Google Analytics showing incorrect info all of a sudden

60XCustomStrings · 27th Oct 2016, 07:25 PM

About 2 weeks ago I noticed that google analytics started showing our traffic incorrectly. Our direct traffic doubled while our referrals have dropped. It seems that somehow the majority of referrals are showing as direct for some reason. Bing CPC traffic is at 0 even though we're getting apx 75 clicks per day. The really odd thing is that our bounce rate has also went from apx 30% to 50% each day since then. Any ideas on what could be going on here? Thanks

dburk · 1st Nov 2016, 10:16 PM

Hi 60XCustomStrings,

That sounds like what you would typically see if someone added a referrer or two to your Referral exclusions in Google Analytics. Perhaps someone added referral spammers to your your Referral exclusions? If so, this will have the exact effect that you described.

If you are trying to filter out referral spam DO NOT USE THE REFERRAL EXCLUSION feature in Google Analytics. That feature wasn't designed to filter out referral spam, it has a totally different purpose. To prevent Referral spam create a Valid Hostname filter that will get rid of most, if not all referrer spam you might be receiving.

here's an article that describes what referral spam is and how to prevent it from corrupting your Google Analytics data: https://www.optimizesmart.com/geek-g...gle-analytics/

27th Oct 2016, 07:25 PM	#1
60XCustomStrings Warrior Member Join Date: 2014 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Google Analytics showing incorrect info all of a sudden Share on: About 2 weeks ago I noticed that google analytics started showing our traffic incorrectly. Our direct traffic doubled while our referrals have dropped. It seems that somehow the majority of referrals are showing as direct for some reason. Bing CPC traffic is at 0 even though we're getting apx 75 clicks per day. The really odd thing is that our bounce rate has also went from apx 30% to 50% each day since then. Any ideas on what could be going on here? Thanks
	www.60xcustomstrings.com www.bradcooutdoors.com

1st Nov 2016, 10:16 PM	#2
dburk VIP Warrior Join Date: 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,367 Thanks: 333 Thanked 1,621 Times in 1,287 Posts	Re: Google Analytics showing incorrect info all of a sudden Share on: Hi 60XCustomStrings, That sounds like what you would typically see if someone added a referrer or two to your Referral exclusions in Google Analytics. Perhaps someone added referral spammers to your your Referral exclusions? If so, this will have the exact effect that you described. If you are trying to filter out referral spam DO NOT USE THE REFERRAL EXCLUSION feature in Google Analytics. That feature wasn't designed to filter out referral spam, it has a totally different purpose. To prevent Referral spam create a Valid Hostname filter that will get rid of most, if not all referrer spam you might be receiving. here's an article that describes what referral spam is and how to prevent it from corrupting your Google Analytics data: https://www.optimizesmart.com/geek-g...gle-analytics/
	* Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management \| * Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com