site kit created another property

Thanks for reaching out. You are correct that Site Kit does insert both a GA4 and a Universal Type analytics snippet with a default Google Analytics module setup. Either snippet can be switched off if preferred. The dashboards displayed within the Site Kit interface will display data based on a Universal type property at present.

both are showing different data.

This could potentially be as a result of the time periods since setting up both. Another possibility could be any views or additional filters that could be active when viewing or comparing data from analytics.google.com. If you’re sure the reporting periods are similar and you have both snippets active throughout the reporting period the product experts at the Analytics Help Center should be able to assist or advise on this further.

While we’re limited to Site Kit plugin support I’d also be happy to ensure you have your snippets placed correctly, while also inspecting your setup to see if I spot anything unusual. If you’d like me to do so please share your Site Health information here or privately using this form.

Why and what is the purpose and which one am I meant to look at ?

Many people remain using a Universal type property, with GA4 being relatively recent, with ongoing development. In addition many third party plugins and services depend on Universal type snippet. For this reason Site Kit places both a Universal and GA4 snippet, while showing dashboard data from the Universal type snippet.

We have a GitHub issue open in relation to full GA4 support. Eventually Site Kit will display data based on GA4 metrics although there is no timeframe on this just yet.
https://github.com/google/site-kit-wp/issues/2220

Let me know if you have any further queries on the above.

Hi,

sorry I am no clearer from your response.

there are 2 properties showing in google analytics showing different data for the same period. So I am not sure which one I should be using/looking at?

This has not happened for any other sites I have enabled site kit on.

I have sent you the site info

Hi there @lordsnake,

Many thanks for sharing your details. See response below to your query:

there are 2 properties showing in google analytics showing different data for the same period.

From reviewing your Site Health information you are correct, I can see that both snippets are placed on your site by Site Kit. This is normal, with Site Kit placing both a UA and GA4 property on users sites. We have more information on Google Analytics with Site Kit on the plugin website.

As for the discrepancies between the 2 unfortunately you’ll need to reach out to the Google Analytics Help Center for this. Site Kit only places the snippets, while pulling information from your Google Analytics account based on the UA property. The may be various reasons why the metrics don’t match between both snippets as mentioned in my previous response.

So I am not sure which one I should be using/looking at?

Site Kit will only show data from your UA snippet within the Site Kit dashboard.

This has not happened for any other sites I have enabled site kit on.

If the data is matching fine between your UA and GA4 properties on your other sites great! Hopefully the product experts can help you determine the cause of any discrepancy on this particular site, as you’ll need to check your GA4 traffic over on the Analytics platform directly (Site Kit only displays UA data within the Site Kit dashboards)

Let me know if you have any further queries with the above and Id be happy to help.

what I mean i sthat on all other sites, it did not create another property, it just used the one that was already there.
So why is it only on this site that it created a 2nd property?

If you already have a Google Analytics property existing on your site (either a UA property or a GA4 property) then Site Kit will use any existing property and not place a different property snippet.

If you have only one of those properties – for example a GA4 property, Site Kit will insert a UA property snippet by default, while not placing a GA4 property (which you have already added manually). Users can choose to remove any Site Kit placed snippet if they want from within the Site Kit Analytics settings.

So why is it only on this site that it created a 2nd property?

If you want to share any other sites details, such as that sites Site Health information I’d be happy to check your other sites. I can however confirm that your setup on this particular site referenced in this support topic is normal, with the plugin inserting both a UA and a GA4 snippet. On your other sites you may have already had a snippet not placed via Site Kit, which Site Kit will use. If so it may have only placed one snippet.

Let me know if you have any further queries on this.

I am a bit confused by your last reply, which seems to contradicts itself.

You have said in the first paragraph that “Site Kit will use any existing property and not place a different property snippet.”

All my sites had existing properties that had been created directly via analytics.google.com

But then said it is normal for both snippets to be inserted?

Sorry for the confusion. See below further clarity:

You have said in the first paragraph that “Site Kit will use any existing property and not place a different property snippet.”

I should have been more clear. This is per property type. By that I mean if you have a Universal type property snippet added manually (with a UA-prefix) then Site Kit will not place a Universal type snippet on your site, it will use that existing one. It will however prompt you for a GA4 property. You can choose to allow Site Kit to insert a GA4 property if you wish.

Likewise if you have a Google Analytics 4 property added manually or by other means (with a G- prefix) then Site Kit will use this existing GA4 property, while asking you what Universal Type property you wish to use.

Does the above make sense? Let me know if not and I can provide you with other information. The plugin website has more information on this.

All my sites had existing properties that had been created directly via analytics.google.com

But then said it is normal for both snippets to be inserted?

If you don’t have any Google Analytics snippets added to your site manually before setting up Site Kit then then the plugin can place your preferred Analytics property on your site, from your list of existing properties from analytics.google.com. You’ll be prompted to select – or create – both a Universal Type property or a Google Analytics 4 type property.

It therefore is normal that both snippets are inserted. You can change the option to allow Site Kit to insert a property if you wish, within the Site Kit Analytics configurations. For example if you only want the plugin to insert a Universal Type property that’s fine, you can toggle the option to insert a Google Analytics 4 off.

Does the above answer your query? Let me know if you have any further queries. If you have other websites that you feel work differently when connecting Google Analytics within Site Kit let me know more of these and I’d be happy to check their setup. It may be a case whereby they already have a non Site Kit placed snippet on their site. Feel free to open a support topic if you’d like me to investigate any of these sites specifically.

As we didn’t receive a response I’ll mark this as resolved. Feel free to open a new support topic if you continue to encounter issues, or reopen this topic and we’d be happy to assist.