- 10 minute read
- SEO
- Websites
Google Analytics: What It Is & Why You Need It (Updated for GA4)
Beginner
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Getting comfortable with the many new aspects of GA4 (Google Analytics) may seem a bit overwhelming. That is why our team at FareHarbor wants to ensure you get all the critical details needed to maximize your data insights.
Part of that journey is getting to know Google Signals. This advanced feature is seamlessly integrated with Google Analytics, enabling accurate cross-device reporting and providing in-depth user insights. This will give you more insight into where your users are based, what they search for online that leads to your website, how they view your website, and other demographic activities.
Understanding the value of Google Signals will go a long way to opening new pathways and optimizing your website for the best possible results.
If your potential customers turn on Ads Personalization in Google, Google Signals tracks your target users whenever they login into their accounts. This way, you get a better picture of them, no matter if they are using a work laptop or a tablet at home. That fills in the gaps in the missing data you need to deliver a better experience on your website.
Getting started with Google Signals is a surprisingly straightforward process. But it’s important to note, this integration is not turned on by default. You must manually go into your GA4 dashboard and make the magic happen by flipping on the switch. To do that simply:
Pro Tip: When you turn on Google Signals, you are agreeing to the Google Advertising features policy. If you cannot comply with this policy, Google Signals is not for you. This means you are not one of the sensitive categories Google doesn’t allow, and you are transparent that you collect user data under a privacy policy or somewhere else on your website. You can check out the full policy here.
Once you have the power of Google Signals operating in the background, you can expect to see critical demographic information about your audience in roughly 24 hours. This will include details like the users’ ages, gender, interest data, location, and much more.
The goal is to craft a more engaging and personalized experience for your users across your website by catering to the demographic and device information they provide.
You want this data! Over 90% of leading marketers in the industry say personalization for users significantly boosts potential business profitability (Econsultancy and Google). This is a quick solution to getting that little extra push!
All right, you’ve flipped the digital switch and want to maximize all this new data, but are unsure where to start. We’ll make it easy. You want to use this data across all your digital presence and marketing campaigns to better target the type of audience perfect for your touring or rental company. Common ways we see Signals being used include:
With Google Signals, you’ll gain more insight into what your target audience is doing online and how you can better target their needs. If you want to get the most bang for your buck in Google Analytics, read up on suggested and custom audiences.