GA4
      Back to home
      1. Help Center
      2. Google Analytics
      3. GA4

      Setting Up Google Analytics 4

      Begin the transition from Google Analytics Universal to Google Analytics 4.

      Google Analytics is the primary source of analytics data for your website, and we rely on importing that data into your Metrics for News dashboards. In 2020, Google launched a new version of Google Analytics called GA4.

      Unfortunately, data for GA4 cannot be migrated from your existing version of GA. That's why it's important that you set up a new GA4 property to begin collecting data as soon as possible, so that when the previous version of Google Analytics is discontinued, you have some historical data available.

      This will not affect your current operations as GAU and GA4 can be run simultaneously.

      Metrics for News continues to run on data from GAU, not GA4, and we are working to ensure that you won't lose any data in your dashboard once the transition is complete.

      If you have further questions about setup, or would like help with the transition, please contact Brad Gerick: brad.gerick@pressinstitute.org.

      Creating Your GA4 Property

      We recommend using Google Tag Manager to create your new GA4 property. Google has created a video on how to do that. To use this option, make sure you have the GTM code installed on every page of your site.

      1. In Google Analytics, click Admin.

      2. In the Account column, make sure that your desired account is selected. (If you only have one Google Analytics account, it will already be selected.)

      3. In the Property column, select the Universal Analytics property that currently collects data for your website.

      4. In the Property column, click GA4 Setup Assistant. It is the first option in the Property column (directly above "Property Settings", which is second.)

        Screen_Shot_2020-12-21_at_15.06.48

      5. Click Get started under "I need to create a new Google Analytics 4 property".

      6. If your site uses the gtag.js, tag, you have the option to Enable data collection using your existing tags. However, if you use a website builder/CMS (e.g. Wix, etc) or your website is tagged with analytics.js, the wizard can't reuse your existing tagging and you'll need to add the tag yourself (instructions). More on setting up tags below.

        Note for advanced users: If you've implemented any custom tags for your Universal Analytics property, Enable data collection using your existing tags won’t replicate the functionality for your Google Analytics 4 property. Learn more.

        Upon clicking GA4 Setup Assistant, you may see the following message, which would indicate the your website is probably tagged with analytics.js. If so, follow the instructions then proceed to the following steps.

        Screen_Shot_2020-12-21_at_16.03.36
        This is where that link will take you.

        From there, you will create a new, GA4 property.

      7. Click Create Property.

      8. Analytics now creates your new Google Analytics 4 property, copying basic data such as the property name, URL, timezone, and currency from your Universal Analytics account.