Do you choose to NOT use Google Analytics because you don't want Google snooping around your sites?

[magentawave]

I'm wondering how many of you choose to NOT use Google Analytics on your sites because you don't want the Big G snooping around?

Steve

[Fraggler]

I bet those same people still want high rankings on Google.com.

I use it and it's very handy, especially for AdSense sites. I also use Webmaster Tools as the info it provides can really allow you to maximise your existing content's traffic.

If you are concerned about being caught out then Analytics isn't the problem.

[imback]

I use it

I love it

Never had a problem

and it is free



CHAD

[magentawave]

I just read on this forum about people that don't use Google Analytics because they are paranoid about Google looking under the hood of their sites. I've been using Google Analytics but wondered after reading that stuff if maybe these guys know something I don't know.

Thanks
Steve

Originally Posted by Fraggler

I bet those same people still want high rankings on Google.com.

I use it and it's very handy, especially for AdSense sites. I also use Webmaster Tools as the info it provides can really allow you to maximise your existing content's traffic.

If you are concerned about being caught out then Analytics isn't the problem.

[Fraggler]

Well it would give them access to the bounce rate, time on site, and referrals but it's data Google is already measuring through their toolbar and Chrome (and Andriod etc) oh - also AdSense.

Google can also get a measure for bounce rate by looking at the way people interact with the search results. ie: are people returning to the search results to try another result after visiting your site.

[sbucciarel]

I don't use it and I still get high rankings. Analytics doesn't get you high rankings. SEO does. I get all the info I need with statcounter and with the AWstats from my host.

[Fraggler]

I don't think anyone thinks it does get you high rankings; some people however seem to think it will hurt your rankings.

Statcounter and Awstats is great for a quick overview but the Adsense integration, conversion and split testing, content breakdown, and heat map overlays makes it a pretty handy tool if those functions are required.

[magentawave]

Hmmm, that makes sense that IF you have Adsense on your site then Google can already check out your site anyway.

Originally Posted by Fraggler

Well it would give them access to the bounce rate, time on site, and referrals but it's data Google is already measuring through their toolbar and Chrome (and Andriod etc) oh - also AdSense.

Google can also get a measure for bounce rate by looking at the way people interact with the search results. ie: are people returning to the search results to try another result after visiting your site.

[Derek S]

want it to keep track of a few sites? Then it is an amazing tool and you wont find any other tool online that even compares for the price

But if you have a large network of sites (100+) all built with an obvious footprint pointing to a select few key money sites... dont be surprised if google takes action against them.

In that case you are willingly but perhaps unknowingly showing google you hand of cards so to speak.

[magentawave]

But 3 sites linking back to the money site wouldn't be a problem with Google Analytics on them, right?

Originally Posted by Derek S

want it to keep track of a few sites? Then it is an amazing tool and you wont find any other tool online that even compares for the price

But if you have a large network of sites (100+) all built with an obvious footprint pointing to a select few key money sites... dont be surprised if google takes action against them.

In that case you are willingly but perhaps unknowingly showing google you hand of cards so to speak.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Do you really want Google to have access to all the behind-the-scenes info on your website? How much traffic you really get? Where that traffic comes from? What pages are most popular? What products have the highest conversion rates? Etc.?

That's all good stuff for Google to know, especially when they decide to launch a competitor to your services or products.

Always be wary of strangers offering you free candy.

[fluffythewondercat]

If GA is the only analytics tool you're using, it's like trying to drive with one hand over your eyes. Sure, you'll be able to see a little between your fingers, but you'll miss a lot too.

I started using Clicky a couple of weeks ago. I love it. GA is telling me I've gotten nearly a hundred visits recently from one particular longtail keyword that matches an article title but I can't find any reason for that much type-in traffic. Clicky doesn't show any of those visits, which makes me think GA is out to lunch.

fLufF
--

[RichardF]

Yeah I don't use it, see no reason to. It doesn't affect rankings but it CAN tie all your websites to you, so worst case you could get all of them penalized at once (if you were using a tactic frowned upon by Google).

I use Piwik instead. Free, self-hosted, and it has come a long way in recent months. I don't think it has all the features on Analytics, but all the basics are there and that's all I need really.

[Mike Hill]

Google already knows about your site and the details, they've just decided to share the information with you through Analytics so you can make their job easier by giving people better quality as you see your traffic increase.

[Bongoshaq1]

Originally Posted by Mike Hill

Google already knows about your site and the details, they've just decided to share the information with you through Analytics so you can make their job easier by giving people better quality as you see your traffic increase.

No they dont know everything about your site unless you provide them with their FREE TOOLS. Why are these things FREE for Christ's sake? Have you ever thought about it how wonderful that someone invested millions of dollars in it and costs millions to maintain and give it away to you free ? Think hard. I am not going to put words here.

[Bongoshaq1]

Well have you thought why these things are FREE? They are free for a reason. Is there anything free these days that gives awesome results ? Think for a moment and think hard and you will come up with answers.

[fluffythewondercat]

It's refreshing to see people thinking for themselves and refusing to dance to Google's tune.

I know many merchants who obsess over their Google Product Search feeds, spending many hours (or much money) keeping them up to date with the myriad changes Google implements. The reason? "It's free!" Not by the time you invest all those resources into it, it isn't. I'm sure Google is grateful to you for your hard work, though. :-)

fLufF
--

[simonbuzz]

Google analytics is very important especially for adsense sites..it gives very important details about your site and it's free also..

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by Bongoshaq1

No they dont know everything about your site unless you provide them with their FREE TOOLS. Why are these things FREE for Christ's sake? Have you ever thought about it how wonderful that someone invested millions of dollars in it and costs millions to maintain and give it away to you free ? Think hard. I am not going to put words here.

And what makes you so sure they don't already know about your websites? Because they're not indexed? (mine always are within minutes) LOL

You don't think they know when a domain name is registered? You don't think they don't know when you get hosting and where through the IP address? Ever wonder how a website gets indexed so fast the minute you install a blog or put up static pages without you doing anything to promote or index it?

LOL... They know because it would be easy for them to know.

There could be a number of other reasons for their free tools such as more detailed information which I don't have a problem with because I'm not trying to hide my websites. I'm not throwing up 100 websites a minute with some software.

But to think that Google won't know about your site just because you don't use their free tools is naive at best.

[mojojuju]

There's lots of great free web site analytics programs out there. Many of them offer features not found in Google Analytics. One that comes to mind is Open Web Analytics

[buzztops]

I know a lot of people stopped using google analytics since were getting paranoid about google getting their data. I am not sure if it does happen but I certainly think it is a possibility.

There are alternatives out there though. You should be using 2 analytics packages at the least. This is to compare the data from both of them. You would be surprised looking at the data from GA versus the others.

The other alternatives out there are:

Clicky
Piwik
Statscounter
Awstats (Cpanel)
Mint
Crazyegg
and more...

There are more options out there if you have a bigger budget.


There are several good things about GA:

Free
Loads of features
Easy to use
Awesome reporting features
Easy integration with adwords and GWO
Adsense earnings per page


However, the disadvantages of using google analytics are:

1. Google might be getting your analytics data.
I personally don't have any proof of this.

2. Slows down your site (Increases the loading time of your pages).

3. Might affect your seo.
I have heard from a few people that Google analytics can affect their SEO. They removed GA from their sites and they noticed changes in rankings (changes they normally don't see with their routine SEO).

4. GA works using page tagging (by executing javascript when the page loads). Therefore, GA does not track search engine spiders (crawlers)

5. no real time data

6. Faulty data
When the javascript code does not load, a visit is not tracked. Moreover, when you compare data from other analytics packages, you would notice that there are differences.

It depends on what you are looking to do:
If you are big into adsense with a network of several sites, then you might want to do more research on this and think about it.

If you are using GA, then make sure you look into their sharing policy and privacy policy

[JamesGw]

I'm not too worried about it. I don't have anything to hide. Some people are a little paranoid, which is great for them, but whatever.

[Taruru]

don't use it, though for no particular reason...statcounter suits me just fine.

[wrongnumber]

well if you just want to stop google snooping, block googlebot in the first case, this piece of software has been constantly being re written, since 15-17 years... capable of loads of stuff, and basicaly the first step to what we call googling....

[magentawave]

And were the "changes" to their sites rankings negative or positive after removing Google Analytics?

Steve

Originally Posted by buzztops

3. Might affect your seo.
I have heard from a few people that Google analytics can affect their SEO. They removed GA from their sites and they noticed changes in rankings (changes they normally don't see with their routine SEO).

[tonyalves]

I use it because it's free and provides great stats. I don't think that it makes any difference whether you use it or not in regards to providing information about your site to Google.

I believe that one way or another, they know or can find out anything they want about your site.

[frogman]

I use it on some sites.
Other sites (for educational use only), not so much.

[JPRoss]

Sorry to dig back up this old thread. I am curious if anybody has any SPECIFIC data to suggest that google uses GA data against you?

My opinion for years has been that I start with assuming that google's priority is to list the best search results possible. And I assume that they do this by behaving in a logical manner.

One "conspiracy" type suggested that a high bounce rate in GA could negatively effect your SERPs. Here's my problem with that premise.

If site A uses GA, and site B does not, google would be unable to determine if site B has a higher or lower bounce rate. Why would they penalize site A in comparison to site B when site B might actually have a higher bounce rate?

And though I understand it would be foolish to 100% believe everything that Matt Cutts says, he has specifically said that google does NOT share GA info with search results.

[cagliostro]

Google Analytics has informed me that a new interface and some new features are coming. Like Realtime Statistics !

I checked the new interface and is it excellent. Apparently it is available to many of you also.

So, i feel safe to use GA, because i have nothing to hide and also because it is the best.

I see that MAJOR online portals and sites are using it, so i guess there is nothing wrong with it (related with Adsense or Rankings).

[realc4ever]

google looking into your site is trivial. i can go to a website and view the source code at the click of a mouse.

[GeorgR.]

I hardly do "shady" stuff anymore and if i make sites they are always "clean"..heck i want RANKINGS....and the best thing you can do is to conform and please Google.

I know how it sounds...but it's just how it is. Good content, no shady tricks.

Yes i put analytics on them..but i think that statcounter (which i use on my wordpress sites) is FAAAAR better in seeing stats, keywords and everything i need to know.

[CarmenDA]

What exactly is everyone so afraid that they will find out? Obviouslt if you are violating their TOS then you would be stupid to have it on your site but of you are playing by the rules then who cares if they have your info. They probably already know anyway. The google knows all. lol

[xaby]

this is definitely a possibility of google using analytics to see "under your hood". but question: if you are spending so much on link building, then it just simply doesnt hurt to do some proper onpage seo and content to reduce your bounce rate and increase the visitor time isnt it?

[tryinghard]

I'm using both analytics and webmaster tool because its very handy in tracking.

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by realc4ever

google looking into your site is trivial. i can go to a website and view the source code at the click of a mouse.

Huh? Viewing the source code isn't the issue here because your sites code doesn't reveal its statistics.