How to track google auto search suggestion click?

[micey123]

Hello Guys,

In google.co.uk when I search SEL and google gives me option of different different sites and when I click on any one site then that click tracking I need. I have attached the screenshot to understand easily. Is it possible to track such things or possible via server logs etc?

TV99h

[Everett]

Hello Micey123,

Unfortunately, as I mentioned, there is no easy or cheap way to do this. Even with log files, most of the time the keyword data is not going to be available in the referral string.

Jumpshot would be your best bet, but it's not going to be cheap.

[micey123]

Hi Everett,

Can you help me then how to tack via logs? or any other way please?

Thanks!

[Everett]

Hello MIcey123,

Yes that is what I was talking about above by using the parameters in the URL to pull out the queries. However, that post was written in 2013 and Google is not passing that information through the referral header anymore so I would be surprised if you get anything. Most of it will be (not provided).

[micey123]

Hi Everett,

I got my answer from here - https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/how-to-use-google-suggest-with-your-own-google-analytics-data.html

Thanks for your support.

[Everett]

Well that's where it might get difficult. I forgot for a moment we lived in a not provided world where queries don't pass through referrers.

Being on a secure site would help, and you might try looking into jumpshot.com for click-stream data, though you're probably talking tens-of-thousands of dollars.

I think the auto-suggestions themselves are a good indication of what people are trying to search for in relation to the other searches. People Also Ask boxes are another one.

Tools like SEMrush, Moz and Stat Search Analytics can help you see the types of results you're showing up for, and they track features like "people also ask" suggestions.

I know none of this easily solves your problem or answers your question. I'll let you know if I find out something that does. In the meantime the question is still open for others to answer.

[micey123]

Hi Everett,

Yes I am looking for this only. Now please tell me how to track in analytic or how to check in log file?

Thanks!

[Everett]

Hello Micey123,

I think the link provided went to a phenomenal post, but there may have been a misunderstanding about what the post was instructing. From what I could tell, it was about tracking your own internal site predictive search, and not Google's.

Assuming you can get the full referrer path, including query string, in GA or via log files, I think one way to approach it would be to separate the queries from last to first, and you'll see the last is probably the original query that was "assisted" (or "interrupted", depending on how you look at it) and the first one in the URL was the auto-complete suggestion that was chosen. Here are a few examples.

This is the URL from my address bar while searching on Google for “I’m searching for something" without quotes, and selecting the suggestion for "I'm searching for something".

https://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=i'm+searching+for+something&oq=i'm+searching+for&gs_l=psy-ab.3.1.0l4.1499.1817.0.7345.4.4.0.0.0.0.92.291.4.4.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.4.290.Fz6_pi3zWK4

First query in the URL string (I'm searching for something):
q=i%27m+searching+for+something

(q=i%27m = I’m)

Second query in the URL string (I'm searching for):
q=i%27m+searching+for

This is the URL from my address bar while searching for “baby pandas are” without quotes, and selecting the autocomplete suggestion for “baby pandas are ugly”. I agree Google. Hideous creatures.

https://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=baby+pandas+are+ugly&oq=baby+pandas+are&gs_l=psy-ab.3.1.0j0i22i30k1l3.20197.27059.0.30266.25.18.7.0.0.0.94.1212.18.18.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.24.1197.0..0i67k1j0i131k1.jSUEntwdCtg

First query in the URL string:
q=baby+pandas+are+ugly

Second query in the URL string:
q=baby+pandas+are

URL from address bar while searching for “typing in full” and selecting the autocomplete suggestion for “typing in full sentences”.

https://www.google.com/search?num=100&site=&source=hp&q=typing+in+full+sentences&oq=typing+in+full&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i30k1l4.4541.7337.0.10987.15.13.0.0.0.0.141.1024.10j3.13.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..2.13.1022.0..0j0i131k1.RXV-_xh0WAk

Same pattern.

This is the first…

day of my life
https://www.google.com/search?num=100&site=&source=hp&q=this+is+the+first+day+of+my+life&oq=this+is+the+first&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0l4.2320.8339.0.20873.18.15.0.0.0.0.99.928.12.12.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..6.12.927.0..0i131k1.-seSP1VLnd4

day of my life lyrics (after “day of my life”).

https://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=this+is+the+first+day+of+my+life+lyrics&oq=this+is+the+first+day+of+my+life+ly&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0l2j0i22i30k1l2.35530.35903.0.38600.3.3.0.0.0.0.77.213.3.3.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.3.212.1OcUb3_4rGU

First query:
this is the first day of my life lyrics

Second query:
this is the first day of my life

I hope this helps. But there may be an easier way. I'll will ask around for you if you'd like, but I want to make sure I understand your needs first. Do I?

[donsilvernail]

Micey123,

It is very hard to track what you are asking for. I found a guide that may be able to help using Google Tag Manager. https://www.simoahava.com/analytics/track-autocomplete-search-google-tag-manager/