GA - how returning visitors are counted ?
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If a visitor comes to my site from 3 different traffic sources within a session, does GA report shows 1 visit and 2 returning visitors ?
Previously ( before Google made changes in session ) it used to show 1 visit and zero returning visitors. right ?
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A session only ends now if:
-an ip goes 30 minutes without a new pageview
-at the end of the day
-when they close their browser (I have heard if you reopen it quickly it might still count as the same session)
-and since Aug 11, When any traffic source value for the user changes. Traffic source information includes:utm_source, utm_medium, utm_term, utm_content, utm_id, utm_campaign, and gclid. This includes all Google tracking URLs.
It is my understanding that as long as one of these rules is not violated, you will not start a new session. In other words if a person goes to your site, leaves and comes back within 30 minutes it is still the same session. I believe they do this to help account for people "shopping around" on several sites. That is of course if they don't come via a URL with the above parameters...
Someone correct me if i'm wrong.
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