What is GA4?

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is Google's latest analytics service, designed to provide a unified measurement solution across both websites and apps. It replaces Universal Analytics (UA), which was sunset on July 1, 2023. GA4 offers enhanced tracking capabilities, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of user interactions across platforms. It uses Firebase for app tracking and Global Site Tag or Google Tag Manager for website tracking.

How to set up a new GA4 property

We use Firebase for Google Analytics functionality in Pugpig Bolt apps, and GA4's data stream functionality for our Bolt Web Readers.

Setting up Analytics with Firebase 

1. Go to 'Project Overview'
2. Click 'Add app'
3. Enter the bundle ID/package name and optionally the app name and app store ID, then download the config file. You can skip all other steps.
   Send the iOS and Android config files to your Pugpig onboarder who will add them to the app.
4. Go to Analytics Dashboard in the left-hand menu. You should see a banner to link Firebase to your GA account, but if not, click analytics settings in the top right corner to do so.
5. This should then create a GA4 property in your GA account where you can also add a web data stream if you’d like.

Setting up Google Analytics for Bolt Web

1. Go to Admin
2. If there isn't a GA4 property already click 'Create Property' 
3. Under the 'Property' column, go to 'Data Streams'
4. Add a stream with the Website URL and name.
5. Add the measurement ID from the new stream to your Firebase analytics addon in Distribution.

Access

Under Admin > Property > User Management add analytics@kaldorgroup.com with Administrator access.

FAQ

• How do I know if my account is a GA4 account?
  • All App + Web properties should have been automatically converted to GA4 properties. If the property ID is 9 numbers then it should be GA4, as opposed to a Universal analytics ID which would be ‘UA-XXXXXXXXX-X’. Another way to check is to go into admin and select the property. You should then see the ‘Data Streams’ option under the property.
• Is BigQuery included?
  • It is included at no cost.
• Do we need access?.
  • We generally request that we're added to your analytics properties as an admin so that we can configure your custom dimensions and help troubleshoot where necessary. We use the address analytics@kaldorgroup.com for this access, rather than specific team members.

If you have any other questions about GA4 or Google analytics in general please get in touch with support@pugpig.com

Helpful links

• Introducing the new Google Analytics - Google’s product announcement 
• Meet the next generation of Google Analytics - Analytics Help - Google support intro to GA4
• [GA4] Set up Analytics for a website and/or app - Analytics Help - Google support guidance on setting up GA4
• Add a Google Analytics 4 property (to a site that already has Analytics) - Analytics Help