Google Analytics 4 is the latest version of Google’s web analytics platform. If you’re already tracking your WordPress website using the previous version of Google Analytics (Universal Analytics) you should consider using dual tracking.
With the Analytics Insights plugin and its dual tagging feature, you can track your WordPress website using a Universal Analytics (UA) property while also collecting data in your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) property.
To get started, if you don’t have a Google Analytics 4 property already created, follow the steps below to create one. If you already have a GA4 property in-place, you can skip to the section called Dual Tracking in WordPress with Analytics Insights.
Setting up a Google Analytics 4 property
Go to analytics.google.com and click Admin. Select the Universal Analytics property corresponding to your WordPress website and click GA4 Setup Assistant.
From I want to create a new Google Analytics 4 property section select the Get Started button.
In the next screen select Create Property and afterwards click on See your GA4 property.
In the Tag Installation section click on the right-side arrow as indicated below.
The new Google Analytics 4 property along with a default Web Stream Data is now created and ready for use.
Dual Tracking in WordPress with Analytics Insights
The latest version of Analytics Insights supports dual tagging, which allows tracking of a WordPress website using both Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics properties.
First thing first, you need to install the plugin. To do so start by reading the Analytics Insights for WordPress guide.
To enable dual tracking in Analytics Insights follow these steps:
- From the left menu, under the Administration section of your WordPress website, select Analytics Insights.
- Select General Settings and click on Authorize. If already authorized, click on Clear Authorization and re-authorize it.
- On the new screen select your Universal Analytics property and the newly created Google Analytics 4 property.
- Click on Save Changes.
- From the left menu, select Tacking Code.
- For Tracking type, from the drop-down list select Dual Tracking.
- Click on Save Changes.
That’s it! You’ve successfully enabled dual tracking for your WordPress website.
Please note, that at this stage of Google Analytics 4 development, dual tracking is highly recommended.