Google Analytics 360 officially became Google Analytics 4 (GA4) on July 1, 2024.
This long-awaited, much-anticipated change delivers the “next generation of analytics designed for the future of measurement,” according to Google. What they don’t tell you is that the interface is completely different, which can make things quite confusing (particularly for those who are accustomed to the previous version).
Getting Started (for New Users)
VA employees and contractors with a VA.gov email address may access VA Google Analytics within the Digital Analytics Program (DAP) with an authorized account. Learn more about establishing an account to gain access to the data.
Accessing the Right Data
Once you’ve obtained an authorized account and accessed Google Analytics, ensure you view the correct data. In the upper left corner of your screen, you’ll see Analytics 360 and a drop-down menu that allows you to select a data set.
Things to look for:
- Digital Analytics Program is highlighted, and
- The Government-Wide Account GA4 Gov-wide DAP Property has been selected.
Beneath the GA4 Gov-Wide DAP Property, scroll down and select Veterans Affairs Agency (395452039).
Note: Clicking the star to the right will automatically load this property when you access Google Analytics in the future.
Google Analytics Reports
Google Analytics 4 has prebuilt, commonly used reports that can be accessed using the Reports tab on the left. Select Detailed Reports for the standard page and download metrics and User Detailed Reports for more specific information about users, including traffic sources and engagement. Note: Google Analytics 4 doesn’t allow you to save your reports within the platform. You must use the Share this report function.
All Pages Report
The All Pages report is the most common site usage report. To view data for a particular webpage, enter the webpage path (the portion that appears after va.gov/ or the entire path for fully qualified domain names). You can also select the date range using the drop-down menu in the upper right part of the screen.
Internal Downloads Report
The Internal Downloads report reflects the number of downloads via website hyperlinks for the period specified.
Outbound Downloads Report
The Outbound Downloads report reflects how many externally linked documents were downloaded from the website for the period specified.
Sharing or Saving the Report
Once the report is completely displayed, you can share the report by generating a unique link that can be copied and sent to others. You can also save your report by downloading it as a PDF, CSV, or Google sheet.
Exporting Reports to Analysis
You may also export your reports to Explorations — a collection of advanced analysis techniques that go beyond standard reports to help you uncover deeper insights about customer behavior.
Using Explorations, you can:
- Quickly perform ad hoc queries.
- Easily configure and switch between techniques.
- Sort, refactor, and drill down into the data.
- Focus on the most relevant data by using filters and segments.
- Create segments and audiences.
- Share your explorations with other users who have the same Google Analytics property.
- Export the exploration data for use in other tools.
Learn more about Explorations and how they work.
Finding GA4 Support
Contact the VA DAP Administrator (vadapadmin@va.gov) if you have any questions or need assistance.
A personal note from the author
Thank you to Heather Santos, Veterans Experience Office, for her assistance in editing this post. It was invaluable!
