NEWS

Google Analytics 4 Backlash: GA4 “Sucks” and is “Horrible” via @sejournal, @martinibuster

Published

3 years ago

June 23, 2021

Twitter has been on a low boil for weeks as many users across the search marketing world expressed their extreme displeasure with Google Analytics 4 (GA4). While there are some positive comments, the many negative comments come from search marketing professionals who one would expect to be brand ambassadors of GA4 and not their most passionate critics.

GA4 is Difficult to Use

A common complaint about GA4 is that it is difficult to use. Some search marketers noted that GA4 seems geared for use by enterprise level users more than smaller businesses.

Dave Davies (@beanstalkim) is a search marketing expert and co-host of the Webcology Search Marketing podcast, a person one would expect to be a brand evangelist for Google’s products but even Dave was tweeting his negative experience with GA4.

It was startling to see his recent tweet proclaiming that “GA4 sucks” because the user interface is not intuitive and is difficult to use.

Dave noted that commonly used features are buried within the user interface as if purposely making it difficult to access.

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Dear Google.
GA4 sucks.
I’m not sure who there thought, “Let’s make a lot of the important data hard to access, and unintuitive to SEOs let alone regular business owners.” but please fire them and put it away with authorship and Google+ and let’s move on.

— Dave Davies (@beanstalkim) June 23, 2021

Another search marketer Called GA4 HORRIBLE (in caps) and complained that basic features were now difficult to access, mirroring Dave Davie’s observation about the unintuitive user interface.

Website owners, is it just me or is the new GA4 @googleanalytics just HORRIBLE? It’s like it’s designed only for retail sites or something, very hard to get the basic info that I used to rely on… Think I’ll switch back! Awful!

— Trevor Long (@trevorlong) June 23, 2021

Another search marketer agreed that the word “horrible” accurately described the new Google Analytics 4.

The marketer wished they hadn’t wasted so much time trying to familiarize themselves with the poor user interface.

It was also noted that third party add-ons still don’t work.

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GA4 is Described as Horrible

It is horrible. I wish I switched back earlier. Tried to get used to the interface and new menus for months. Still can’t get around them + some third party services don’t work with GA4

— Michael Aulia 🇦🇺 (@michaelaulia) June 23, 2021

GA4 is Described as “Awful”

I was just having this conversation with someone. It’s awful! Try tracking events with GTM and GA4. I’m giving up and going back to Universal.

— Stephanie Lummis (@stephanielummis) June 22, 2021

GA4 Described as Unusable

Another Google Analytics user posted several tweets expressing her displeasure with GA4

So true! Pretty much unusable for most folks. I get the idea of data streams but for most that just have a website (not apps etc), the old analytics was better. Well at least we have gotten used to it. I’m leaning towards trying Clicky analytics on the next project

— Victor Jónsson (@victorjonsson) June 22, 2021

GA4 Might Bring Users to Tears

A series of tweets noted how it was difficult to use and had her on the edge of crying and questioned Google’s commitment to small businesses.

I wonder if this move means that GA decided to simply ditch small business owners and cater only to big websites & companies. I was also thinking if they stop supporting Universal tag, I’ll be looking for a different solution.

— Gill Andrews (@StoriesWithGill) June 22, 2021

Half an hour later, and I still don’t know how to see how many homepage visits we had. Why, GA4, why??!!

— Gill Andrews (@StoriesWithGill) June 22, 2021

I usually can find my way round any piece of software quickly. But Google Analytics 4 is making me cry…

I’ve never seen a tool upgrade that made simple things sooo complicated 🤦 Non-tech business owners were already struggling to use it. But now they have NO chance. pic.twitter.com/anfwvxM7Bc

— Gill Andrews (@StoriesWithGill) June 22, 2021

GA4 is So Complex You Need a Manual to Use It?

Another tweet (unintentionally) underlined how complex GA4 has become.

Search marketer Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) posted a link to a 1,400 word article about how to access basic functionalities in the new analytics service.

The article is well written but one has to wonder about the utility of any user interface that requires 1,400 words and screenshots to learn how to use it.

Using GA4 and want to find the All Pages equivalent from Universal Analytics? The post also includes the differences b/t the two -> How to Use The Pages and Screens Report in Google Analytics 4 https://t.co/FsgfQv9in6 pic.twitter.com/BMrYU2SMjZ

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) June 19, 2021

Google Analytics 4 Not Ready for General Use?

Other search marketers expressed their opinions that GA4 is a mess and not ready for “prime time” while also expressing hope hope that Google will fix the issues.

Okay, let’s talk about #UTM in #GA4

To see the UTM, select “Life Cycle | Engagement | Events” and click on page_view event. Change “User Engagement” from “Page Title” to “Page Path”. The UTM will appear in the list.

Yes, it’s a mess. I expect @GoogleAnalytics will fix this. pic.twitter.com/gYi549w9we

— Andreas Ramos (@Andreas_Ramos) June 17, 2021

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Yet others expressed less hope, tweeting that GA4 seems to have been rushed out and that it was giving them post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder that is triggered by traumatic events.

She listed some of the Google services she had adopted in the past that were subsequently abandoned, expressing a lack of enthusiasm for adopting GA4.

One of the reasons for the lack of enthusiasm is what she noted as GA4 not being “error free.”

Hey, I was there for G+, Google Talk, Picasa, Google Notebook…. and now… GA4. 😳 I have Google PTSD. ❣️the Big G & #digitalmarketing pays m’bills, but getting excited about another tool, still fresh, not error free, & may be dropped in another couple of months isn’t my bag

— Jahnelle Seaman (@jrpittman) June 21, 2021

The negative feedback about Google Analytics 4 is that it’s not ready and that it was rushed out in a state that still needed improvement.

One user said it was not ready for prime time. Prime time is a phrase that references the time period in the evening when most people watch television.

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To say that something is not ready for prime time is to communicate that something is not yet ready for use.

Thanks for identifying this issue. Real bummer. GA4 is so not ready for primetime.

— Jen Boland (@jenboland) June 22, 2021

You’re welcome.

GA4 is getting closer, and the BQ integration is a really big deal.

But, yes, GA4 isn’t primetime ready yet. I fully agree.

And the GTM integration would really benefit from functionality that parallels GA3.

— Dr. Analytics Ninja, PhD (@AnalyticsNinja) June 22, 2021

Not All the Feedback was Negative

Some people on Twitter offered positive words for GA4. But even their hopeful tweets contained negative feedback that noted how the user interface was “overly complicated.”

Just upgraded to Google Analytics 4. Not a fun process and it looks overly complicated.

But I love the new dashboard UI, it looks pretty slick especially the realtime dashboard. pic.twitter.com/80YDE04gvY

— Yuyu (@swSalim) June 23, 2021

New services can sometimes have a rocky launch. No doubt many people are experiencing that with Google Analytics 4.

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Intuitive design has never been one of Google’s strong points and if all the people complaining on Twitter (and Facebook) are to be believed, GA4 may represent a benchmark in how bad a Google product user friendliness can get.

Searchenginejournal.com

NEWS

OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models

Published

2 weeks ago

August 21, 2024

Max

OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models

OpenAI has today announced the release of fine-tuning capabilities for its flagship GPT-4 large language model, marking a significant milestone in the AI landscape. This new functionality empowers developers to create tailored versions of GPT-4 to suit specialized use cases, enhancing the model’s utility across various industries.

Fine-tuning has long been a desired feature for developers who require more control over AI behavior, and with this update, OpenAI delivers on that demand. The ability to fine-tune GPT-4 allows businesses and developers to refine the model’s responses to better align with specific requirements, whether for customer service, content generation, technical support, or other unique applications.

Why Fine-Tuning Matters

GPT-4 is a very flexible model that can handle many different tasks. However, some businesses and developers need more specialized AI that matches their specific language, style, and needs. Fine-tuning helps with this by letting them adjust GPT-4 using custom data. For example, companies can train a fine-tuned model to keep a consistent brand tone or focus on industry-specific language.

Fine-tuning also offers improvements in areas like response accuracy and context comprehension. For use cases where nuanced understanding or specialized knowledge is crucial, this can be a game-changer. Models can be taught to better grasp intricate details, improving their effectiveness in sectors such as legal analysis, medical advice, or technical writing.

Key Features of GPT-4 Fine-Tuning

The fine-tuning process leverages OpenAI’s established tools, but now it is optimized for GPT-4’s advanced architecture. Notable features include:

Enhanced Customization: Developers can precisely influence the model’s behavior and knowledge base.
Consistency in Output: Fine-tuned models can be made to maintain consistent formatting, tone, or responses, essential for professional applications.
Higher Efficiency: Compared to training models from scratch, fine-tuning GPT-4 allows organizations to deploy sophisticated AI with reduced time and computational cost.

Additionally, OpenAI has emphasized ease of use with this feature. The fine-tuning workflow is designed to be accessible even to teams with limited AI experience, reducing barriers to customization. For more advanced users, OpenAI provides granular control options to achieve highly specialized outputs.

Implications for the Future

The launch of fine-tuning capabilities for GPT-4 signals a broader shift toward more user-centric AI development. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the demand for models that can cater to specific business needs, without compromising on performance, will continue to grow. OpenAI’s move positions GPT-4 as a flexible and adaptable tool that can be refined to deliver optimal value in any given scenario.

By offering fine-tuning, OpenAI not only enhances GPT-4’s appeal but also reinforces the model’s role as a leading AI solution across diverse sectors. From startups seeking to automate niche tasks to large enterprises looking to scale intelligent systems, GPT-4’s fine-tuning capability provides a powerful resource for driving innovation.

OpenAI announced that fine-tuning GPT-4o will cost $25 for every million tokens used during training. After the model is set up, it will cost $3.75 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. To help developers get started, OpenAI is offering 1 million free training tokens per day for GPT-4o and 2 million free tokens per day for GPT-4o mini until September 23. This makes it easier for developers to try out the fine-tuning service.

As AI continues to evolve, OpenAI’s focus on customization and adaptability with GPT-4 represents a critical step in making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and more aligned with real-world applications. This new capability is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI across industries, creating a new wave of AI-driven solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.

GOOGLE

This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update

Published

2 months ago

June 30, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update

Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:

1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update

Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.

2. Changes to Google Search Interface

Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.

3. New Features and Tests

Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.

4. Search Rankings and Quality

Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.

5. Advice for Content Creators

Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.

6. New Search Features in Google Chrome

Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.

7. New Tests and Features in Google Search

Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.

8. Bing’s New Feature

Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.

9. Local Search Ranking Factors

Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.

10. Google Ads Updates

Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.

These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.

FACEBOOK

Facebook Faces Yet Another Outage: Platform Encounters Technical Issues Again

Published

6 months ago

March 20, 2024

Max

Uppdated: It seems that today’s issues with Facebook haven’t affected as many users as the last time. A smaller group of people appears to be impacted this time around, which is a relief compared to the larger incident before. Nevertheless, it’s still frustrating for those affected, and hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon by the Facebook team.

Facebook had another problem today (March 20, 2024). According to Downdetector, a website that shows when other websites are not working, many people had trouble using Facebook.

This isn’t the first time Facebook has had issues. Just a little while ago, there was another problem that stopped people from using the site. Today, when people tried to use Facebook, it didn’t work like it should. People couldn’t see their friends’ posts, and sometimes the website wouldn’t even load.

Downdetector, which watches out for problems on websites, showed that lots of people were having trouble with Facebook. People from all over the world said they couldn’t use the site, and they were not happy about it.

When websites like Facebook have problems, it affects a lot of people. It’s not just about not being able to see posts or chat with friends. It can also impact businesses that use Facebook to reach customers.

Since Facebook owns Messenger and Instagram, the problems with Facebook also meant that people had trouble using these apps. It made the situation even more frustrating for many users, who rely on these apps to stay connected with others.

During this recent problem, one thing is obvious: the internet is always changing, and even big websites like Facebook can have problems. While people wait for Facebook to fix the issue, it shows us how easily things online can go wrong. It’s a good reminder that we should have backup plans for staying connected online, just in case something like this happens again.