Starting July 1, 2024, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will be replacing Universal Analytics (UA) entirely. Thus this change requires immediate action from all users to make the switch to GA4 to maintain their website measurement capabilities.
As an SEO agency in Penang, Zumax Digital is here to assist with your SEO plans and ensure a smooth transition. We’re going to dive into what steps you need to take to ensure a seamless transition.
Google Analytics 4: Migration Timeline
Commencing on July 1, 2024: From July 1, 2024, any access to current or historical Universal Analytics data will be discontinued. Most users will lose access to the UA interface and Application Programming Interface (API). All UA properties will still be visible after this date and there will be a banner on display indicating they are queued for deletion. For properties in active BigQuery backfill as of June 30, 2024, visibility in the interface will continue until the backfill is completed.
Complete Shutdown by July 7, 2024 By the end of the first week of July, the full shutdown of Universal Analytics will be in effect for most users. At this point, any UA property not showing in the interface should be considered fully shut down. It is important that users export all previous processed data before this date to avoid any permanent losses.
Google Analytics 4: Product Integrations
As UA will completely come to an end, several product integrations will be affected. As an SEO agency in Penang, we at Zumax Digital are always in the loop of the latest news and updates. Let’s dive into what changes have been made during this transition:
Conversions and Audience Lists
- Universal Analytics (UA) goals and e-commerce transactions will stop measuring new conversions. This will therefore impact linked advertising accounts and could affect ad campaign performance.
- Audience lists from UA will close, which may also impact media activation and performance in advertising campaigns.
API Requests
- All API requests related to UA properties will fail. This includes data deletion requests via the User Deletion API. Tools that rely on the UA API, such as Looker Studio, will no longer display UA data.
BigQuery Export
- Historical data export requests from UA 360 properties can only be made up to June 30, 2024. However, data already exported to BigQuery will remain accessible.
Download Your Data: Protect Your Analytics History
To maintain access to your Universal Analytics (UA) data:
- Export Your Data: Download or export your data using the methods that are available to you. If you have a UA 360 property, start the BigQuery integration for historical data.
- Find UA Properties: Identify UA properties by their tracking codes, which start with “UA-” and are followed by numbers (e.g., UA-000000-1). A red banner on these properties will show the need to switch to GA4.
What Has Happened So Far: The Path to GA4
March 2023: Automatic Migration If you did not manually migrate your active UA property to GA4 but also did not opt out of automatic property creation, Google will create GA4 properties on your behalf. These automatically created GA4 properties reuse existing site tags wherever possible.
July 1, 2023: Processing Hits Stopped Standard UA properties stopped processing hits on July 1, 2023. However, some properties continued to process data temporarily as the shutdown was staged. Access to previously processed data in UA properties remains available until July 1, 2024.
What makes Google Analytics 4 different from Universal Analytics?
At first glance, Google Analytics 4 might look similar to Universal Analytics. However, the architecture and functionality of the two products are entirely different.
In Google Analytics 4, some features have been removed or revised, and even the labels in the sidebar and user interface have changed. Notably, “views,” which many found to be the most accessible way to use Google Analytics, are no longer available. This absence makes Google Analytics more challenging for some users.
That’s where we at Zumax Digital, an expert SEO agency, comes in. Helping you navigate these changes, ensuring a smooth transition to GA4, maximizing your data’s potential and maintaining your analytics capabilities so you don’t have to worry about it!
Preparing for the Final Transition
Starting July 1, 2024, switching to Google Analytics 4 is necessary to keep accessing analytics data. By embracing the future and make necessary preparations, you can make this transition seamless and safeguard your valuable data.
Zumax Digital is Here for All Your SEO Needs
At Zumax Digital, we understand the importance of seamless transitions and effective data management. As a leading SEO agency, we are ready to assist you with all your SEO plans to maximize your online presence and performance. Contact us today to learn how we can support your business through this crucial change.
Contact us today and start your SEO action plan:
Zumax Digital
Digital Marketing & SEO Agency Penang
Tel: +6017 788 – 5471
Email: marketing@zumaxdigital.com
