Damn! Google Changes Organic Search tracking - Impact on SEO?

[RobKonrad]

Hi SEO warriors,

I just read this:

Google recently made some changes to the way they present their search results. You can read more here: Google Analytics Blog: Making search more secure: Accessing search query data in Google Analytics

The end result is that all analytics providers (including Google Analytics) will no longer be able to track the search terms entered by a user who is currently signed into Google.

This is bad news!

Couldn't find anything in the search about this - any Google insider who knows more about this?

Cheers,
Rob Konrad

[Sirr]

I was reading this earlier, but I think the search data is still available:

You will continue to see referrals without any change;

I think it just means data will not be passed to your site. So, you can't customize the user experience based on the search terms. Or, offer specific ads to the user based on data that is passed in non SSL GET requests.

Edit: I think you're right actually. My mistake.

When a signed in user visits your site from an organic Google search, all web analytics services, including Google Analytics, will continue to recognize the visit as Google “organic” search, but will no longer report the query terms that the user searched on to reach your site.

In which case, search data is only reported from non-signed in users.

But, there will be a lot of users that are not signed in. And I think Google will implement a solution soon.

[Tim Wallace]

In recent days, there are many (not provide) information at keyword column in GA, is this the reason? however, when I check the server log, the keywords users used still can't be found.

It is really a bad news.

[dofollow]

Google first makes us sure that we are in to the habit of doing everything and then suddenly you realize that the rug is slipping from under you. Bad move Google.