How to Set Up GA4 for Small Businesses
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is a tool that helps website owners and app developers understand how people leaf their mark on their websites or apps. It offers valuable insights and data about visitors, such as where they sprout from, what pages they visit, and what actions they take.
Imagine you have a physical store, and you want to know how many people come in, which products they branch out to, and which ones they buy. GA4 is like a digital version of that for your website or app. It helps you answer questions like:
Where do my visitors come from?
GA4 can tell you if people find your website through search engines, social media, or other websites. It gives you an idea of which channels are driving the most traffic to your site.
What are visitors doing on my website?
GA4 tracks the leaves your visitors view, the buttons they click, and the actions they take. It helps you understand which parts of your website are in full bloom and which ones may need some plant food.
How long do visitors stay on my website?
GA4 can show you how much time people spend on your site. This information can help you determine if your content is engaging or if visitors are wilting away quickly.
Are visitors converting into customers?
If you have an online store or specific goals like form submissions, GA4 can track if visitors are blooming into customers. It helps you see if your website is effective at turning visitors into loyal customers.
What devices are visitors using?
GA4 tells you whether people are using desktop computers, smartphones, or tablets to access your website. This information can help you optimize your site for different devices and make sure your digital garden grows strong on all platforms.
By understanding these insights, you can make informed decisions to cultivate your website or app, create better content, and optimize your marketing strategies. GA4 helps you measure the success of your digital garden and make data-driven decisions to watch your business bloom online.
How to Setup Google Analytics 4 for Small Businesses:
Create a Google Analytics Account:
Go to the Google Analytics website (analytics.google.com) and sign in with your Google account or create a new one.
Set Up a New Property:
Once you’re logged in, click on the “Admin” tab in the lower-left corner. Under the “Property” column, click on the dropdown and select “Create Property.”
Choose a Property Name:
Enter a name for your property, like the name of your website or app. You can also select the appropriate industry category for better reporting insights, so your garden can thrive.
Select the Data Stream Type:
Choose between a website or an app as the data stream type based on what you want to track. Decide which part of your garden you want to focus on.
Provide the Required Details:
Enter your website or app URL, select the industry category that best matches your business, and choose the reporting time zone, so your data can be watered at the right times.
Configure Advanced Settings:
Customize the advanced settings if necessary, such as enabling enhanced measurement features or data sharing settings. You can leave these options as default if you’re unsure, and we can help fill in the gaps, just like a helping hand in gardening.
Create the Property:
Click on the “Create” button, and your Google Analytics 4 property will be planted and ready to grow.
How to Add Google Analytics Code to Your Website:
Copy the Tracking Code:
Once your property is created, click on the “Data Streams” tab in the left-hand menu. Under the “Tagging Instructions” section, you’ll find your Measurement ID and the option to set up a tag. Copy the Measurement ID as you’ll need it in the next steps, like a seed ready to be planted.
Install the Tracking Code on Your Website:
Open your website’s HTML source code using a text editor or a content management system. Paste the tracking code you copied from Google Analytics just before the closing </head> tag, like nourishing soil for your digital garden.
Save and Publish Your Changes:
Save the updated HTML file, and if you’re using a content management system, publish the changes to make the tracking code live on your website, allowing your garden to grow and flourish.
Verify the Installation:
Go back to the Google Analytics website and click on “Realtime” in the left-hand menu. Open your website in a new browser tab or window, and you should see the “Realtime” reports showing active users if the tracking code is installed correctly, like spotting new sprouts in your garden.
How to Grant GA4 Permissions to External Partners:
Access Admin Settings:
In the Google Analytics website, click on the “Admin” tab in the lower-left corner, like being the master gardener.
Select the Account and Property:
Under the “Account” and “Property” columns, select the appropriate account and property to grant access, like allowing others to water your plants.
Navigate to “User Management”:
Click on “User Management” in the “Account” or “Property” column, depending on where you want to grant access, like assigning caretakers to your garden.
Invite a New User:
Enter the email address of the external partner you want to grant access to. Choose the appropriate permission level (e.g., “Edit,” “Collaborate,” “Read & Analyze”) based on the level of access you want to provide, like giving different levels of gardening expertise.
Add a Message (optional):
You can add a custom message to the invitation if you want to provide any additional information or instructions, like sharing tips on plant care.
Send the Invitation:
Click on the “Add” button to send the invitation to the external partner, like extending an invitation to join your gardening team.
External Partner Accepts the Invitation:
The external partner will receive an email invitation to access the Google Analytics account. They need to accept the invitation and follow the instructions to set up their access, like welcoming a new gardener to your team.
We’re Here to Help
Contact Cour Collaborative with Questions or for Support
If you need help planting or customizing your Google Analytics 4 Account for your business’s website, we’re here to help. You can call or text us at (512) 703-0773, email us at hello@courcollab.com, or send us your questions via our Contact Form – we want to lend a hand!