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    4. Google Analytics Organic Search Keywords Suddenly Displaying FulL Urls

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    After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.

    Google Analytics Organic Search Keywords Suddenly Displaying FulL Urls

    Reporting & Analytics
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    • 10SL
      10SL last edited by

      In my Google Analytics, the top keywords for Organic Search are suddenyl displaying full URLs. For example, now the third and fourth keywords are http://www.domain.com/highly-specific-URL.

      These have all started recently around the same day, July 12th. I've checked back, and we've made no internal changes to the site around that time that could affect this.

      Any thoughts on this?

      Thanks!

      P.S. It might be related to rich snippets, but I cannot tell at this point.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • CharlesRiverInteractive
        CharlesRiverInteractive Subscriber last edited by

        We are seeing this too!  The homepage URL has become a top term among the usual top terms. For multiple clients, all beginning around July 14th.

        Checked - devices, regions, OS, browser, landing page, visitor type, etc. Everything is different, so no one cause.  Again, three different clients have gone from less than 5 URL visits a day to 50 -80 a day.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Christy-Correll
          Christy-Correll Staff last edited by

          Hi Josh! Did you see Robert's response to your screencap? He raises some very good questions in it. Please let us know, thanks.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • RobertFisher
            RobertFisher @10SL last edited by

            Matt,

            First thing, is you said this started on 7/12. Was there anything done with GA code placement then or prior (say within the previous month)?  And, do you have a bounce rate that is at or near zero?

            Second, Can you give me any of the KW terms that are showing for you (don't need other data on that).

            Next, can you take visitor flow for a week, and then juxtapose it against what you are showing re KW terms and urls to see if you have any "ahaa" moment.

            From experience I can tell you that if you have GA code in more than once it will affect things but I do not recall ever seeing this type of occurrence. You are obviously in the right area on GA so you should see KWs with amounts to the right. (I am assuming your GA code is in the head tag).

            Also, other than GA, are you running any other type of analytics program?

            Now, if you take where you are and select secondary dimension, then select traffic sources and then landing page. 
            Does this change your urls on the left to keywords and the next item to the right being the url?

            I am going to send an email to a person who only does high end analysis and is G certified in GA. With all the redaction there is really no info, but I will ask him generally if he has seen that occur before. Let me know on the above as I do not know when he will respond this close to the weekend.

            Let me know. Thanks

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • 10SL
              10SL @RobertFisher last edited by

              Hi Robert,

              I'm attaching a redacted screenshot of the GA view I'm using.

              Please let me know if you see anything!

              Best,

              Matt

              bAh4n1u.png

              RobertFisher 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • RobertFisher
                RobertFisher @10SL last edited by

                Josh, 
                I use GA a lot and have not experienced that. If you can either put an image (use something where you can show everything like awesome screenshot) here or if it is better, PM me, I will look at it to see what is happening. If I don't have an answer, I will shoot an email to an expert (whose only works is GA and other analytics) with the screen shot.

                Thanks

                10SL 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • 10SL
                  10SL @RobertFisher last edited by

                  Hi Robert,

                  I'm going to Traffic Sources - Search - Organic. The primary dimension is Keyword. There is no secondary dimension.  Underneath Keyword column, URLs are appearing as top keywords. There are keywords mixed in, but they occur later.

                  Please let me know.

                  Thanks.

                  RobertFisher 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • RobertFisher
                    RobertFisher last edited by

                    Josh,

                    Under Traffic Sources - Search - Organic, You are saying your primary dimension is Keyword, and under that first column, there are urls as opposed to keywords? 
                    It is not under a secondary dimension, correct?

                    Just clarifying before going further.

                    10SL 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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