Google plans to sunset Universal Analytics on July 1, 2023 in favor of their newest analytics product, Google Analytics 4 (GA4). We use Google Analytics to report important data in your dashboard, so all creators will need to set up GA4 and run the new code on your site.
We’ll continue to use UA to populate your Raptive dashboard as we make preparations for a smooth transition to GA4.
If you haven’t created a Google Analytics 4 property as of March 1, 2023, Google will automatically create one for you. Once you have GA4 set up, you'll receive a new property ID, which we'll need in order to get your dashboard ready.
For next steps, please click on the link that applies to your situation:
- I haven't set up GA4 yet
- I set up GA4, but I haven't verified my property ID with Raptive
- I set up GA4 and I have verified my property ID with Raptive
- I set up GA4 and Google automatically created another one for me
I haven't set up GA4 yet
If you have yet to create a Google Analytics 4 property as of March 1, 2023, Google will automatically create one for you unless you opted out.
If you opted out of having GA4 automatically created and still need to create one, please follow the 'Setting up Google Analytics 4' guide below.
If you didn't opt out, wait for Google to create your GA4 property. When this is complete, you'll see a blue banner at the top of your Analytics account and your new GA4 property ID will be available.
You can find your new property ID in one of two ways:
1. At the top of the page where you switch between properties:
2. In Admin > Property Settings (you can copy/paste it from here):
As soon as you have your new GA4 property ID, please enter it directly into your Raptive dashboard by going to Account Settings > Google Analytics > 'Site Name' GA4 Property ID. Type or paste it in, hit 'Save' in the bottom right, and you're all set.
Lastly, proceed to Step 4 in the 'Setting Up Google Analytics 4' guide below to give Raptive access to the new property.
That’s all you need to do! We’ll start migrating creator dashboards to GA4 before July 1 and will keep you updated on what to expect before any changes occur. Please email support@raptive.com if you have any questions.
I set up GA4, but I haven't verified my property ID with Raptive
If you already set up GA4, you may see the following prompt when you log in to Google Analytics:
If you still need to verify your GA4 property ID with Raptive and your GA4 property ID is not included in your current analytics, select 'Yes' and save.
Then enter your new GA4 property ID directly into your Raptive dashboard by going to Account Settings > Google Analytics > 'Site Name' GA4 Property ID. Type or paste it in, hit 'Save' in the bottom right, and you're all set.
Lastly, proceed to Step 4 in the 'Setting Up Google Analytics 4' guide below to give Raptive access to the new property.
We’ll start migrating creator dashboards to GA4 before July 1 and will keep you updated on what to expect before any changes occur. Please email support@raptive.com if you have any questions.
I set up GA4 and I have verified my property ID with Raptive
You may see the prompt below when you log into Google Analytics. If you've already confirmed your property ID with our team, please select 'No' and save. That's it!
If you're not sure, email us at support@raptive.com for help.
I set up GA4 and Google automatically created another one for me
If Google automatically creates a GA4 property connected to your current UA account and you already had one set up, it’s safe to either delete the Google-created property (see instructions below) or leave it as-is and ignore it.
If you haven’t yet shared your preferred GA4 Property ID with us, please enter it directly into your Raptive dashboard by going to Account Settings > Google Analytics > ‘Site Name’ GA4 Property ID. Type or paste it in, hit ‘Save’ in the bottom right, and you’re all set.
How to delete an auto-created GA4 property if you already have one
1. When you log into your UA account you'll see this bar at the top. Click 'Go to GA4 property’ to see the new property:
If you are already on the auto-created property you will see this instead:
2. Disconnect the property from the Setup Assistant on the UA property.
3. Go to the property settings for the disconnected GA4 property and move to trash.
That’s it!
Setting up Google Analytics 4
As of March 1, only follow these steps if you opted out of having Google automatically create a GA4 property for you.
Step 1: Create a GA4 property for your site.
In admin, click the “+Create Property” button.
On the next screen, give your new property a name and make sure the “Reporting time zone” field is set to (GMT-04:00) New York Time. This will ensure that your data matches your Raptive earnings data in your dashboard. Then click Next.
You’ll see some optional questions about your business and how you plan to use this GA property. Feel free to answer or skip these questions.
Step 2: Set up a data stream to start collecting data.
On the next screen, select “Web” as your platform.
Enter your URL and give your data stream a name, then click “Create stream”.
Step 3: Add the new GA4 code on your site.
Finally, you want to make sure your new GA4 property is collecting data from your site. Copy your Measurement ID from the next screen and then head to your site where you’ve installed your Google Analytics script (in your head code, usually added via your theme settings or a plugin).
You’ll want to replace (or edit) the existing GA script on your site with the following code, making sure to insert your own GA4 ID:
<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics --> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XXXXXX"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-XXXXXX'); </script>
If you use a plugin for your GA connection, look for the option to enable “dual tracking” and make sure to include both your UA and your GA4 IDs.
Step 4: Give Raptive permission to access your GA4 data.
We’ll need to be added as a Viewer to your new GA4 property, just as we were for your UA property, to be able to pull your analytics information into the Raptive dashboard.
If you previously gave us permission on your Account level, then you may be all set — otherwise you’ll need to give us access to the new property.
In your GA4 account, click into Admin > Property Access Management.
If you don’t already have Raptive as a user, click the blue plus button and then “Add users”.
In the email address field, enter the email address you used to give us permission to your UA property (check in your UA admin to grab that email address — reach out to us if you’re not sure what to use).
Leave the box checked so we get notified by email, select “Viewer” for our role, then click the “Add” button.
You’re all set!
Google Analytics 4 FAQs
What are the benefits of GA4?
At launch, GA4 provided useful new features geared toward e-commerce sites and publishers who run an app alongside their website. However, GA4 benefits all publishers and will provide valuable audience insights as Google adds new features.
Here are some key features of GA4:
- Improved controls for better data management, collection, and retention
- Automatically-surfaced insights using machine learning
- Cross-platform reporting across web and mobile apps
- Privacy-centric design to align with industry changes such as ITP and GDPR
As technology evolves, GA4 will adapt to a future with or without cookies or identifiers. It uses a flexible approach to measurement, and in the future it will include modeling to fill in the gaps where the data may be incomplete.
Will I still be able to see my historical data and the old Analytics dashboard in Google Analytics?
Yes, you will still be able to see your historical data and switch between the new GA4 dashboard and the old dashboard. Google plans to remove access to UA data in early 2024, so you may want to export any UA data that is important to you.
Will connecting a GA4 property cause Google Analytics to track pageviews twice?
No. If properly implemented, Google Analytics will only track pageviews once per property.
Why does the data not match up between the old Google Analytics property and the new GA4 property?
GA4 uses slightly different measurements, so some data doesn't track or calculate the same way as previous GA versions.
I already upgraded to GA4 and installed the new code. How can I connect my GA4 and Universal Analytics so my Raptive dashboard will continue to report my pageviews?
As we work to ensure a smooth transition to GA4 in your Raptive dashboard, we’ll continue to track pageviews based on your Universal Google Analytics property — so it’s important for you to collect data in both properties.
To do this, replace (or edit) the existing GA script on your site with the following code, making sure to insert your own UA and GA4 IDs:
<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics --> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XXXXXX"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-XXXXXX'); gtag('config', 'G-XXXXXX'); </script>
Feel free to reach out to us to make sure everything is reporting correctly.