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Can You Learn Google Analytics 4 Without a Website? The Short Answer is YES!

So, I’ve been receiving messages and emails from our own FB groups asking one burning question: “Can you really learn Google Analytics 4 (GA4) if you don’t have a website?” 🤔 Let me dive right into it!

Short answer: YES! Absolutely. 🎉

Now, I know it sounds a bit counterintuitive. I mean, it’s a tool designed to track website analytics, right? But here’s the thing – GA4 isn’t just about analysing website data. It’s a powerful platform that offers insights into user behaviour, and getting a grasp on it doesn’t necessarily require you to own or operate a website firsthand.

Let me share a quick story. When I first started out running a digital marketing campaign 15 years ago, I didn’t have a website. I was simply fascinated by how data-driven decisions could propel businesses forward. I heard about Google Analytics (the classic version back then) and wondered the same thing many of you are wondering about GA4 now. Can you truly understand it without having a platform of your own?

The truth is, many tools, including GA4, offer demo accounts and sample data. This allows anyone – whether you’re a student, business owner, or just an analytics enthusiast – to explore its features, run reports, and get hands-on experience. In my early days, I played around with these demo accounts, getting familiar with the layout, features, and the multitude of data it provided. It was like learning to drive a car in an open parking lot. No real traffic, but plenty of room to experiment!

Here are some cool ways you can dive into GA4 without a site:

1. Demo Accounts: Google offers a GA4 demo account. It’s loaded with real data from an e-commerce website, so you can play around, create exploration reports, and even simulate what your potential data could look like. It’s a sandbox that’s free to use, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

Accessing the Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Demo account is straightforward. Here are simple steps to get you started:

  1. Gmail Account: Ensure you are signed in to your Gmail account . If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it. 
  2. Access the Demo Account: Navigate to the Google Analytics Demo Account page. You can find the links to the three demo accounts below:

I recommend you start with the Google Merchandise Store GA4 property. However, note that the data in the GA4 Demo Account is from a real e-commerce website, but certain functionalities might be limited since it’s a demo version.

2. Courses & Workshops: Many courses provide hands-on training, where you get access to mock data and scenarios to practise your GA4 skills. Don’t have one? Don’t worry. Most of these courses provide access to their own demo accounts.

List of Free Courses for Beginners:

3. Collaborate: Partner up with a friend or colleague who has a website and ask if you can dive into their GA4 (with their permission, of course!). Practical exposure, even if it’s not your own website, is golden.

Alternatively, you can set up your own GA4 property by creating an account on Blogger.com. Blogger.com is a free online blogging platform owned by Google. In our upcoming post, we’ll guide you through the process of creating a GA4 property using Blogger.com website. 

Here’s the thing. It’s 2023, and the landscape of learning is ever-evolving. Traditional barriers are being dismantled. We live in a world where knowledge and the drive to learn are your most valuable assets. So, if you’re curious about GA4 but don’t have a website, don’t let that stop you. 

The digital marketing ecosystem is vast and full of opportunities. The right tools in your arsenal, like GA4, can make a world of difference. And remember, every expert was once a beginner. So start your journey, with or without a website. Your future self will thank you.

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