Google Analytics 4 tutorial for beginners (2025) || GA4 course
Table of Contents
Introduction
This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to get started with Google Analytics 4 (GA4). It covers installation, understanding the interface, configuring data streams, tracking events, and generating reports, helping you leverage GA4 for effective analytics on your website.
Step 1: Getting Started with Google Analytics 4
- Create a Google Analytics account if you don’t have one.
- Navigate to the Google Analytics website and click on "Start for free."
- Follow the prompts to set up your account and property.
- Select "Web" as your platform for tracking.
Step 2: Overview of the Admin Panel
- Familiarize yourself with the GA4 admin panel.
- Key sections to explore:
- Account and property settings
- Data streams
- User management
- Access these features by clicking on the gear icon at the bottom left corner.
Step 3: Setting Up Data Streams
- Go to the "Data Streams" section in the admin panel.
- Click on "Add stream" and select "Web."
- Enter your website URL and stream name.
- Enable enhanced measurement options to automatically track certain user interactions.
Step 4: Installing Google Analytics 4
- Access the "Tagging Instructions" under your data stream settings.
- Choose between Google Tag Manager or Global Site Tag (gtag.js) for installation.
- For Google Tag Manager:
- Create a new tag with the GA4 configuration type.
- Enter your Measurement ID from the data stream.
- Set triggers to define when the tag should fire (e.g., on all pages).
- For Global Site Tag:
- Copy the provided code snippet and paste it into the
<head>section of your website’s HTML.
- Copy the provided code snippet and paste it into the
Step 5: Exploring Standard Reports
- Navigate to the "Reports" section in GA4.
- Review standard reports such as:
- Real-time report for live user data
- Life Cycle reports for user acquisition and engagement
- Use the filtering options to refine your data view.
Step 6: Using Explorations
- Click on the "Explore" tab for advanced analysis.
- Choose from different exploration types:
- Free Form
- Funnel Analysis
- Path Analysis
- Create custom reports to analyze specific user journeys or behaviors.
Step 7: Event Tracking in Google Analytics 4
- Understand that GA4 automatically tracks certain events.
- To create custom events:
- Use the "Events" section under the Configure tab.
- Click on "Create event" and define the parameters for your new event.
- Ensure the events are properly configured to collect relevant data.
Step 8: Finding Event Data in Explorations
- Use the "Explorations" feature to analyze your tracked events.
- Filter your exploration based on specific events to gain insights into user interactions.
- Visualize data through various chart types to understand user behavior better.
Conclusion
Congratulations on getting started with Google Analytics 4! You’ve learned how to set up your account, configure data streams, install tracking codes, and explore reports and events. As you continue to use GA4, consider diving deeper into specific areas such as event modification, cross-domain tracking, or exclusion of internal traffic to enhance your analytics capabilities. For further learning, check out the additional resources linked in the description.