Google Analytics 4 (GA4), especially when applied to a healthcare website, has transitioned to an event-driven approach, marking a significant departure from the session-based methodology employed in Universal Analytics. In this context, it’s crucial for healthcare website administrators to acquaint themselves with the intricacies of this new system.

This shift requires healthcare website operators to navigate through an interface that varies substantially from the one they were accustomed to in Universal Analytics. Furthermore, it demands a learning curve to master the intricacies of configuring Google Analytics 4 effectively. This adaptation is essential for obtaining a more comprehensive understanding of user interactions, engagement, and key performance indicators, which are of paramount importance in healthcare-related online platforms. By embracing GA4’s event-based tracking approach, healthcare websites can derive deeper insights into user behavior, optimize content, and enhance the overall online experience for their audience. read the complete blog to get information about How to Set Up Google Analytics 4 on Your Healthcare Website.

How to set up GA4 for your healthcare website​

Manual GA4 Setup:

You can easily set up GA4 for your healthcare website by following these steps, which will also help you obtain important insights and make well-informed decisions about your online presence in the healthcare industry.

• Access the Admin Section: Start by clicking on the ‘Admin’ option located on the left sidebar of your Google Analytics account.
• Create an Account: Within the Admin section, click on ‘Create Account.’ You’ll need to provide a name for your account and click ‘Next’ to proceed.
• Configure a Web Property: To build a Google Analytics website, enter its name and any other relevant data. This property will hold all of the data pertinent to your healthcare website and any associated applications.
• Specify Industry Category and Practice Size: Indicate your healthcare industry category and define the size of your medical practice or hospital in terms of the number of employees.
• Select Practice Objectives: Decide what your healthcare practice’s main goals are, such as increasing brand awareness or lead generation. The creation of customized analytics reports is aided by this data.
• Choose Data Collection Platform: Depending on the platforms you use to interact with your audience, your options could be the web, an Android app, or an iOS app.

With Google Tag Manager​:

• Create a Google Tag Manager Account: If you haven’t already, start by creating a Google Tag Manager account.
• Define Container Name and Copy Container ID: Name your container, typically matching your domain name, and make sure to copy the Container ID provided.
• Integrate with Practifly CMS: Within your Practifly CMS, navigate to the Admin section. Locate the GTM ID field under the Analytics category and paste the Container ID that you copied from Google Tag Manager. This integration ensures that GA4 will be effectively set up and utilized on your healthcare website.

WordPress:

Following these steps will enable GA4 to begin collecting data on your medical WordPress website using Google Tag Manager, allowing you to gain valuable insights into website performance and user interactions.

• Access GA4 and Copy Code Snippets: After creating a Google Tag Manager account, you’ll find the code snippets for your website and tags under “Install Google Tag Manager.” Use the copy icon to copy each tracking code.
• Access WordPress Admin Page: On the left sidebar of your WordPress admin page, navigate to “Appearance” and then select “Theme File Editor.” Click on “Theme Header” under “Theme Files” on the right side.
• Paste GTM Code Snippets: Paste the copied GTM code snippets into the and tags within the Theme Header. Save the settings by clicking on “Update File.” This action completes the setup of GTM on your medical WordPress website.
• Set Up a New Tag in GTM: In your GTM account, go to “Tags” and create a new tag.
• Configure the Tag: Select “Tag Configuration” and choose “Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration.”
• Retrieve Measurement ID: Go to your Google Analytics 4 account, access “Admin,” then “Property,” and finally “Data Streams.” Choose the data stream you’ve created to find your Measurement ID. Copy this ID and paste it into the “Tag Configuration” window in Google Tag Manager.
• Configure Triggering: Complete the setup by configuring the triggering for the tag, and give it a name.

Let’s explore the fundamental aspects of using GA4 and navigating the platform:

Leveraging the Search Bar: The newly introduced search bar in the Google Analytics interface is a valuable tool when you need to quickly locate specific data. It features an autocomplete function, similar to Google Search, which predicts your query as you type. This feature streamlines your access to data by suggesting relevant queries. Furthermore, it provides direct access to specific GA4 reports and relevant help content related to your query, making data retrieval more efficient.

Creating New Events: In GA4 for your hospital or practice website, events are crucial for tracking user interactions. The platform supports four types of events:

• Automatically collected events: These are gathered by GA4 automatically, such as the ‘first_visit’ event when a user visits your site or app for the first time.
• Enhanced measurement events: These include events like scrolls, page views, and file downloads.
• Recommended events: Predefined event names and parameters designed for various business types to track additional events.
• Custom events: You can create custom events to measure unique interactions not covered by recommended events.

Exploring Suggested Audiences: GA4 now offers audience recommendations to help you expand your patient base or develop new specialties. By creating new GA4 user properties, the platform generates audience suggestions that align with your practice’s goals.

Personalizing Reports Snapshot: Another feature in Google Analytics 4 is the ability to customize your Reports snapshot for a quick overview of essential data. To personalize this snapshot, navigate to Reports snapshot on the left sidebar and click the “Customize report” icon at the top right corner. You can then rearrange the cards from the right sidebar to modify the layout of the current Reports snapshot. Once you’re satisfied with the changes, save your customized snapshot.

By following these guidelines, you can make the most of GA4 on your healthcare website, enabling you to analyze data effectively, monitor user engagement, and optimize your online presence for your medical practice or hospital.

Conclusion

In conclusion, comprehending how to use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is fundamental for healthcare websites, and knowing how to set up Google Analytics 4 on your healthcare website is the cornerstone. GA4’s user-friendly search bar, event tracking capabilities, audience recommendations, and customizable reports snapshot empower healthcare practitioners and website administrators to gain profound insights into user behavior, optimize patient outreach, and enhance the digital experience.

Embracing GA4 is not just a step forward; it’s a leap towards a more data-savvy and patient-centric healthcare digital ecosystem. So, in the journey of healthcare website management, knowing how to set up Google Analytics 4 on your healthcare website is the first and most crucial step towards success.