How to set up baseline tracking in Google Analytics

By omersimanovsky December 14, 2024 6 min read

Getting Started with Google Analytics 4

To get started with GA4 setup, you need to set up a new Google Analytics property. First, log in to your Google Analytics account, and follow the instructions for setting up a new property. When creating the property, make sure you select GA4 and not Universal Analytics.

1. Create a new property

Log in to your Google Analytics account.
Click the “Add New Property” button.
Select the “Google Analytics 4” option.
Type the name of the new property and fill in the required information.

2. Creating a Data Stream

The next step is to create a Data Stream, which allows you to receive information from your website or app. In GA4, this process is simpler and more straightforward than in previous versions.

Choose a platform: Web, Android, or iOS.
If you chose online, enter the URL and stream name.
Click “Create Stream” and the system will create the information stream for you.

Interesting use of GA4: Small businesses can use GA4 to track the success of local marketing campaigns by setting up custom events that measure specific interactions with local content.

Tip: When entering the URL, make sure you include the correct protocol (http or https) to avoid tracking issues.

Installing Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager is a simple and effective tool for managing tags on your website. If you haven’t installed Google Tag Manager on your website, it’s a good idea to do so. Installing tags through Tag Manager allows you to update and manage your tracking without having to make any code changes to the website itself.

3. Create a Google Tag Manager account

Go to the Google Tag Manager website.
Click “Create a new account”.
Fill in the information required to create the account.

4. Create a GA4 Config tag

Within Google Tag Manager, click “Create new tag.”
Select the tag type “Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration”.
Enter the Measurement ID you received from GA4.
Select the “All Pages” trigger so that tracking is performed on all pages of the site.

Example: If you want to track clicks on a specific button, you can set up a custom trigger in Google Tag Manager that will fire the tag only when the button is clicked.

Managing Events in GA4

In GA4, the ability to track website events becomes even more powerful. Events allow you to collect personalized data that is specific to your website.

5. Set up custom events

Within Google Tag Manager, click “Create new tag.”
Select the tag type “Google Analytics: GA4 Event”.
Enter the special event name and custom fields as needed.
Choose the appropriate trigger for your event.

Interesting use of GA4: E-commerce sites can use GA4 to track buyer behavior, such as adding products to cart or abandoning a cart, and improve the user experience accordingly.

Using Reports

Using GA4 reports helps you understand user traffic and site interactions. GA4 includes modern interactive reports that provide a deeper understanding of user behavior.

6. Customizing custom reports

Log in to the GA4 control panel and select the “Reports” option.
Choose the report that suits your needs or create a custom report.
Customize to show the information that matters most to you.

Idea: Try creating a report that shows the number of new users versus returning users to understand your customer loyalty.

Saving and tracking insights

Tracking key KPIs and meaningful insights helps you manage your digital marketing strategy effectively. Proper use of the data analysis tools in GA4 will lead to a more comprehensive and better look at the needs and possible improvements on your website.

7. Using Trends and Insights

Check your activity reports occasionally to understand visitor trends.
Use the comparison tool to see how users behave over time.
Combine insights with SEO tools to complete the marketing picture.

Interesting Use of GA4: Bloggers can use GA4 to track popular posts and identify topics that interest their readers, allowing them to create more targeted content.

ending

Switching to Google Analytics 4 may seem complicated at first, but with a basic understanding of the tool’s settings and features, you can gain valuable insights that will improve your website. Step by step, setting up basic tracking in GA4 can be easier and clearer, providing you with valuable tools for future website analysis and planning.

Screenshot Suggestions:

Screenshot of creating a new property in GA4.
Screenshot showing how to set up a Web data stream.
Screenshot of the GTM interface showing a newly created GA4 tag configuration.
Screenshot of the GA4 dashboard with customized reports being set up.

Understanding user data

One of the important features of Google Analytics 4 is the ability to understand user data in greater depth. GA4 offers reports that allow you to see not only the number of visitors to your site, but also their behavior, which helps you understand user needs and preferences.

8. User behavior analysis

Analyzing user behavior includes understanding their interactions with the site, such as:

Pages viewed.
Time spent on each page.
Clicks on links and buttons.
Special events such as filling out forms or making purchases.

Using this data, you can identify potential problems on the site and improve the user experience.

9. Audience segmentation

GA4 allows you to create different audiences based on user behavior. For example, you can create an audience of users who visited your site more than once, or an audience of users who added products to their cart but did not make a purchase.

To create a new audience, go to the “Audiences” tab in GA4.
Click “Create Audience”.
Select the criteria you want to use for audience segmentation.

Audience segmentation allows you to tailor your marketing more precisely and focus on specific groups of users.

Improving the user experience

One of the main goals of analyzing user data is to improve the user experience on your website. GA4 provides tools that can help you identify problems and make improvements.

10. Identifying problems on the site

Using GA4 reports, you can identify potential website issues, such as:

Pages with a high bounce rate.
Dwell time on certain pages is too short.
Technical issues such as slow page loading.

Identifying these issues allows you to make improvements and improve the user experience.

11. Content Optimization

Using GA4, you can analyze which content is more popular with your users. This can include:

Blog posts.
Pages with product information.
Marketing content.

Using this data, you can focus on creating content that interests your users and improve their interaction with the site.

summary

Google Analytics 4 is a powerful tool that gives you the ability to analyze user traffic on your website in depth and accurately. By setting up proper tracking, analyzing data, and improving the user experience, you can get a lot of benefit from this tool and improve the performance of your website.

Now that you understand the basics of GA4, you can start exploring the different tools and options the system offers, and maximize their impact on the success of your website.