Create the property that will measure your website

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is organized as an account, then a property, then a web data stream. The stream gives you a Measurement ID that looks like G-XXXXXXXXXX.

That ID is the one that must be on your live website. A property with no tag on the site, or a different G- ID than the one on the site, will not show your real traffic.

What you'll need

• A Google sign-in you control
• Your business name and website address, such as example.com
• The time zone and currency you use for the business
• About 15 minutes

Create the account and property

1. Go to Google Analytics.
2. If this is your first time, select Start measuring. If you already use Analytics, select Admin, then Create, then Account.
3. Enter an account name, such as your business name. Review the data-sharing checkboxes, then select Next.
4. Enter a property name, such as your business name plus “website”. Select the reporting time zone and currency, then select Next.
5. Select your industry and business size, then select Next.
6. Select how you plan to use Analytics. These choices set up the default reports. Then select Create.
7. Accept the Analytics Terms of Service and the Data Processing Amendment if Google shows them.

Add the web data stream

1. When Google asks where you want to collect data, choose Web. If you are already in the property, open Admin, then Data streams, then Add stream, then Web.
2. Enter your website URL, such as example.com, and a stream name, such as your business name plus “web”.
3. Leave Enhanced measurement on. It collects page views and other common events. You can turn individual events off later.
4. Select Create stream.
5. On the stream details page, copy the Measurement ID. It starts with G-.

Use this measurement ID on the live site. If a website builder (such as Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress) has a Google Analytics field, paste this G- ID there. If Tag Manager will hold the tag, this is the ID that tag should send data to. Do not create a second property and put a different ID on the site.

Creating the stream does not add the tag by itself. Until the measurement ID is on the live site, reports stay empty. Data can take up to 30 minutes to appear after the tag is installed. The Realtime report is the place to check.

If something looks wrong

You already have a GA4 property for this website. Do not create another one. Open Data streams, confirm the measurement ID, and use that same ID on the live site.

You cannot find the measurement ID. In Admin, under Data collection and modification, open Data streams and select the web stream. The ID is under Stream details.

The property looks like an older Universal Analytics property. Universal Analytics properties do not use a G- measurement ID. Use the property selector to open the Google Analytics 4 property you just created.

Google’s own steps are in Set up Analytics for a website and/or app.

Next: invite Campaignly

When the property and web stream exist, invite Campaignly to Google Analytics on this property. Use the Campaignly email we sent you.