Everything you need to know about Google Analytics 4

Please note : Universal Analytics (the standard version of Google Analytics) will cease processing new data on July 1, 2023. Universal Analytics 360 properties will benefit from an additional three months of data processing, which will terminate on October 1, 2023. Google Analytics 4 will be the only Google tool available to track your website activity after those dates.

What is Google Analytics 4?

At its core, Google Analytics 4 is focused on providing more data throughout the entire lifecycle of the customer journey. In other words, more data is available after a customer has been acquired, including their level of engagement and retention.

Adding Google Analytics 4 to WordPress: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create a Google Analytics 4 Property

If you don’t have a GA4 property set up yet, you’ll need to do that first. You can go through the process of creating a GA4 property pretty easily by following Google’s Setup Assistant.

To access the assistant, head to the Admin cog then GA4 Setup Assistant in the middle column.

Next, click the blue Get Started button.

Then, click the Create Property button. The last option will either be checked or not based on which version of the tracking tag you currently have installed.

Your new property is created! Go ahead and click See Your GA4 Property.

Step 2: Set Up Dual Tracking

Here’s how to add your GA4 property to the Dual Tracking box in ExactMetrics.

A GA4 property has a Measurement ID, which is in the format of G-XXXXXXXXXX.

To find your Measurement ID, go to Admin » Property » Data Streams and then click into the data stream:

You’ve located your Measurement ID and now you can add it to ExactMetrics.

First, log into your WordPress site and go to ExactMetrics » Settings.

Under the Google Authentication section, you’ll see a Dual Tracking Profile option.

Copy your Measurement ID and then paste it into the option.

Once you insert the ID, the settings will be saved.

That’s it! You’re now dual tracking both a GA4 and UA property on your WordPress site.

Step 3: Turn Off Enhanced Measurement

Now, for the ExactMetrics plugin to work properly, you’ll want to make sure you have Enhanced Measurement toggled to Off. To do that, go back to GA4 and open your data stream:

Now, turn Enhanced Measurement OFF. ExactMetrics tracks those events for you. Leaving tracking turned on in Google Analytics could disrupt your tracking through ExactMetrics.

Your WordPress website is now connected to both GA4 and Universal Analytics.