Export Universal Analytics Data Before Google Analytics UA End of Life

Google has announced that Universal Analytics (UA) will reach its end of life on July 1, 2023. This means that after that date, Universal Analytics will no longer be able to collect data.

If you have a Universal Analytics property, you'll need to export your data before July 1, 2023, to continue analyzing and using it.

Google recommends using the Google Analytics Data Export API or the Google Analytics UI to export your data.

You can use the Analytics Canvas UA backup Utility to generate a Looker Studio Report for your Universal Analytics Backup, which is as simple as selecting a view, defining the time period, and checking out.

There are five options for exporting UA and GA4 data, allowing you to make an informed decision tailored to your needs.

To get the most out of your historical UA data, consider using the Table Library to generate a series of summary tables, which can be modified or built from scratch to include in your backup.

Enterprise-Level Retrieval is a robust solution that's perfect for large-scale data needs. It offers a complete data warehouse solution that can back up more than just Google Analytics.

The pricing for this solution is designed for enterprise-level companies, with a minimum of $10k. This is a significant investment, but it's worth considering if you need a comprehensive data retrieval system.

Queries are optimized to provide the most useful data while maximizing storage limitations. This means you'll get the insights you need without wasting storage space.

Prebuilt templates mimic UA reports, taking the guesswork out of data analysis. These templates are a great time-saver and can help you get started quickly.

You can easily export and store your data, and connect it to Looker Studio for visualizations and dashboards. This makes it easy to turn your data into actionable insights.

Here are some key features of Enterprise-Level Retrieval:

Backing up your Universal Analytics (UA) data is crucial for making informed decisions about your business. It allows you to analyze historical data and understand what's worked and what hasn't.

Having access to years of data on how your website performed in UA can empower you to make data-driven decisions, rather than relying on gut guesses. This is especially important when transitioning to Google Analytics 4 (GA4), as you can use UA data to inform your decisions moving forward.

Nurturing what's worked is also essential, as careful analysis of past performance can reveal the tactics that have generated revenue. On the other hand, understanding the historical performance of initiatives that didn't pan out is just as valuable, allowing you to stop investing in non-converting segments of your audience.

The benefits of backing up UA data include:

In the end, backing up your UA data is a vital step in ensuring a smooth transition to GA4 and making informed decisions about your business.

Manual backup methods are a straightforward way to retain your historical Universal Analytics data. This approach is the most straightforward way to export data from Google Analytics, but it can be tedious.

To manually export data, you'll need to customize your reports as needed. For example, you could segment your Sources/Mediums report by country or device.

The process involves opening your standard Google Analytics report, customizing it as needed, and then clicking on the "EXPORT" option located below the report. From the export options, choose the desired format for the document, such as CSV, Excel (XLSX), or Google Sheets.

You'll need to select the desired date range, which should go pretty far back to preserve all historical data. Consider cloud storage solutions like Google Drive or Dropbox for secure and accessible backups.

Here are the steps to manually export your Universal Analytics data:

Keep in mind that large datasets may encounter restrictions during the export process, potentially affecting the completeness of the exported historical data. It can also be time-consuming, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Using Google Sheets, you can import data from your Universal Analytics properties directly into Google Sheets using the Google Analytics Spreadsheet Add-on. This add-on provides a seamless way to access and analyze Google Analytics data within the familiar environment of Google Sheets.

The add-on is based on the same API as the Query Explorer, so it has similar benefits and drawbacks. The primary difference is that the results will be held in a Google Sheet, allowing for further data manipulation and reporting directly in Google Sheets.

To export data using the Google Analytics Spreadsheet Add-on, you can follow these steps: Choose a report, set the date range and any segments you want to apply, click Export, select Google Sheets, Excel or CSV, and open up the spreadsheet right away and save it in a designated folder. Be aware that this method has a 5000-row limit, so it's best suited for smaller datasets.

Here are some tips for exporting UA data to Google Sheets:

The GA4 API for Sheets is a great option for getting started with pulling reports, and it offers direct access to raw data without having to store it across multiple workbooks.

One of the main benefits of using the GA4 API for Sheets is that it's easy to get started, and you can pull reports quickly.

However, be aware that the data is subject to sampling, which may not give you the most accurate picture.

You'll also need to dedicate a lot of time to merging and massaging the data, as well as optimizing the queries.

Additionally, you'll run into cell limits in Google Sheets, especially when working with day or week granularities.

This approach can be very challenging to maintain, and the data may not match up to what's in the platform.

One of the only costs associated with this approach is a nominal fee, unless you're dealing with an extremely large volume of data.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when using the GA4 API for Sheets:

Using the Google Sheets Add-on is a great way to access and analyze your Google Analytics data. The add-on is based on the same API as the Query Explorer, so it has similar benefits and drawbacks. It provides a seamless way to access and analyze your data within the familiar environment of Google Sheets, enabling you to create custom reports, perform data analysis, and visualize insights using the powerful features of Google Sheets.

One of the main benefits of using the Google Sheets add-on is that it allows you to export data directly into Google Sheets. This is a great option if you're already familiar with Google Sheets and want to perform further data manipulation and reporting.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when using the Google Sheets add-on:

In terms of costs, the Google Sheets add-on is relatively inexpensive, with a nominal cost unless you're working with an extreme volume of data.