GA4 for Beginners: Understanding Accounts, Properties, and Setup
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As a beginner, when I started exploring Google Analytics 4, I had a question about how GA 4 can help me find my audience and how to reach them through paid and organic campaigns.
In Google Analytics 4, the account and property are two different levels of organization. Here's a breakdown of the difference:
What is a GA 4 account and a GA 4 property?
GA4 Account
An account is the highest level in the Google Analytics hierarchy. It is a container for one or more properties. The account is the umbrella for your company's entire Google Analytics presence.
GA4 Property
A property is located within an account and is where your data is collected and processed. A property can be a website, an app, or both. If you want to analyze data for a specific product, brand, or application, that data should be in its own property.
In short, the account is the main structure, and the properties are where the actual data for your digital assets (like your website or app) is collected and analyzed.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a GA4 Account & Property
Go to Admin: Navigate to the Admin section (the gear icon) in the bottom-left sidebar of the Google Analytics dashboard.
Start Creation: Click on the Create button and select Account from the dropdown menu.
Account Details:
Enter a name for your account.
Review the Account Data Sharing Settings, choose your preferences, and click Next.
Property Setup:
Give your property a name (e.g., "My Business Website").
Select your Time Zone and Currency.
Click Next.
Business Information: Select your Industry Category and Business Size, then click Next.
Objectives & Terms:
Choose your specific business objectives (like "Generate leads" or "Drive online sales").
Click Create, review the Terms of Service agreement, and click I Accept.
Choose Platform: Your account is now ready! To start collecting data, select your platform: Web, Android App, or iOS App.
Create Data Stream:
Enter your Website URL and a Data Stream Name.
Click Create stream.
Install the Tag:
Click on View tag instructions.
You can choose to install via a Website Builder/CMS (like WordPress or Wix) or Install manually.
For manual install: Copy the provided code and paste it immediately after the
<head>element on your website.
Test & Wait:
Click Test in the tag instructions window to verify the installation (look for the green tick).
Done! Note that it may take up to 24 hours for audience activity to start appearing in your reports.
Did you run into any trouble with the 'Tag Installation' step? Drop a comment below, and I'll try to help!
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FAQ about GA4 Setup
Q: What is the difference between a GA4 Account and a GA4 Property? A: Think of the Account as your main business folder—it represents your company's entire presence. The Property sits inside that folder and is the specific place where data is collected. You might have one Account for your business, but separate Properties for your website and your mobile app.
Q: How long does it take for data to show up in GA4 after setup? A: After you install the Google Tag on your website, it may take up to 24 hours for data to start appearing in your Analytics reports.
Q: Where do I paste the Google Tag code on my website?
A: For manual installation, the Global Site Tag (gtag.js) must be pasted immediately after the opening <head> element on every page of your website you want to track.
Q: Can I track both a website and an app in the same place? A: Yes! A single GA4 Property can hold multiple "Data Streams." This means you can view data from your website, iOS app, and Android app all within one Property.
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