Ep167 - Navigating New Norms: Google Ads Tightens Rules on Third-Party Click Tracking

Episode 167 contains the notable Digital Marketing News and Updates from the week of June 26 - 30, 2023. And the show notes for this episode was generated using generative AI. And like always, I curated the articles for the show.1. Time's Up for Universal Analytics (UA): Embrace Google Analytics 4(GA4) Now - The transition from Universal Analytics (UA) to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) has officially started, marking a significant shift in the digital marketing landscape. With the discontinuation of UA, marketers have to migrate to GA4 to continue measuring their websites and campaigns, unless they opt for an analytics alternative outside of Google.The phasing out process is happening in stages; despite UA still processing some data, a message now greets users stating: “This property is scheduled to stop processing data very soon. Once this goes into effect, you’ll need a Google Analytics 4 property to measure website performance." All functioning UA properties are queued for deletion on a rolling basis.
Google has repeatedly advised marketers about this transition, reiterating that GA4 is the company's next-generation measurement solution. In a statement, Google stressed the urgency for users to switch to GA4, adding that those who use UA data in their Google Ads accounts should migrate their UA property's Google Ads links to their GA4 property.The timeline for the UA shutdown is as follows: March 2023: Google auto-created a GA4 property for marketers who didn't opt out of the automatic property creation option. July 2023: UA ceased processing hits, but marketers could access previously processed data in their UA property until July 2024. July 2024: All access to the UA user interface and API will be terminated. For guidance on transitioning to GA4, Google has provided a comprehensive 'Learn how to make the switch' guide. Make the switch as soon as possible to avoid interruptions in your web analytics services.2. Boost Your Campaigns: Import GA4 Conversions to Google Ads Now -  Google is actively encouraging marketers to import their web and app conversions from Google Analytics 4 (GA4) into Google Ads. Those with a linked Google Ads account may have already seen a new recommendation to import conversions. Notifications of this feature will appear at the top of the Advertising snapshot page, on the Home page, or the Insights Hub page.
This streamlined process is a boon for marketers, allowing them to access their web and app conversions directly in Google Ads without needing to switch back to GA4. It paves the way for better bid optimization, which could potentially enhance campaign performance.Conversions, which indicate the instances when ads lead to sales, are crucial in understanding the success of marketing strategies. Having immediate access to this data empowers marketers to make necessary adjustments to their campaigns - from tweaking keywords to budget allocations and bidding strategies. This can result in improved profitability and reduced costs in Google Ads.To maximize the benefits and gain accurate insights, marketers should check out Google's GA4 Recommendations guide. This simple act of importing GA4 conversion data into Google Ads promises to be a game-changer in campaign optimization.3. New Boundaries: YouTube Revamps Impersonation Policy for Fan Channels - In response to escalating concerns about misrepresentation and impersonation, YouTube is refining its impersonation policy. This change primarily targets "fan channels," requiring them to clearly state their non-affiliation w