Tag: small business

6 Easy Steps to Migrate to Google Analytics 4

Post author By Jon Rognerud
Post date November 18, 2022

GA4 Migration Checklist Guide - Chaosmap.com

6 Easy Steps to Migrate to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) For Small Business

If you’re one of the 28.1 million businesses that use Google Universal Analytics tracking, you are probably fully aware that on the 1st of July 2023, this is being switched off.

Before this date, you’ll have to make the switch to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) or run the risk of not being able to track any data on your site.

Unfortunately, GA4 Setup isn’t as straightforward, and just clicking a button and hoping it’s done. And if you’re lacking any technical know-how, then you might be putting this task off.

There’s no shortage of GA4 Starter guides out there, however, lots of them are filled with technical jargon that is impossible to get your head around.

In this article, we give you easy-to-follow steps on the migration process to Google Analytics 4. Read on to find out how.

Why Switch to GA4 Google Analytics Tracking?

You might be asking this question of why you have to switch. GA4 isn’t a redesign of the current Universal Analytics (UA).

Think of it as a whole new product. Naturally, there are similarities between the two – however, there are several major differences, including the user and reporting interface as well as what data is collected and reported on.

GA4 uses a significantly different data structure, data stream and ways to start collecting data.

Google Analytics 4 has everything built around users and a new event model, and not sessions. According to Google, this is the next generation analytics tool for data collection and presentment. It’s the new Google analytics, with enhanced measurement. Previous versions will be phased out, and the tool is a free version still.

Google Analytics 4 – GA4 Setup

We understand that the idea of setting up GA4 can seem daunting. Here’s our easy step-by-step guide on what to do.

Back-Up Universal Analytics & Your Site

Before you start any technical type of work, it’s a good idea to back everything up before you begin. Run a backup on your entire website, and if you’re not sure how to – then ask your host or a developer to help.

Before you make the switch to GA4, it’s worth backing up your analytics data. You can export this information manually to a range of supported formats, including Excel, CSV, and Google Sheets.

Although your UA data will be around for a while, Google has said they are only keeping this for six months after the July 1st, 2023, switchover date. Your data won’t be around forever.

With UA, you can pull up to two months of data at a time as a CSV. Depending on how long you’ve used UA, this could take a while. It might be quicker to use the Google Analytics Spreadsheet Add-On

Step 1: Create Your GA4 Property

After backing up, you’re ready to start implementing GA4. The first step is to create your new GA4 property.

Your new GA4 properties won’t contain any historical data. It only starts tracking traffic data from the time you create it. The good thing is that you can switch between UA and GA4.

The earlier you create your GA4 account, the sooner you can start populating data in the GA4 dashboard.

Step 2: Add GA4 Tag to Your Site

Although you can do this manually, the easiest way to do this is by using Google Tag Manager.

GA4 differs from UA. Universal Analytics only needed one tag type. GA4 needs two tags to track data. These are the Google Analytics Configuration Tag and the GA4 Event tags.

Using the Google tag manager ensures both of these tags are assigned correctly. After you’ve added the tags, GA4 will start to gather data. It might take a day or so to see anything appear on the GA4 interface.

Step 3: List Your Key Items

You’ll need to set up what you want to track on your new GA4 account. These are not pulled across from UA. In the first instance, the most common tracking items you’ll want to see are as follows;

Events
Goals (Conversions)
Content Groupings
Custom Dimensions/Metrics
Referral Exclusions
Product Link Connections
Audiences

There are differences in the wording between Universal Analytics and GA4.

Items that include hit types, such as views and sessions, have all been grouped under events. Also, conversions are now classified as goals. There are several other differences between the two analytics event tracking versions.

It will probably take you some time to go through all the items you want to track. Each of these will need to be set up to ensure the correct date is being gathered.

Step 4: Check Your Items Are Being Tracked

After you’ve been through each item in your new GA4 property, it’s time to double-check that everything is being tracked properly.

Although they aren’t the same, you can toggle between UA and GA4 to see if the data is somewhat correlating.

It will differ slightly; however, if there are major differences, this is a telltale sign that something isn’t set up properly.

Step 5: Decide on a Date That GA4 Will Be Your Single Source of Data

While Google Analytics is in this transition stage, organizations are most likely drawing from the two different sets of data for reporting purposes.

If you have a medium to large company, make sure that reports and data are all sourced from the same version of analytics.

By setting up GA4 early, you should have a solid backlog of data that you can draw on before UA gets switched off.

One thing to be aware of is that you will get skewed results if you’re comparing UA data for one year and then GA4 data for the following year as they aren’t a like-for-like comparison.

Step 6: Archive Your UA Data

You made a backup of your current UA data. You may or may not want to switch this off instantly. Google had confirmed it’s keeping the historical UA data until January 1, 2024. After this date, it will be deleted.

If you are running the two versions of analytics until UA gets switched off, be sure to make a backup before this date and archive it.

Looking For More GA4 Starter Guides?

Hopefully, this step-by-step guide has told you everything you need to know; however, if you still have questions about GA4 Setup or need more explanation about Google Analytics 4, then we’re here to help. Google provides a Google Analytics 4 setup guide here.

FREE Download: GA4 Migration Guide – Simple Steps (PDF)

And, at Chaosmap, we have on-hand experts ready to answer all your Google Analytics tracking questions.

We’ll provide you with actionable solutions, direct you to GA4 starter guides and resources. And, if you’re still unsure, we can do the technical work for you.

If you need to integrate and set up Google Ads, we do that as well. We provide detailed reports, have many reporting capabilities; ecommerce reports, cross device reporting, ROI reports, a migration checklist and we make sure everything is configured correctly. Make sure to start tracking with everything in the “plumbing” area working correctly, and that you have complete control going forward.

There is also a GA4 migration analytics starter page here.

Contact our professional team members today to find out how we can help.

Further GA4 Learning:

Tags GA4, Google Analytics 4, Migration, small business

SEO Local

Local SEO Benefits You Should Know About

Post author By Jon Rognerud
Post date November 11, 2014

local seo - what are the marketing benefits

High Search Rankings

If you have an online business, you know how important it can be to maintain a high search ranking. When people look online for information, the first place they often turn is a search engine, such as Google or Bing. If your website does not appear near the top of the search results, you are not going to get many visitors.

Because of this, you need to make sure that you are investing enough time and effort into search engine optimization, more commonly referred to as SEO. If you do not know what this term means, you need to learn right away. Neglecting SEO is one of the most common reasons that online businesses fail.

Focus Locally

However, it is not enough just to focus on general SEO principles, such as selecting the right keywords or building links. While these can help, you also need to make sure that you focus on local SEO. Since many small businesses get most of their customers from the surrounding community, you need to make sure that you have a good search ranking for local searches.

The Internet makes it easy to attract customers from all over the world, but for many small businesses, this is not an important goal. If you run an auto repair shop, for example, you are not going to be interested in whether someone on the other side of the world can easily find your website. Instead, you are going to focus on establishing a strong local presence.

Strategies & Tools

You want to make sure that your site is one of the top results when people who live near your location search for auto repair shops. Fortunately, Google and the other big search engines make it easy to focus on promoting your presence to local searchers. By making good use of these tools, you can boost your search ranking without too much difficulty.

Of course, to receive the benefits of these features, you have to make use of them. This means that you have to make sure that you have given the big search engines plenty of information about your location. If you do not submit this information to Google and other search companies, they will have a harder time connecting you to your locality.

Focus & Time Management

However, investing the right amount of time and effort into local SEO can take time away from other parts of your business. You do not want to neglect your customers or provide poor service because you were so focused on boosting your search ranking. In many cases, you will be better off hiring an expert SEO firm to help you out. They can make sure that your website maintains a high ranking so that you can focus on providing great service.

By investing in a strong local SEO campaign, you can make sure that you maintain a highly visible presence in your community. With the right approach, you can attract more customers and make sure that your business thrives for many years to come.

Tags benefits, local seo, small business

small business

How To Use Your Online Education to Market and Grow Your Business

Post author By Jon Rognerud
Post date March 20, 2014

You are finally living the dream.

You’re the boss of your own business and everything is perfect. Now…if only you could figure out how to apply all that great information you have spent the past few years learning in school. Translating textbook case studies and imaginary scenarios into marketable skills for your company can be tough.

In fact, a 2011 study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that learning based on actual work situations was the top way youths prepare themselves for the workforce.

There are many skills you can develop while earning your degree online.

FastWeb.com lists some of the top skills include: independence, multitasking and motivation. Combining the actual information you learn in the classroom with the life skills that accompany the course load is the best preparation for business success.

Whether you earn your degree from a brick and mortar school or through an online program, you will be in a situation to learn both academic and real-world skills that will help you both run and market your company.

Tags education, growth, small business

Mobile Marketing

5 Mobile Marketing Strategies For Small Business (The Integrated Version)

Post author By Jon Rognerud
Post date July 1, 2013

Mobile marketing and mobile solutions are here to stay. Whether you are a large business or a small business, there are potential uses and positive outcomes for you.

“The smartphone revolution has touched every corner of the world, and that in turn is changing how any digital marketer does business.” – Google

If you want to learn how others are using mobile marketing tools and strategies then this post is for you.

Tags mobile marketing, mobile readiness, small business

client attraction

8 Ways To Increase Your Client Base For B2B

Post author By Jon Rognerud
Post date October 2, 2012

No matter what type of small business you own, increasing your income is the goal. Building your client base is important and the best way to add that income boost you desire.

There are many ways you can expand your reach or turn those who find your business into paying customers. These eight ideas are a great way to get started and will help you improve your bottom line.

Launch a New Product or Service – Offering something new is a great way to put your name in front of new people. Do not reach too far out of your comfort zone, but offering something a little different will bring different people into your world. These new customers may be interested in your other items/services too.
Ask for Referrals – Look at your current customer base as a way to attract new customers. Everyone has friends, neighbors or co-workers they may be willing to tell about your company.
Rework your Website – Did you create that website months or years ago and just let it sit stagnant? You will get more hits on the web if you offer new content regularly. Additionally, more people than ever turn to the internet instead of calling for information.
Social Networking – Social networking is more than just building a Facebook page for your business, you have to get in there and really communicate with those who take the time to find you on the social networks. Think outside the box and consider profiles on Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr as well as Facebook.
Sponsor Events – One of the best ways to make local connections is participating in community events. Get out there and put yourself in front of people that may become your customers.
Attend Community Group Meetings – Groups such as Veteran’s organizations and charitable organizations such as the Kiwanis and Lions Club are always looking for community members to speak at meetings. Share information about your industry and you will have the chance to meet others that might become customers.
Consider PPC (Pay Per Click) Advertising – This is something that works for some, but not others. However, you can usually get started for just a small sum. Give different campaigns a test run before you commit to a larger one. Add other programs (like SEO) as you see and validate more of that data/analytics.
Follow Up – Those who check out your product or service but do not convert can be a clue as to what you are doing wrong. Follow up on those potential customers and find out why they didn’t turn into sales.

This is a good starter list, and should get you on the path of more quality client attraction quickly.

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Tags Customer, small business