As a pool company, you know the importance of data and analytics to measure the success of your online marketing efforts and track where your leads come from. And if you’re using Google Analytics to track your website’s performance, you may have heard about the upcoming change from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4 (G4). This change will impact how you track and measure your website’s performance, and it’s important to understand why you need to migrate to G4 by July 1, 2023.

Google Analytics – Migrating to G4: What Pool Companies Need To Know

First, let’s understand what G4 is and why it’s different from Universal Analytics. G4 is the next generation of Google Analytics and is designed to provide more advanced insights into user behavior across devices and channels. It’s built on a new data model that allows for better tracking of user interactions and events, making it easier to understand how users are engaging with your website.

Differences Between Universal Analytics & G4

One of the key differences between Universal Analytics and G4 is the way they handle data. Universal Analytics uses cookies to track user behavior, which can be limited in its ability to track users across devices and channels. G4, on the other hand, uses a combination of cookies and machine learning to track user behavior, providing a more comprehensive view of how users are interacting with your website.

Why Migrate To G4?

It’s important to emphasize the critical nature of preparing for the switch from Universal Analytics to G4 by July 1, 2023. This is because Google has announced that after this date, Universal Analytics will stop processing hits, meaning that any data collected through this platform will no longer be available.

To put it simply, if you don’t migrate to G4 by July 1, 2023, you will no longer be able to track or analyze website data using Universal Analytics. This is why it’s important to start the migration process as soon as possible to ensure that you have ample time to make the switch before the deadline.

It’s also worth noting that a few months after the July 1 deadline, Google will no longer provide access to any Universal Analytics data or reports. This means that if you haven’t migrated to G4 by this time, you will lose all of the data that you’ve collected through Universal Analytics up until that point.

It’s important to keep in mind that Google has not yet announced a finalized date for fully sunsetting Universal Analytics. However, given the upcoming July 1 deadline, it’s clear that the transition to G4 is a top priority for Google, and it’s only a matter of time before Universal Analytics is phased out completely.

G4 vs Universal Analytics

In addition, migrating to G4 will allow you to take advantage of new features and insights that are not available in Universal Analytics. For example, G4 provides more advanced tracking of user behavior across devices and channels, making it easier to understand how users are interacting with your website. It also provides more detailed insights into user demographics and interests, allowing you to tailor your marketing efforts more effectively.

Finally, migrating to G4 now will allow you to avoid any potential issues or downtime that may occur if you wait until the last minute to migrate. Migrating to G4 requires some technical knowledge and may take some time to implement, so it’s important to start the process as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition. This is definitely one to put on your IT person’s radar.

Make G4 Migration a Priority

Failure to migrate to G4 before the July 1 cutoff can have significant consequences for pool companies that rely on Google Analytics to track and measure their website’s performance. The most immediate impact of failing to migrate is that your website’s analytics data will no longer be collected or processed by Universal Analytics after the deadline.

This means that you will no longer be able to track user behavior, website traffic, or other important metrics that are essential for measuring the effectiveness of your online marketing efforts. As a result, you may miss out on valuable insights and opportunities to optimize your website’s performance and improve your marketing strategy.

In addition, failing to migrate to G4 can also result in the loss of historical data collected through Universal Analytics. This can be particularly damaging for pool companies that have been tracking website data for an extended period, as this data can provide important context and insights into long-term trends and patterns.

Avoid Disruptions & Data Loss

Upgrading from Universal Analytics to G4 can certainly seem intimidating, and it’s natural for pool companies to feel apprehensive about making the switch. However, by being proactive and starting the migration process early, pool companies can ensure a smooth transition and avoid any disruptions to their website analytics.

One of the most important steps in the migration process is configuring the new G4 account to your website’s specifications. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it’s important to ensure that everything is set up correctly to avoid any data loss or other issues down the line.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about how to proceed with the migration, it may be helpful to seek out professional assistance from a qualified expert.