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Does "Open in new tab" create "direct" traffic in analytics?

by RickCopy
4 replies
  • SEO
    • |
So im seeing a big increase in direct traffic to my blog and ive been trying to figure out if theres anything I can do to try and categorize it better...however I heard that if a visitor uses the "open in new tab" function on a link in browsers that it will show up as "direct" traffic in analytics... is this true?

Are there any other reasons why Id be seeing a big jump in direct traffic?
#analytics #create #direct #open in new tab #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author Clyde Dennis
    Absolutely not!
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  • Profile picture of the author AntonAtWork
    I wouldn't think so since direct traffic is when someone visits your site via typing in the url. here is a link about direct traffic https://support.google.com/analytics.../1247837?hl=en
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
    Whether a link is opened in the current window, a new tab or a new window has no effect on the HTTP request from which those stats are derived. The referring URL will be the same in all instances.

    Some sources of direct traffic other than type-ins/bookmarks:
    • Clicks from non-web e-mail clients (i.e. Outlook, Thunderbird, mobile mail apps)
    • Clicks from secure (https://) webpages to your non-secure page. The referrer is not preserved over a secure->insecure transition. This includes secure Google searches and clicks from Gmail
    • Clicks from Twitter/Facebook/etc that originate on mobile/desktop clients rather than websites

    ...which highlights the importance of tagging links with unique tracking parameters when doing marketing, so that you can identify the source of traffic even when the referrer is not available.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    I've been adding an internet shortcut (icon) link in all my zip file downloads for a few years, looks like traffic does a direct search from their default browser when all they're doing is clicking an offline link (internet shortcut icon).

    I figure I have roughly 6.5 million offline direct links by now (not kidding). Most of that is from a very focused low traffic site that averages around 3k traffic per day x 6 years. I do everything I can to keep my traffic returning to my sites ($$).
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