Comments on: How Google Analytics Channels Can Make or Break Your Data Analysis

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Tue, 28 May 2019 07:10:01 +0000

In reply to Chris. Sorry Chris, never seen this before. Is this still an issue for one (or more) websites?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 14 May 2019 15:32:48 +0000

Hey Paul,
Have you ever seen it where (not set) is a social network? (Acquisition – All Traffic – Channels).
All our social media channels seem to be tracking, but for some reason, GA is giving us (not set) results, and to make matters worse, its sometimes giving credit to say Twitter, as well as giving the same credit to (not set) for a sale. So the value of the sale is $406 twitter, $406 not set.
It looks like this: in the
(not set) 218(53.96%)
Facebook 89(22.03%)
Pinterest 35(8.66%)
Twitter 22(5.45%)
Instagram 18(4.46%)
Instagram Stories 9(2.23%)
Yelp 5(1.24%)
YouTube 3(0.74%)
LinkedIn 2(0.50%)
Quora 2(0.50%)

Hope this makes sense, cause its killlllling me :(

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:38:32 +0000

In reply to Mike.

Hi Mike,

It usually isn’t an issue as google.com can be a referral.
Please also see: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1011811?hl=en.

Best,
Paul

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 13:23:28 +0000

Hi Paul, I noticed google.com is included in “Referral” channel when it should be “organic search”. What are you thoughts on the ways to resolve the issue?

Thanks!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:43:40 +0000

In reply to Paul Koks. Thank you!

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:03:08 +0000

In reply to tania.

Hi Tania,
I would definitely try to get solid UTMs in place as you don’t fix the issues on the source if you simply modify social channel definitions.
And, it will make a medium analysis useless as LinkedIn/Twitter/FB are not appropriate for using as a medium.

First step would be to set up a separate meeting with your client where you highlight the importance of UTM tracking and why choosing a different way than they suggest is appropriate.
Worst that happens: your data makes channel analysis and attribution impossible and/or you won’t continue working with this client. (eventually they should respect you and your advice)

By: tania

tania — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 10:24:49 +0000

Hi Paul,
Thanks for this.
I have a client who insists on setting up utm tags for social in the following way:

Medium: LinkedIn/Twitter/FB
Source: The name of the piece of content
Campaign name: Organicsocial or paidsocial.

It is completely contrary to best practice (and of course tons of social traffic is now ending up in the Other bucket) but this client is particularly difficult.
Should I recommend they adjust social channel definitions to include these (either Social or Paid Social channels) or go to battle and insist they do things the correct way?

Can you perhaps highlight what the worst thing is that can happen if this situation continues as is?

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 07:57:38 +0000

In reply to Arve Kvaloy.

Hi Arve,
In the “Bad” example, the medium is defined as “e-mail” which conflicts with the definition of channel “Email”. This means that the traffic flows in to the (Other) bucket instead of Email. I have slightly modified the article to better explain this.

By: Paul Koks

Paul Koks — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 07:51:48 +0000

In reply to Nikki. Thanks for the heads up Nikki! Make sure to use lowercase here: email. As a general rule of thumb: always use lowercase when defining the medium parameter.

By: Arve Kvaloy

Arve Kvaloy — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 07:12:54 +0000

Under Email Channel You say:

“Good: newsletter A / email
Bad: newsletter A / e-mail”

Difficult to understand why bad/good when the phrase is similar?