Before you give your traffic data to Google Analytics

The things you need to consider before using GA

[Nick0r]

We've all heard a lot of webmasters saying how Google Analytics traffic data may be factored into the google search algo. This may well be true, as they try to focus less on links and more on trends of the visitor.

So, what considerations does a site owner need to make before openly signing up and using Google Analytics?

Somethings that come to mind are:

- Average page views per visitor
- Inflated rankings for pages that aren't well-visited from within the site
- Return visitors

What else would you need to think about, and if your site for example has a high average page view per visitor ratio, would that be a sign that giving Google your traffic data may not harm you?

[decaff]

What else would you need to think about, and if your site for example has a high average page view per visitor ratio, would that be a sign that giving Google your traffic data may not harm you?

Of course, if your site has a high page view per visitor then basically "screw" Google...as you are now effectively capturing traffic (be it that your site is not just a jumble of poorly executed links/pages and your site visitors are clambering through looking for what they need)...rather..that the your site is logically assisting their needs with well ordered content and an easy to dicepher navigation system..

Now if Google is using Analytics data (and you can bet they probably are..since everything Google does is data driven and then heavily analyzed on the backend ... for their revenue goals primarily and then for usability)...then it might be that if your site is seeing high traffic from Google but shows poor page view values..that this type of data would be averaged across thousands of Analytics users and then applied to the algo...

Personally, I like Analytics...as it shows some very specific information I like to work with....would I use Analytics with my most important sites and clients - NO!

[crobb305]

We've all heard a lot of webmasters saying how Google Analytics traffic data may be factored into the google search algo

They have had these data for years through the Google Toolbar.

[graeme_p]

Some points

Firstly, as already pointed out, they already have access to some data. Google toolbar, tracking bounces back to their search page etc.

Secondly, low pages per visitor could mean one of any number of things. Two that come to mind are:
1) Visitors can find what they want straight away
2) They did not like the site and went elsewhere

Surely Google will be aware of this?

What are high returning visitors and page views? It should depend on the nature of the site.

[Nick0r]

Interesting points. So I'm saying, for someone who wants to use GA (as a good free analytics tool), but may be a bit paranoid about giving Google all the data on your site, do they have anything to worry about?

[plasma]

They get the same information if you use Google Adsense.

[moose606]

I am always paranoid about giving G too much information about my website. With all the moaning about the Google algo, you would think that people would be hesitant about giving them more info and control over their sites.
What does Google gain by having this info?
They know which keywords convert best
They know your conversion rates
They might know your ROI and profit per sale
The paranoid in me suspects that by knowing this, they can develop maximum price per click levels, based upon keywords, to get the most revenue per keyword. This is what I would do.
You don't think they are providing all these free services just to help you make more money, do you?

[rominosj]

I just posted something related to google analytics and google payment system here:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[edited by: tedster at 7:34 pm (utc) on Mar. 14, 2007]
[edit reason] fix link [/edit]

[gendude]

They get the same information if you use Google Adsense.

I was about to say - many here are AS members, and Google gets a lot of the same data from AS.

[narsticle]

Matt Cutts has said time and time again that they are not using Google Analytics data to effect search results.

Whether they are or not, I was also quite hesitant to add Google Analytics to my ecommerce site. I had ok rankings and didnt want to lose them. My rankings have gone up (not down) since installing Google Analytics.

[Nick0r]

Interesting nars, that's what I'm hoping.

I'm just thinking about things like: yes everyone wants to show Google their site are worthy with high pageviews etc, but then again there are downsides I could think of for example if a particular link was 'trusted' but didn't send much/any traffic? A sign to devalue maybe?

[narsticle]

our site does about 20,000 uniques per month. When we first installed Analytics we were around 5,000. I wouldnt fear Analytics too much, if Google wants your information they will get it one way or another, so you might as well use them for a free and fantastic service.