How Looker Studio can help you make better decisions about your website
Using Looker Studio to Get the Most Out of GA4
With GA4 as the new game in town, businesses must implement a seismic shake-up in their analytics game. This new approach promises deeper, more insightful data reporting, helping organizations raise cash based on actual, useful suggestions. As Google charmingly puts it, “Google Analytics 4 operates across platforms, does not rely exclusively on cookies, and uses an event-based data model to deliver user-centric measurement” (Google). In other words, it’s supposed to be a big deal.
Why Google Data Studio is Your New Best Friend
Enter Looker (formerly known as Google Data Studio)—the superhero in this tale of analytics evolution. GDS’s data visualization and reporting flexibility is your secret weapon, especially when facing the monstrous differences between UA and GA4. Industry experts nod, agreeing and confirming that “GA4’s event-based tracking offers a more profound understanding of user behavior across devices and platforms” (Pan Communications). Well, who wouldn’t want that?
Key Benefits of Using GDS During This Analytics Reorganization
Managing Different Data Models: UA likes to keep things session-based, while GA4 is about those events. This change can turn data analysis into a nightmare. GDS steps in like a dream, letting you build custom reports that fit your quirky needs.
Combined Reporting: During this bumpy transition, you might juggle UA and GA4 tracking. GDS can pull data from both and let you compare them side-by-side. Think of it as a couple’s therapy for your analytics. “The ability to blend data from UA and GA4 makes comparisons and trend analysis a breeze” (Rio SEO). Seeing trends and differences has never been so easy—or so necessary.
Custom Visualizations and Reporting: GA4’s event-based model might be more flexible, but its built-in reports can be about as helpful as a chocolate teapot. GDS’s custom reporting tools let you shape your analytics to meet your unique needs, enhancing insights through GA4’s custom dimensions and metrics.
Data Blending: GDS’s knack for blending data from various sources is a lifesaver when dealing with UA and GA4. It’s like having a translator for two squabbling friends.
Long-term Data Storage: GA4’s retention policy can make long-term data access as frustrating as a traffic jam. Regularly using GDS to visualize GA4 data can help you dodge this problem, ensuring you keep access to historical data. “GA4’s data modeling through machine learning offers custom dimensions and metrics” (Rio SEO).
BigQuery Integration: GA4’s seamless integration with BigQuery allows for advanced data analysis and merging of your analytics data with other datasets. GDS connects to BigQuery, presenting these complex analyses in an easy-to-digest format. According to Google’s blog, “expanded integrations with other Google products, like Google Ads, boost your combined web and app data analysis” (Google). Because who doesn’t want more integration, right?
Google Data Studio is your flexible, user-friendly solution for making the most of GA4’s new data model while maintaining control of your data during the transition from Universal Analytics.
