To back up or not to back up? That is the question.
There’s just 5 weeks left before your UA data vanishes.
For the past year, you’ve been able to access your old UA data in Google Analytics, but that’s ending soon. Should you care?
Q: Do you check your data regularly (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)?
A: If yes, you’ve likely backed up already in order to compare 2023 data with 2024, or to maintain Looker Studio reports using UA data.
BUT, if you haven’t backed up your data, act fast. Last-minute rushes might mean you lose out. Check your backup options below.
Q: Do you need this data for reports, like grant applications?
A: If you only need basic numbers (users, sessions, pageviews), grab them now. If you never need this data again, no backup is needed.
BUT, if you need detailed, frequent access to older data, download and back it up now. Time is running out. See below for backup instructions.
Q: Are you legally required to store over a year’s worth of data?
A: Certain industries (medical, finance, education) may have mandates to save historical data. If this is you and you haven’t backed up yet, do it now. See How to Backup below.
None of the above apply to you? Then you can let it go!
Still uneasy? Back it up just in case. I can help, if needed.
How to Backup Your UA Data
Google offers instructions for archiving your UA data, but it’s not straightforward.
Best Tool: Analytics Canvas
- Primary Export: BigQuery
- Alternatives: CSV or Google Sheets
Analytics Canvas uses the Google API to connect to your UA data, so you need a clear idea of what to back up and which tables you need. While user-friendly, the tool exports raw data, not the aggregated data from Google Analytics, requiring solid analytics skills to ensure accurate backups.
Estimated Time:
- Review UA setup: 20-30 minutes
- Set up download: 40-60 minutes
- Processing time: Hours to a full day
- Review data: 40-60 minutes
Total: 2-4 hours
