Real talk, %FIRSTNAME%: How often are you actively looking at your website's Google Analytics? Realer talk: How often are you doing anything about what you see there?
Same. Same.
No matter what your answer to those questions, you should know that there are some major changes afoot with the platform.
I am not qualified to tell you about any of this. But my pal Kyle Akerman is. So when I got his most recent email campaign, I asked for his permission to share it with you. And he said yes!
Here's what he said:
Universal Analytics is dead.
It is going away for good July 1, 2023 (15 months from now). You will see a message about this in your Google Analytics property.
The tiny print in the blue box says:
"Universal Analytics will no longer process new data in standard properties beginning July 1, 2023. Prepare now by setting up and switching to a Google Analytics 4 property."
I don’t like that second sentence. It SHOULD read: "Prepare now by setting up a Google Analytics 4 property."
In other words, don’t "switch" to GA4 yet.
You still have 15 months to use Universal Analytics. And you should most definitely keep using it. It’s much easier to use than GA4.
So don't "switch" until you have to.
Here’s what you should do.
Set up GA4 on your website, preferably in the next three months. It will run in parallel with your existing Universal Analytics.
Keep using Universal Analytics for all of your reporting and analysis.
Start learning how to use GA4 so you will be ready for the cutover in 15 months.
Kyle "Don't Switch Yet" Akerman
The first two steps are easy enough, right? If you manage your business's own Google Analytics, why not do it this afternoon? Hell, do it right now! I'll wait. ⏱
The last step — start learning how to use GA4 — is the real sticky wicket. But you've got time.
