✅ Before You Begin: Prerequisites

You will need a Google account to use Google Analytics. If you have a Gmail account, you are all set. If not, you will need to create one first.

Step 1: Create a New GA4 Account and Property

1. Go to the Google Analytics website and click “Start measuring.”
2. Account setup: Give your account a name (usually your business name).
3. Property setup: Give your property a name (usually your website name), and select your reporting time zone and currency. A “property” is the website or app you want to track.

Step 2: Set Up a Data Stream

A data stream is a source of data for your property. For a website, you will set up a “Web” data stream.

1. Choose “Web” as your platform.
2. Enter your website’s URL and give the stream a name.
3. Ensure that “Enhanced measurement” is turned on. This will automatically track important events like scrolls, outbound clicks, and video engagement.
4. Click “Create stream.”

Step 3: Install the GA4 Tracking Code

Once you create your data stream, you will be given a “Measurement ID” (which looks like `G-XXXXXXXXXX`) and a tracking code snippet. You need to add this to your website. You have three main options:

Option A: Using a Website Builder Integration (Easiest)

Most modern website builders have a dedicated field for your Google Analytics ID. Simply copy your “Measurement ID” from GA4 and paste it into the appropriate field in your website builder’s settings. This is the easiest method and requires no coding.

Option B: Using Google Tag Manager (Recommended for Flexibility)

Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a tool that allows you to manage all your website tracking tags in one place. If you plan on adding other tags in the future (like a Facebook Pixel), using GTM is the best practice.

1. In GTM, create a new tag and choose “Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration.”
2. Paste your “Measurement ID” into the tag configuration.
3. Set the tag to fire on “All Pages.”
4. Publish your GTM container.

Option C: Installing the Code Directly on Your Website

If you are not using a website builder with an integration or GTM, you can install the tracking code directly. Copy the entire code snippet provided by GA4 and paste it into the `` section of every page on your website.

Step 4: Configure Key GA4 Settings

After installing the tracking code, there are a few settings you should configure in the GA4 Admin section:

• Increase Data Retention: By default, GA4 only stores user-level data for 2 months. Change this to 14 months to allow for year-over-year analysis. Go to `Admin > Data Settings > Data Retention` and change it.
• Define Internal Traffic: You want to exclude traffic from yourself and your team to keep your data clean. Go to `Admin > Data Streams > [Your Stream] > Configure tag settings > Define internal traffic` and enter your office IP addresses.
• Configure Cross-Domain Tracking: If your user journey spans across multiple domains (e.g., your main site and a separate booking site), you need to set up cross-domain tracking to see the full journey as a single session. This is also found in the tag settings.

Step 5: Set Up Conversion Tracking

As covered in our previous article, you need to tell GA4 which events are most important to your business. Go to `Admin > Conversions` and mark your key events (like `form_submission` or `purchase`) as conversions.

Step 6: Verify Your Setup

After installing the code, you need to make sure it’s working. The easiest way is to use the Realtime report in GA4. Open your website in a new browser window and then look at the Realtime report. You should see yourself as a visitor on the map. You can also use the Google Tag Assistant browser extension to debug your installation.

🚀 Next Steps After Setup

• Link Google Ads: If you run Google Ads, link your accounts to see your campaign data in GA4.
• Link Google Search Console: This will allow you to see your SEO data directly in GA4.
• Let Data Collect: It will take a few days for data to start populating your reports fully.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have both Universal Analytics and GA4 on my site?

While you could in the past, Universal Analytics stopped processing data in 2023. You should now only have the GA4 tag on your site.

How long does it take for data to appear in GA4?

The Realtime report is instant. Standard reports can take 24-48 hours to fully process and display new data.

What is the easiest way to install GA4?

For non-technical users, the easiest way is to use a website builder or a plugin (for platforms like WordPress) that has a dedicated field for your Measurement ID.