced features such as event tracking, conversion setup, revenue tracking, and linking your GA4 account to other Google products. Additionally, importing your cost data from non-Google ad platforms like Meta Ads and Bing Ads and offline sources into Google Analytics 4 (GA4) using the Data Import feature into GA4 can provide a more holistic view of your marketing ROI.By mastering GA4 setup and leveraging its powerful analytics capabilities, you position your business for success in the data-driven world. Stay proactive, continuously monitor your analytics, and make data-driven decisions to optimise your online presence and drive growth.

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