If you’re a digital marketer in Southeast Asia, you’ve likely heard about Google’s latest analytics platform, GA4. GA4 is a major update to the previous Universal Analytics (UA) platform, and it promises to deliver better insights and more comprehensive tracking capabilities. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key differences between GA4 and UA and help you decide which platform is right for your business.

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Pro Tip: If you’re not sure which analytics platform is right for your business, consider hiring an SEO service provider. They can help you evaluate your analytics needs and choose the best platform for your business.

What is GA4?

GA4 is Google’s latest analytics platform, and it promises to deliver more comprehensive tracking capabilities and better insights. GA4 uses an event-based model, which means that it tracks user interactions as individual events, rather than tracking sessions and pageviews. This approach allows GA4 to provide more granular data on user behavior and engagement, which can help businesses make more informed decisions about their digital marketing strategies.

GA4 and UA

What is UA?

Universal Analytics (UA) is the previous version of Google Analytics and has been the standard analytics platform for many years. UA uses a session-based model, which means that it tracks user activity based on sessions and pageviews. While UA has been a reliable analytics platform for many businesses, it has some limitations in terms of tracking user behavior and engagement.

Key Differences Between GA4 and UA

There are several key differences between GA4 and UA that businesses should be aware of when choosing an analytics platform. Some of the key differences include:

  1. Tracking Model

As mentioned earlier, GA4 uses an event-based model, while UA uses a session-based model. This means that GA4 provides more granular data on user behavior and engagement, while UA provides more high-level data on sessions and pageviews.

  1. Data Collection

GA4 collects data differently than UA. In GA4, all data is collected using the Measurement Protocol or the gtag.js library. This means that businesses will need to update their tracking codes to use GA4. UA, on the other hand, allows businesses to collect data using a variety of different methods, including JavaScript, mobile SDKs, and server-side tracking.

  1. Reporting Interface

The reporting interface in GA4 is different than in UA. GA4 provides a more intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easier to find the data you need. UA, on the other hand, has a more complex reporting interface that can be difficult to navigate for new users.

  1. Customization Options

GA4 provides more customization options than UA. With GA4, businesses can create custom events, custom dimensions, and custom metrics, which can help them track specific user behaviors and engagement. UA also provides customization options, but they are not as extensive as in GA4.

GA4 and UA

Which Analytics Platform is Right for Your Business?

The decision of which analytics platform to use ultimately depends on your business’s specific needs and goals. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between GA4 and UA:

  • If you want more granular data on user behavior and engagement, GA4 is the better choice.
  • If you have a complex website or app that requires extensive tracking, GA4 is the better choice.
  • If you’re comfortable with UA and don’t want to invest time and resources into learning a new platform, UA may be the better choice.
  • If you want a more user-friendly reporting interface, GA4 is the better choice.

Pro Tip: If you’re not sure which analytics platform is right for your business, consider running both GA4 and UA in parallel. This can help you compare the data and make an informed decision about which platform to use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both GA4 and UA are powerful analytics platforms that can help businesses track user behavior and engagement. However, GA4 offers more comprehensive tracking capabilities and more granular data, making it the better choice for businesses that require more detailed insights. That being said, UA is still a reliable analytics platform that may be a better choice for businesses that are already comfortable with the platform and don’t want to invest time and resources into learning a new one.

Ultimately, the decision of which analytics platform to use depends on your business’s specific needs and goals. By considering the factors we’ve outlined in this blog post, you can make an informed decision about which platform is right for your business. And if you’re still not sure, consider hiring an SEO service provider to help you evaluate your analytics needs and choose the best platform for your business.

Don’t forget to visit our website, d-dat.com, where we offer a free audit for your website. Whether you’re using GA4 or UA, our team of experts can help you optimize your website for better performance and increased engagement.

We hope you found this blog post helpful in understanding the key differences between GA4 and UA. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.

Published On: March 30th, 2023 / Categories: Web Analytics /

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