Interpreting Search Engine Referrals

Looking at log referral entries...

[AlanF]

We use Analog to generate analysis of our log files. In the Referrer Report section, we have lots of entries for Google, Lycos etc. When I click on them, it will show me what the search page looked like in that search engine. But some of them appear to be different but give the same result. Is there a write-up anywhere which tells me how to interpret these referral strings? Example:

www.google.com/search?q=abc+company&btnG=Google+Search
www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=abc+company

Both give me the same result in Google, so what's the difference?

[TallTroll]

>> www.google.com/search?q=abc+company&btnG=Google+Search

This query has been generated by a searcher using the "Google Search" button on the site

>> www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=abc+company

This query has been generated by a searcher using the toolbar (the navclient entry gives it away)

Try playing with a few different searches and methods (toolbar, button, enter key, adv. search etc) and noting the construction of the parameter/value pairs in the URLs of the SERPS

[AlanF]

TallTroll,

Thanks for that. I've had a good look around on webmasterworld, but didn't find a list which might answer my question. I suppose I'll have to do the work for myself. Damn!