Google Analytics Is Having Problems: Auto-Tagging Issues
Ian Lurie Jan 16 2008
If you’re using Google Analytics, Google Adwords and ‘auto-tagging’, you may have noticed that your numbers suddenly dropped:
It’s not you. We’ve researched this and contacted Google. Here’s what we found out:
- Apparently, this is only occurring for folks using auto-tagging. If you’re using UTM codes, you’re fine.
- Google is aware of the problem and is working on it.
- The folks at Google say no data’s been lost.
- It appears, at least for us, that clicks and sales from Adwords were recorded as ‘direct’ instead. So the revenue may still be in your reports, just mis-allocated.
So, if you’re seeing data weirdness, and you’re using auto-tagging, double-check your implementation. But realize that it may have been this bug.
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Ian Lurie
CEO
Ian Lurie is CEO and founder of Portent Inc. He's recorded training for Lynda.com, writes regularly for the Portent Blog and has been published on AllThingsD, Forbes.com and TechCrunch. Ian speaks at conferences around the world, including SearchLove, MozCon, SIC and ad:Tech. Follow him on Twitter at portentint. He also just published a book about strategy for services businesses: One Trick Ponies Get Shot, available on Kindle. Read More