Friendly reminder: Universal Analytics (UA) will stop processing user data on July 1.
That means you’ll have to pack all your UA stuff in moving boxes and carry them over to Google Analytics 4 (GA4). If you wait, you’ll have trouble comparing and reporting data.
Also, if you don’t migrate until July 1, you could go through a period of time without any data at all.
Yes, the idea of transitioning from UA to GA4 is stressful. But you may feel better reading Eric Gesinski’s answers to essential migration questions.
Let’s get packing…
Table of Contents
How do I begin the migration process?
No, this won’t happen with a click of a button. But Google launched a Setup Assistant that could make the transition easier.
The most important thing is to identify your KPIs and goals, then set them up as “conversion events” within GA4. The Assistant can help you import configured conversions.
What if I make a mess?
Don’t panic, because it happens. That’s why it’s important to start before UA sunsets, since you’ll have more wiggle room for changes.
Another reason why it’s good to migrate now is because you’ll have a window where UA and GA4 can work simultaneously, so you can see what works and what doesn’t.
Do I need Google Tag Manager (GTM)?
No, you can do everything without GTM installed. But it is strongly recommended that you install it.
With GTM, you can smooth the wrinkles out of the transition from event triggers in UA to reported events in GA4. GTM can pull all the data and turn them into “event triggers,” which is super helpful.
What should I be careful about?
Eric says the biggest pitfall is not identifying crucial KPIs that UA was used for, and not identifying a way to record it within GA4.
Because once UA is gone, you’ll find it difficult to set up new events or conversions and compare them to previous UA set up.
One important thing to remember
GA4 is still going through revisions, updates, and other frequent changes, so it’s important to keep track of everything.