Does Google Analytics use your data against you?

[DallasBonsai]

I couldn't find this question answered anywhere in Q&A, so I apologize if it's a duplicate of another post.

I heard, about a year ago on either Web Pro World, or Warrior Forum that Google uses your visitor data in your Google Analytic account to rank your site. Someone said that when they took out the Google code, their site went from the third to the first page within 48 hours. That was then verified over the next couple of weeks by others.

Their thought was that regardless of the optimized page and incoming link, if the site wasn't getting visitors, then it would be penalized. Since Google has the data, they would be able to use it.

I then started using another, paid, solution - getclicky.com. While I like clicky, there is some info Google has that clicky doesn't, everyone integrates with Google analytics - like SEOmoz, and I'm paying a monthly fee.

Now that I'm a part of a community of experts, what do you think? Have you noticed Google ranking you based on your analytics data? Has anyone experienced this, or heard about it before? Because I'd like to go back to using Google analytics.

Thanks!

[GeorgeDavis]

I can't imagine this being the case.  It would create an unfair playing field since not everyone uses google analytics.  Google already has plenty of metrics available for ranking and this doesn't seem like a logical one to use.  If google ranked a site higher it would get more clicks and therefore rank higher?

I do think that Google uses the metrics already available to it such as the Organic CTR and Bounce Rate - most industry experts believe they are very influential metrics.  You can see the data here.

[dignan99]

This could be worth testing out, but without an example/proof I find it hard to believe that a place with no Google code will end up ranking higher than with.