{"id":105319,"date":"2024-11-03T17:16:03","date_gmt":"2024-11-03T17:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartthink.rs\/uncategorized\/google-analytics-ga4-beginners-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T12:11:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T12:11:21","slug":"google-analytics-ga4-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartthink.rs\/en\/blog-en\/google-analytics-ga4-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Analytics GA4 Beginner’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google Analytics GA4 Beginner's Guide,<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>

discover the secret recipe for website success<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Google Analytics GA4 is a free website analytics tool<\/strong> that helps marketers better understand the performance of their sites. Unlike Google Search Console, which provides detailed data on how users discover websites through organic (unpaid) searches on Google, Google Analytics GA4 covers all traffic sources.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n

This includes organic search, paid search, social media and other sources.<\/h3>\n

In addition to telling you how users arrive at your site, Google Analytics provides data on what they do after they arrive. This includes what pages they visit and what actions they take. <\/h3>\n

Google Analytics can seem complicated and confusing at first. However, it doesn't have to be that way. <\/h3>\n

In this guide, we'll teach you the basics of Google Analytics and help you install it on your website.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
\"Quickly<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Short<\/span>history<\/span> ?<\/span><\/h2><\/div><\/div>

Universal Analytics<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Universal Analytics (UA) is no longer the current version of Google Analytics<\/strong>, but it is the version that made Google Analytics famous.<\/h3>\n

It became widespread in the digital marketing world after the beta version was released in 2012. <\/h3>\n

How widespread was it? The various versions of Google Analytics account for more than 70% of the web analytics software market, according to our data. <\/h3>\n

But you won't see this Google Analytics today.<\/h3>\n

That's because it is Universal Analytics stopped processing new data in standard accounts on July 1, 2023 <\/strong>.<\/h3>\n

So marketers have started to adapt to the new Google Analytics 4.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Google Analytics 4 or GA4<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the new standard for the Google Analytics platform.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The platform was originally released as a beta version in 2019 and called an \u201cApp + Web\u201d property. <\/h4>\n

At first glance, it might not look much different, right?<\/h4>\n

But there are some basic differences between GA4 and UA, especially for those who are used to the previous version.<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>

Basic differences between<\/span>Google Analytics GA4 <\/span>& UA<\/span><\/h2><\/div><\/div>

Understanding the differences between GA4 and UA will help you better understand modern Google Analytics.<\/h3>\n

Difference 1: Data is now event-based<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Google Analytics measures user interactions on the site. Each of those interactions is called a \"hit\" and becomes part of the data visible in your Google Analytics reports. <\/h3>\n

GA4 collects all interactions as \"events\"<\/strong>, meaning all hits in GA4 are collected as events.<\/h3>\n

Universal Analytics collected data through multiple hit types, such as pageview, event and transaction. GA4 uses an event-based data model, resulting in different metrics and reports. <\/h3>\n

Differences like these can be confusing to some marketers, but Google Analytics is still an extremely useful tool for those who learn to use it.<\/h3>\n

Difference 2: New account structure and new data flows<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Google Analytics 4 has a different account structure<\/strong> compared to UA and introduces the concept of \"data streams\".<\/h3>\n

Universal Analytics had an account level, properties and views. The account level was associated with an organization, the property level with a specific digital asset (like a website or app), while the view level was where the data was actually viewed. <\/h3>\n

GA4 has an account level and a property level, but no review level. The account level works the same as in UA, but the property level is different. <\/h3>\n

GA4 combines data from the website and the application into a single entity. Both a website and an application can have their own unique data streams that feed into the overall picture of user behavior within a GA4 property. <\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Quickly<\/span><\/div><\/div>

How does Google Analytics 4 work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Google Analytics 4 works by collecting data from your website or app and then creating reports to analyze that data.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To enable data collection, it is necessary to install a small tracking code on your website.<\/h3>\n

For this very reason, we will explain the basic steps in the data collection process:<\/h3>\n

1. Installation of the code<\/span><\/strong>: When the user arrives at the site with the tracking code installed, Google Analytics places a cookie in the user's web browser.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

2. Tracking interactions:<\/span><\/strong> While the user interacts with the site, Google Analytics tracks their actions.<\/h3>\n

3. Data processing:<\/span><\/strong> User interactions are then processed on Google Analytics servers.<\/h3>\n

4. Access to reports:<\/span><\/strong> After processing, the data is available for review and analysis in Google Analytics.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

How to open a Google Analytics GA4 account?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

<\/h2><\/div><\/div>

<\/h2><\/div><\/div>

Don't worry, this will be very simple.<\/h3>\n

Just follow us:<\/h3>\n

1. Sign in to Google Analytics with your Google account.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

2. Click on \"Start measuring\"<\/strong> or, if you have already used Google Analytics, go to the admin area and click on \"Create Account\".<\/h3>\n

3. Give your account a name<\/strong> and select the information you want to share with Google. Click \"Next\". <\/h3>\n

4. Create GA4 by giving it a name<\/strong>, select time zone and currency. Click \"Next\". <\/h3>\n

5. Provide information about your business <\/strong>and select the size of the business. Click \"Next\".5. Provide information about your business and select the size of the business. Click \"Next\". <\/h3>\n

6. Select your business goals<\/strong> and accept the terms of use. Click \"I Accept\". <\/h3>\n

Setting up a data stream<\/h3>\n

1. Choose the platform you work on<\/strong> (web, iOS, Android).<\/h3>\n

2. Enter your site's URL<\/strong>, name the data stream, and turn on \u201cEnhanced measurement\u201d to track specific interactions.<\/h3>\n

3. Install the tracking code on your website<\/strong> so that data starts flowing into GA4.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>

How to install Google Analytics 4 on a website?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Installing Google Analytics is a two-step process and is very simple:<\/h3>\n

1. Creation of GA4 tracking code<\/span><\/strong>: Your unique tracking code is generated here.<\/h3>\n

2. Installation of the tracking code on your website.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

You must be wondering how to install Google Analytics?<\/h3>\n

Now get ready to install Google Analytics on your website.<\/h3>\n

Steps to Manually Install GA4<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

1. After configuring your data stream in GA4, you will see a screen with a \u201cMEASUREMENT ID\u201d field that is unique to you and a \u201cView tag instructions\u201d button.<\/h3>\n

2. Click the \"View tag instructions\" button and select the \"Install manually\" option.<\/h3>\n

3. Copy the tracking code to your clipboard.<\/h3>\n

4. Paste the code high in the head section of your website.<\/h3>\n

Note<\/strong>: If you are not sure about changing the code on your site, ask for help from the developer or use WordPress plugins that allow you to change the header without directly changing the template files.<\/h3>\n

In any case, you can call us to do it for you!<\/h3>\n

Congratulations, Google Analytics 4 <\/span>is now running on your site!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>

What are the basic categories of data in Google Analytics<\/span>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

With GA4 installed, data now flows into your Google Analytics account. In order not to be verbose, here is an overview of the main categories of data: <\/h3>\n

Users<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

A user is an individual who visits your site.<\/h3>\n

Google Analytics uses cookies to track the number of unique users<\/strong> who visit your site.<\/h3>\n

Views<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Google Analytics records a view each time a user views a page on your site.<\/h3>\n

If a user views a page, leaves it, then returns, that counts as two views.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sessions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

A session is a user's visit to your site. During the session, the user can perform numerous actions such as viewing pages, downloading files, playing video content, clicking on links or filling out forms. <\/h3>\n

Google Analytics ends the session after the visitor leaves the site or after 30 minutes of inactivity.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Events<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

During a session, a user can connect to your site in different ways. These interactions are known as events. <\/h3>\n

Google Analytics may record events such as scrolling, session initiation, clicks, and other events.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Conversions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Conversions are the most important actions users take on your website.<\/h3>\n

For example, on an e-commerce site it could be a purchase, while on a lead generation site it could be filling out a contact form.<\/h3>\n

In GA4, the easiest way to create conversions is from events that already exist.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This means that you first need to identify which specific events you want to track as conversions.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

How to use Google Analytics (GA4)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Now that you understand the basics, you're ready to start using Google Analytics.<\/h3>\n

Here's how you can use the platform to analyze key metrics and improve your marketing strategy based on the results.<\/h3>\n

Analysis of important pages using Google Analytics<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) allows you to easily see information about your most successful and least successful content.<\/h3>\n

We use the \"Pages and screens\" report for this.<\/h3>\n

1. Click on \u201cReports\u201d<\/span><\/strong> in the left navigation menu.<\/h3>\n

2. Expand the \"Engagement\"<\/span><\/strong> area and click on \"Pages and screens\".<\/h3>\n

You will see a list of the most viewed data pages sorted by total views in the \"Views\" column.<\/h3>\n

You can analyze these metrics to understand the following performance:<\/h3>\n