On Google Analytics under search queries, the most popular query is "(not set)", how do I find out what this is?
-
I am trying to discover what users are searching for and what keywords drive traffic to our site.
-
If you wish to see performance of KWs or pags you can see few tricks from today post in Moz:
https://moz.com/blog/single-best-seo-tip-for-improved-web-traffic
Yes - SearchConsole is heavy involved in process. -
Thanks so much!
-
Thank you
-
Not set
The ‘keyword’ (not set) simply identifies traffic that doesn’t arrive via a particular keyword and hence may not come via any search at all. This includes traffic coming from email, referral sites, or even things like Google Images. The latter might be confusing, but it helps to know that visitors coming from Google Images and Google Maps are classified under referrals with the source google.com, not organic search. Because keywords are automatically set for search traffic, the (not set) keyword will never appear in your organic Search reports, so it is likely something you won’t have to worry about. Don’t consider this one in light of keyword performance!
Source: http://www.gravitatedesign.com/blog/not-set-not-provided-mean-google-analytics/
Not set
The ‘keyword’ (not set) simply identifies traffic that doesn’t arrive via a particular keyword and hence may not come via any search at all. This includes traffic coming from email, referral sites, or even things like Google Images. The latter might be confusing, but it helps to know that visitors coming from Google Images and Google Maps are classified under referrals with the source google.com, not organic search. Because keywords are automatically set for search traffic, the (not set) keyword will never appear in your organic Search reports, so it is likely something you won’t have to worry about. Don’t consider this one in light of keyword performance!
Source: http://www.whereoware.com/blog/not-set-vs-not-provided/2013/05/
This is in Acquisition, Campaigns, Organic keywords. If you're talking Acquisition, SearchEngineOptimization, Queries - this works different, see text in below.
So - in general Analytics can't figure keyword there. But this is not how GA should work. You should tracks your KWs in Google SearchConsole. There is "SearchTraffic" -> "Search Analytics" with all impressions, clicks, ctr and positions. There you can make report for web, image or videos. You can split traffic by countries, pages, devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) and much more. Here is link:
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/search-analytics?hl=en
but there you must add your site and verify it. -
Hi,
If you see (not set), that means that the traffic coming to your site did not have keyword. It might be from an odd search engine that doesn’t pass that info, or perhaps you’ve manually tagged something as Organic and not supplied a keyword.
are you running any Google Adwords campaign or you are talking about organic search?
I'm sharing an article where you will find all the possible condition for appearing (not set) in analytics
http://www.lunametrics.com/blog/2015/06/25/11-places-google-analytics-not-set/
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2820717?hl=en
Hope this helps.
Thankls
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
-
How to find the best keywords for a new blog?
Hey everyone,
Keyword Research | | ayofztk
I have started a new blog and I am not finding the ways to find the best and rankable keywords for it.
Can anybody tell me how to find it?0 -
Does it make sense to pursue long-tail keywords with low search volume
Hi Moz community, I need your insight into what would ensure better rankings. Some of the pages that I am optimizing are dedicated to niche products targeting specific verticals and the main keywords have really low average search volume (below 50). I'll give you an example (these are not the exact keywords, just an example to illustrate my dilemma): if my long-tail keyword is "student information management software" with search volume of 20, when do I stand better chances to gain search visibility: by optimizing the page for this long-tail keyword and incorporating it in the title tag, or by pursuing more generic keywords with higher search volume: "student" and "information management software"? If I am targeting short-tail keywords, will the page also rank for long-tail searches that are a combination of these keywords? In other words, which scenario gives better chances to rank higher: 1) pursuing short-tail keywords with high search volume in the title-tag 2) pursuing fewer long-tail keywords with lower search volume that are a combination of those in scenario 1? Thanks in advance for your help!
Keyword Research | | Scratch_MM0 -
My start up brand name is 1# on Bing and Yahoo but not in the google top 50!
Hi all, I really hope you can help with this one! My brand/domain name "oboem" is nowhere to be seen on the Google rankings (france) but is number 1 on Bing and Yahoo. We are a young art crowdfunding start up and a full page article about us getting published in a magazine that will come out in december. "Oboem" is not a real word and no one else exept us should rank for it. 😞 I'm a bit out of ideas here. Thanks for the help
Keyword Research | | Oliver33
Oliver
oboem.com0 -
Exact match keyword phrases, are they still really important to search engines?
This has been bugging me for a while now and I'd like to know what you guys think. I often find what I can only described as 'oddities' in our rankings for certain search terms. For example, we might rank top 5 for 'A5 week view diary' and then second page for 'Week view diaries A5'. (Not an actual example, I just find stuff like this all the time across our various pages) They are basically the same query, so I don't understand why so often there is such a discrepancy. I can only put this down to exact match keyword phrase still being an important ranking factor. What do you guys think? Are exact match phrases still an important part of the SERP results? Thank you. Isaac.
Keyword Research | | isaac6630 -
New Limits to Adwords Search Volume Data..Oh my!
Has anyone experienced the recent limiting of data in the Google Adwords keyword tools -- Monthly average search volume? The average monthly search volume data used to be nuanced and precise. When searching for the average monthly volume for a keyword like "Chicago Heating and Colling Companies"now results in the vague 1K-10K . Does anyone know what it will take to get more specific ranges? I am new to AdWords and creating my first campaign. Thanks!
Keyword Research | | HectorCortes1 -
Question about Google Keyword "match type."
When using google keyword tool what type of match type do you find most helpful? broad, exact match, phrase? I know they all have their own benefits, but if you just want to test out which term gets more searches I'm not sure what the difference is between the exact match and phrase. Thanks!
Keyword Research | | NoahsDad0 -
Does a UK version of Hot Searches exist?
Hi, Is there a UK version of US Google Hot Searches? From my search, it seems like there used to be Hot Topic but it no longer exists. What can I use to find trending topics in the UK? If anyone has tools that work in RU, AU, DE or SW that would also be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Keyword Research | | theLotter0 -
Keywords besides what is in Google Analytics
Hello, For our site thewealthymind(dot)com what keywords do you think I should be targeting, I assume it is not enough just to get keywords from Google Analytics history. Thanks!
Keyword Research | | BobGW0