Why am I seeing so many referalls to my root domain from Facebook in Google Analytics?
-
When we look at referalls from Facebook in Google Analytics, more than 50% (and sometimes upwards of 80%) of the traffic we're getting is listed as landing on our root domain. The thing is, we don't have any direct links TO our root domain on our Facebook page. So is this legitimate traffic, and how are they getting to our page if we have no links to it?
We do post links to stories, videos, etc, but those are to the individual pages, not to our root domain. When I look at those pages that we link to, they do have traffic numbers, but nothing compared to the root domain. Any thoughts would be helpful.
Thanks.
-
Thanks for the responses. Visit duration for the root domain is 9:31, with an average of almost 10 pages/visit. And while we ARE actively promoting on Facebook, we don't have a link to that specific page. I'm doing an experiment this week - not posting anything at all and seeing if that affects traffic numbers. I have a feeling it won't.
And no, we don't have any purchased traffic that I'm aware of.
-
I guess they don't show the post that it was clicked from, or it was clicked from the news feed section.
What are the page metrics? Bounce rate, exit, visit duration etc. If you are not actively promoting on Facebook and or active users/readers mentioning your brand, it would be extremely odd that you would get that much from Facebook.
It could be purchased traffic, have you hired someone to do this for you? I know there are ways to spoof traffic to look like its coming from a source.
-
The "shared URL" is our root domain.
When you look at the "full referrer" to that shared URL, you get 5 results (attached):
-
There is a difference between referral source and referral path. I think the bigger question is what the referral path is. You should be able to view where the hit is coming from Facebook.
And as Alberto stated, it could be a rewrite, which is how Analytics classifies a URL path.
-
Thanks Alberto. I'll talk with our developer to see if he can take a look at what you're talking about. Interestingly, we do have a link to our page in the "About" section, but it's actually pointing to a different page that barely gets ANY traffic, and none from Facebook. So nobody is clicking that at all.
-
Hello,
It's very rare, it may be that you have some kind of redirection and rewrite your URL, which is confusing Analytics.
Often web technology does not support automatic analysis programs.
It could also be that you had a link to the home page in the information section of the fanpage.
What happens to you is not normal, however it is more about using Analytics with SEO issues.
Greetings.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Facebook Business page query
Hello Expert, I want to check how many facebook pages do my competitor have created? Is there any way to check or tool available? Is there any way to check profile page of competitor from there facebook page? I am providing 4 services on my website so do i create seperate page for all services? or one common page for all 4 services? what type of name should i create for profile and business page?
Social Media | | bkmitesh0 -
Doctors in a Hospital - Setup Google Local or Google+ Profiles?
Hello - I've been running this over for awhile - so I'm curious to see what the community says about it. I'm working with a client who would like to brand the doctors in their hospitals. Many of them do have recognition already - and their associated locations have profiles. Google Local semi-recently said it's OK to brand Dr's names - even if they exist within a single location. So, my question is - is it better to go the Google Local route and create the Local/+ page for them, or to go through the Google+/Google Brand Pages route and create them that way? If each doctor were to decide, individually, to post on their page - would that be possible with the Places route (I don't think so, based on what I've seen)? Also, if a doctor already has a personal Google+ page - would it make sense to just create the additional brand page as well through this interface? Well either of these methods achieve optimal visibility as well as the option to post should they decide to go that route? What it boils down to - is this is a task we can perform from the outside, or is it best handled by giving the doctors best practice for setting up their personal Google+ pages and associated Brand Pages themselves? Thanks for any insight you can provide!
Social Media | | WebTalent0 -
Getting Google Plus brand snippet
Hi, Wondering if anyone has a checklist for getting that brand entry on the right of the SERPs? i.e from your experience how many followers you need, plus ones, where to interlink etc Here's my brands G+ if you want to check it out! https://plus.google.com/111833333168778283139/posts Thanks, Asaad
Social Media | | Asaad0 -
How do I start a Google Local effort?
I was wondering how can I start a Google Local effort and how is it beneficial?
Social Media | | bronxpad0 -
Rel=author?? google auth?
Hi everyone, i need some help with this rel=author and google auth which has come into place. Some questions: 1., I write a blog on our e-commerce site, do i need rel=authort? 2., i write on other sites do i need rel=author If so is there an easy way to implement this, i know it links in with the Google+ profile but i am confussed as i keep seeing different ways to do it. I've also been told to do good auth, what is this? ive been given a piece of code to use in my site to auth it? is this worth it? Any help really appreciated 🙂
Social Media | | pauledwards0 -
Find Facebook Likes and Google +1's Across An Entire Domain?
Does anyone know a good way to find the number of Facebook Likes or Google +1's across an entire domain? It looks like SEOMoz only shows these metrics for individual pages.
Social Media | | SparkplugDigital0 -
Are you doing SEO on Twiiter and Facebook pages?
Seems to be a thought process emerging (CALL THE MEDIA!) that twiiter and facebook are having through various different paths a real ranking effect. Is anyone now doing SEO on a clients Social media page because of this. I know they are no follow. I am not sure they don't pass juice.
Social Media | | MBayes0 -
What's affect more SEO between number of Facebook "Recommend" of number of fans of the facebook fan page?
I'm wondering what's the most important number in facebook that affect more the SEO of a site: It is the number of "Recommend" that your site have received or It is the number of fans the facebook fan page of the site have? Also does this really affect SEO or not? If you can provide some data, statistics, link to post or whatever it would be very nice. Thanks for your help
Social Media | | nuroa-2467120