This guide will help you get started with analyzing website traffic. When it comes to tracking website visitors, page views, sessions, and other important metrics like bounce rate, it's important to understand which tools to use and why.
1. Why Use GA4 (Google Analytics 4) for Website Traffic Analysis
For the most accurate data on website performance, we recommend using GA4 (Google Analytics 4). GA4 provides detailed insights into how people are interacting with our website, such as which pages they visit, which countries they are from, how many sessions they have, and what the bounce rate is.
- What is GA4?
- GA4 is the latest version of Google Analytics, designed to provide deeper insights into website traffic and user behavior.
- It is widely regarded as the most accurate tool for website analytics because of its comprehensive tracking methods.
2. Differences Between GA4 and HubSpot Analytics
While HubSpot also tracks website data, you may notice differences between the data in HubSpot and GA4. This is because HubSpot and Google Analytics use different tracking methods, which can lead to variations in the numbers you see for metrics like sessions, page views, and bounce rate.
- Why is there a difference?
- HubSpot focuses on tracking contacts and interactions that are specific to marketing and sales activities.
- GA4, on the other hand, is designed to capture a broader range of user behavior across all website visitors, making it more reliable for overall traffic analysis.
3. Key Metrics You Should Track in GA4
Here are some important metrics you can track in GA4 to understand how our website is performing:
- Pages: See which pages on our website are most popular, and how visitors navigate through the site.
- Countries: Track where our visitors are coming from, which can help us understand our global audience.
- Sessions: This metric tells you how many times users are interacting with our website during a specific period.
- Bounce Rate: Measure the percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page, indicating whether they found the content engaging.
4. Recommendation for Website Analytics
We strongly recommend that you use GA4 for all website analytics needs. It provides the most accurate and reliable data for understanding our website’s performance. While HubSpot can give useful insights, GA4 should be your go-to tool for in-depth traffic analysis.
If you’re new to using GA4, here’s a helpful resource to get you started: Introduction to GA4 for Beginners.