Navigating the Frustration of “Not Provided” Search Data in Google Analytics

May 21, 2013 by Jessamy Pressler Leave a Comment

If you’re using Google Analytics for website tracking, you’re certainly aware of the privacy policy changes that resulted in a huge selection of keyword data becoming unavailable. In October 2011 Google implemented a new privacy policy that resulted in “not provided” keywords displaying in the organic keyword list. Keyword search terms for visitors who perform searches while logged into a Google account have since displayed as not provided. This was Google’s attempt at protecting their user’s privacy; however, the changes have sent traffic analyzers for a loop. In addition to steadily increasing numbers in the “not provided” category, we have also noticed a decrease in organic traffic share in year over year comparisons. This decrease can be partially attributed to a glitch in Google Analytics which attributes visitors using iOS 6 (most Apple devices) as direct visitors even if they came through a referring site or search engine. Branded search phrases have also shown notable decreases in year over year comparisons, but the not provided terms have increased dramatically.

Frustrated with the volume of “not provided” keyword data you are seeing in Google Analytics for your site? We certainly were and we have taken action to look deeper into the source of the mystery keywords. Thanks to the helpful tips presented in a Search & Analytics article by Carrie Hill, we have implemented a custom filter that shows us where our not provided organic search visitors are landing on the site – in turn giving us tremendous insight into the keywords our not provided visitors are using. There are a variety of new filters and ideas on the web to help combat the not provided black hole and we encourage you to take action to grab a hold of the data available to you.

*Bonus Tip: Make sure you’re reviewing your data in Google Webmaster Tools. We like to look at Traffic>Search Queries and then select Top Pages. Click on the page you are focusing on and drill down to see top search phrases used for the selected time period. This information helps in gaining a broader picture of top keywords for a particular page.

Filed Under: Analytics, How To: Tips & Tools, SEM

Upcoming Search Marketing Workshops

October 4, 2012 by 1BlizzAdmin

Blizzard’s upcoming workshops that can help you market your website more effectively.

It would be great if you can attend any or all of these… if you cannot, order a video copy instead. We are selling a package of ALL 3 workshop for $499 and will record each workshop and deliver it to you via streaming video after the event. You can watch it at your leisure.

At VRMA 2012 Nationals in Phoenix (October 21st) we are hosting a 4-hour workshop that is All About Google Analytics. Learn how to use Google Analytics more effectively. I hope to see you there!

Are you looking for a more intensive learning experience? We are offering both a beginners and an advanced workshop in the next few months:

All About Google 2-day workshop will be in Glenwood Springs on November 12 and 13th. This is a great opportunity to sharpen up your SEO skills and understanding of the many opportunities Google offers your website.

Advanced Search Marketing Workshop is a 2-day workshop intensively focused on enhancing the performance of your website marketing efforts. January 21-22 in Glenwood Springs, CO.

Filed Under: Analytics, Breaking News, SEO Simplified

Top Reports in Google Analytics Every Marketer Should Use

October 2, 2012 by 1BlizzAdmin

This is a recording of a 20 minute session presented by Trent Blizzard at RezFest2012. The topic was the top reports that many marketers don’t know exist in Google Analytics. The reports include Multi-Channel Reporting, Queries, Events, In-Page Analytics and Experiments.

Filed Under: Analytics

See How Easily You Can Learn About Google Analytics and The Power of Your Brand in Search

November 17, 2011 by 1BlizzAdmin

Blizzard has a few Webinars coming up. Hope to see you there:

Google Analytics Multi-Channel Conversion Tool
Monday, November 28th, 2011 10AM MST

Learn about the most exciting new Google Analytics feature to come along in years! This may be the single most exciting online marketing development during 2011.
Learn how to setup and interpret this valuable new data which is guaranteed to shed new light on where your online bookings really come from and will most likely change your budgeting process in 2012. This is a 30 minute webinar.

The Power of Your Brand in Google’s Search Algorithm
Thursday, December 8th, 2011 1PM MST

Learn how your Brand is becoming an increasingly important component in Google’s organic search algorithm. Google monitors your brand signals and will rank you higher and drive more search engine traffic to your website if your brand appears stronger than your competitors.

Learn about the brand signals Google tracks in its algorithm and what you can do to increase the strength and frequency of those signals.

Google Plus for Hotels and Vacation Rentals: Strategies, Tactics and Tips
Wednesday December 14th, 2011 10AM MST

Get a head start in the new Google+ social networking platform. Learn how to get your account going and how to get the most out of it. Includes tips for newbies but focuses on strategies and tactics that will work in the world of guest marketing.

Filed Under: Analytics, Blizzard News, SEO

Insight Finder from Google makes Google Research Easier

November 16, 2011 by 1BlizzAdmin

Google has a website called thinkinsights with Google that is a great source to get insight, facts, stats, research, planning tools and… data!

There is a lot of great travel related data that is worth checking out. They also have a “Real Time Insights Finder” which can help you discover all kinds of free real-time data from a plethora of Google Tools:

Filed Under: Analytics, Industry Stats, Out and About

How I Improved my Google Analytics Reports in 90 Seconds

October 18, 2011 by 1BlizzAdmin

The “new” version of Google Analytics has several new reports that are worth studying. One report I like is the “site speed” report which is newly available in Google Analytics… it simply tells you how fast your website loads on average and also breaks down specific pages for analysis.

In order to make this new feature work you have to add a snippet of code to your tracking scripts: “_gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']);” You can read all about how site speed works and how to add the tracking script on the Google Analytics Blog.

The other 90 second improvement I made to my Google Analytics reporting was to integrate it with my existing Google Webmaster Tools account.

Both these steps are worth the few seconds required!

Filed Under: Analytics

Integrate Your Google Webmaster Tool Data into Google Analytics

October 14, 2011 by 1BlizzAdmin

Connecting your Google Webmaster Tool account and your Google Analytics account provides better reports in your Google Analytics AND more convenience. This feature was released last week on the Google Webmaster Central Blog.

I especially like having the “Queries” report right in Google Analytics which shows how many impressions my website received in Google search results (by Query), the Click-Thru-Rate and the average ranking. Pretty Handy.

Here are the step-by-step instructions… with a caveat: you must be in the “new version” of Google Analytics, not the old. If your screens look different, you are in the old version. The login to the new version is at the very top of your page.

Here are the step-by-step instructions to integrate these two accounts:

1) Login to Google Analytics and click on the gear to the right of the reporting tabs: