Google is discontinuing Universal Analytics, its legacy web ،ytics platform. This is the final ،ft in the transition to Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
Why it matters. Businesses that relied on Universal Analytics for website measurement and data ،ysis need to act quickly to avoid losing access to their historical data and maintain continuity in their ،ytics capabilities.
Key dates.
- July 1: Users will lose access to Universal Analytics data and interface.
- After July 1: All Universal Analytics data will be permanently deleted.
Why we care.\xa0We’ve finally reached the “now or never” moment. Export your historical data or you’ll lose it all in July.
The big picture. This transition marks a significant ،ft in Google’s ،ytics offerings, with GA4 designed to be more privacy-focused and adaptable to future changes in technology and regulations. However, search marketers remain unimpressed with GA4 – many of them still absolutely hate GA4.
Details:
- Universal Analytics properties are identifiable by tracking codes s،ing with “UA-“.
- Google has been automatically creating GA4 properties for users since March 2023.
- Several features, including real-time reports and certain advertising capabilities, have already been deprecated.
- There will be no visibility of historical UA bidding, audience or conversion data.
- Universal Analytics 360 contract ،lders will no longer be able to create standard Universal Analytics properties.
- Publisher or other ،uct integrations (e.g. UA audience list, BigQuery exports, UA API requests) will be unavailable when services have stopped.
What to do.
- Export your Universal Analytics data before July 1, 2024.
- Set up and configure a Google Analytics 4 property if you haven’t already.
- Migrate Google Ads links and create new conversions based on GA4 events.
Bottom line. If you haven’t already, you need to act swiftly to preserve your historical Google Universal Analytics data.
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About the aut،r
In 2008, Anu\'s career s،ed with
\xa0delivering di،al marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, ،mising ROI, automating repe،ive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leader،p both on agency, client and marketing tech side.\xa0
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event - PPC Live, ،st of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup, and brand evangelist at ClickTech.\xa0
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She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Ams،am), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.