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Google Analytics shows organic trafic as direct

by AislinnMc
6 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi all,

I have an issue with the reporting in Google Analytics that I CANNOT figure out.

One day, more than half my organic trafic started being categorised as "Direct". It only happens on Desktop and for "New Visitors" (on the second visit, organic trafic is correctly recognised).

Does anyone have any clue on what could be causing this?

The source code of the page (GA tracking code included) is exactly the same for both types of users. And as far as I can tell, there is no redirection happening.

What could be the issue?

Any help appreciated
#analytics #direct #google #organic #shows #trafic
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    How do you know that the traffic is being categorized wrong?

    Do you have another analytics program running that is telling you something different?
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  • Profile picture of the author AislinnMc
    Hi Mike,

    Thanks for your answer

    I believe it's wrong for different reasons.

    Most importantly, I carried out tests using GA Debug to see what information was being sent to GA. If I acted as a new visitor on desktop coming from Google, I could see that GA mistakenly received "direct" as source.

    Furthermore, the loss of Organic traffic corresponds EXACTLY to the increase of Direct traffic. And apart from that shift, there is nothing else unusual in either segments.

    Finally, other tools show no signs of an organic decrease of traffic (Google Webmaster Tools, SEMRush, SearchMetrics, keyword position trackers...)
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
      Originally Posted by AislinnMc View Post

      Hi Mike,

      Thanks for your answer

      I believe it's wrong for different reasons.

      Most importantly, I carried out tests using GA Debug to see what information was being sent to GA. If I acted as a new visitor on desktop coming from Google, I could see that GA mistakenly received "direct" as source.

      Furthermore, the loss of Organic traffic corresponds EXACTLY to the increase of Direct traffic. And apart from that shift, there is nothing else unusual in either segments.

      Finally, other tools show no signs of an organic decrease of traffic (Google Webmaster Tools, SEMRush, SearchMetrics, keyword position trackers...)

      I would not base anything off of SEMRush, SearchMetrics, etc. All they are doing is trying to make a guess at your traffic. They have no idea what your traffic really looks like.

      As for your test, it could be that Google is picking you up as Direct traffic because that is how you originally came to the site.

      I would try a different computer and connection. Take a laptop to a coffee shop or something and try the same thing. Or at the very least, wipe your cookies and browsing history, use a private browsing window, and hide behind a VPN. See if you get the same result.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Google Analytics is very easy to test because they have the live traffic view (or whatever the call it) at the top left sidebar.

    Login to GA with Chrome & then go to your site/blog while using another browser like Firefox. It's not totaly unique as far as GA but you'll see your Firefox site browsing in GA live traffic view.
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    • Profile picture of the author AislinnMc
      Yukon, I did as you suggested and indeed "saw myself" in GA's real time visits.
      Mike, I used incognito mode and a VPN and looked at what GA debug generated.

      In both cases, I went to my website through Google and saw my visit being wrongly classified as Direct.

      It also made me notice that a specific script was being run on those visits, which included a javascript redirect. Disabeling it seems to have resolved the issue!

      I'll see in a couple of days if it's really resolved (I only have a few hours of data now), but it seems in order.

      Thank you both for your help!
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  • Profile picture of the author cybnetics
    You can Track your website Traffic Report in Google Analysis , you can make better decision planning for your business.
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    Cybnetics is best Website Designing Company in Delhi. we offers SEO, SMO, Digital Marketing Services for your Business.

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