Google Analytics unexplainable traffic spike
-
Viewing this report **Behaviour > Site content > All pages **with primary dimensions of **Page ** and **Page title **are showing different results for one specific page on our site.
We noticed a huge spike in pageviews and entrances to that specific page on our site. The user flow report shows traffic going through and from the page (in high volume) from other pages on the site which suggests that it's not the usual case of spam referrals.
When I view the report above by page, I get unrealistic data. Over 600% increase in pageviews and over 900% increase in entrances. When I view by page title however, I get realistic results.
Can anyone help shed some light on why these two reports will be different?
Anyone else seeing similar issues?
-
Very strange that you CPC data shows a much smaller increase than GA, especially since they are connected. Maybe a quick call to Google to see if maybe GA glitched during that period.
Here is the page for Google support, I would try the paid search avenue as that seems to get you better results when chatting with them. Just mention your AdWords data give a different story than GA and see what they can figure out.
https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/1385067
Good luck.
ht
tps://support.google.com/adwords/answer/1385067
-
Thanks for your reply Katherine.
I'll try to use that app to see if it can help. I had already checked to see if it was a device type issue or browser issue but had no luck. The traffic increase was spread among desktops, tablets and phones each recording over 600% increases.
I'll give the app a try. Thanks
-
Thanks for your reply Shawn.
The traffic is coming from Organic, Direct and Paid mediums. This is where it starts to get interesting. Adwords data shows only 18 clicks for the related campaign while the report shows over 1000% increase in entrances for CPC traffic.
Using click data, there was only a recorded 20% increase in clicks from 15 to 18. How can it be that the page is recording such a massive increase in entrances from CPC traffic? Then there is the whole mystery surrounding organic and direct mediums.
I had a look in GWT as per your suggestions and cannot see any growth in search term. I initially thought an increase in the SERPs could be the reason but I soon ruled this out when I realised the data for both page and page title were not correlated whereas it is for other pages.
-
Flip the secondary dimension to see if you see any patterns. I would first look at source/medium, then user/mobile to see if it's a desktop/mobile related issue.
You could also try this plugin: https://mark.shinyapps.io/ga-effect
-
First thought, where is the traffic coming from > organic, email, direct, etc.?
You can also view Search Analytics in console (GWT). I would view pages and select the time period of the spike, compare it to the previous period then view queries to see if there was a spike in impressions for any terms. Check positions and see if also during that time any term increased in rank. It could be with the recent algo updates that you've benefited from a higher position that has helped.
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
-
Over the last few months i have seen a huge spike in traffic from foreign countries
In GA i have seen a huge spike in traffic from foreign countries like japan, china, brazil, germany. the bounce rates are almost all 100%. any ideas why this is occurring?
Reporting & Analytics | | dhanson240 -
How drop off works in google analytic for enhance ecommerce?
Hello Guys, I have implemented enhance ecommerce ( i.e. - https://developers.google.com/tag-manager/enhanced-ecommerce ) Now i have query how drops off actually works? Like i visited the my site, then product page then checkout step 1 page after that i close the checkout step 1 page that means checkout step 1 drop off will appear in google analytic? right? John
Reporting & Analytics | | varo0 -
Linking My Google analytics with visual.ly
Hello, I have a quick question: Is it secure and safe to link my Google Analytics account with Visual.ly here's the link: https://create.visual.ly/graphic/google-analytics I want to create easy-to-understand report from Google Analytics and if you have any experience with this service can you share it with me please. Thanks.
Reporting & Analytics | | JonsonSwartz0 -
Using Filters On Google Analytics
Hi Guys, I am In need of some technical help with regards to Google analytics. One of my clients has a site providing HR Software on SaaS basis. The users login via the site for the various HR Tools. Obviously this is skewing the analytics data and showing 10,000+ extra visitors that actually don't exist. Now I understand i can add filters and exclude certain pages for instance the login page, however, some users will visit the home page then click login. How can I exclude them just to show new visitors to the site rather than users that are just trying to login. Hope this makes sense Neil
Reporting & Analytics | | nezona0 -
Google Analytics subdomain ecommerce tracking flatlines :-(
Buongiorno from 19 degrees C wetherby UK 🙂 This website http://www.philpotts.co.uk/ contains a shop sub domian @ http://shop.philpotts.co.uk/. I configured the site Ga analytics code to include the subdomain (see below code). I had to do this as i was getting refferal data from the actuall subdomain. But after following the instructions on p117 of cutroni's ga book things have gone wrong, mainly now eCommerce data has dissapeared 😞 So my question is please: "Why has installing the GA code above caused eCommerce tracking to suddenly go dead?" Grazie tanto,
Reporting & Analytics | | Nightwing
David0 -
Google Analytics is not showing me eCommerce Section Details for My Online eCommerce Website!
From Last few days we are not able to find any details from eCommerce section at Good Analytics account for our eCommerce website i.e order detail, Price e.t.c. Please any one can suggest proper solution for this query?
Reporting & Analytics | | yuvastyle0 -
Setting up Google Analytics default URL
If someone has set: the default url in Google Analytics to a non-www address (http://mysite.com) then placed the UA tracking script from that GA account within the CMS framework of the website... ... and then set the permanent 301 redirect in the htaccess file to redirect to the www address (http://www.mysite.com). How less accurrate will my GA analytics measurements be considering the default url within GA is non-www and the permanent 301 redirect in htacess is to the www-address? Anyone know how reliable GA reports are until the default url in GA analytics is changed to match what is the redirected url in htaccess file? _Cindy
Reporting & Analytics | | CeCeBar0 -
Google Analytics session update question
Hello, With reference to seomoz blog post - http://www.seomoz.org/blog/panda-24-and-analytics-session-update-rolled-out-simultaneously#jtc151292 , i would like clarification about the following - User searches Google for "Product Name" and clicks on your AdWords advertisement. User leaves site and searches a few more times, click on competition and comparing prices and features. User ultimately decides to with your product, Googles "Your Brand + Product Name", clicks your organic listing, and buys the product. This whole process takes less than 30 minutes. "Your Brand + Product Name" will appear in your organic keyword report with 1 visit. My question is whether "Product Name" will also appear in organic keyword report with 1 visit if the visitor is not signed in. ( as search won't be encrypted ) Thanks
Reporting & Analytics | | seoug_20100