Google Analytics has become an essential tool for businesses to understand the performance of their website. This is because Google Analytics generates various reports of your web pages. If you have a closer look at these reports, you will find out what the main sources of traffic are. You will also understand why they are attracting traffic.
So, what is not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default? If you want the answer to this question, then start reading. In this article, you will learn what is not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default and what is.
What Is A Source In Google Analytics?
As the name suggests, a source in Google Analytics refers to the various origin points of traffic for your website. These refer to the primary places from where all the traffic to your websites is directed. This can be directly from websites, or it can be from any referring link as well.
However, what is not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default? Here, the medium is not considered as a source. This is because mediums refer to the broader categorization of sources, not the exact source (like a link). Sources and mediums generating traffic for your website are lumped together as the Source/Medium dimension in Google Analytics reports.
What Is Not Considered A “Source” In Google Analytics By Default?
To learn what is not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default, you must understand what mediums are. Mediums refer to the various ways that you generate traffic. The various mediums in play in Google Analytics are:
1. Emails
Email is not considered a “Source” in Google Analytics. This is because it is simply a medium for customers to get to know your website. You can say that mediums refer to the various tools and processes that lead customers to your website. Email is not considered a source since it is a platform that you use to promote your website.
2. Organic Search Results
When customers type what they are looking for in Google search, they use certain keywords that describe what they want. When Google comes up with a results page, the Google search engine becomes a source.
However, the process of using keywords organically to find your website is referred to as a medium. Therefore, mediums are the processes that are used to lead the users to your website.
3. CPC Paid Searches
CPC is a feature of Google Ads where website owners get paid for clicks on ads shown on their web pages. This is because the businesses are paying Google to run these Cost-per-click ads.
Here, websites can present a gateway to their own web pages by using Google CPC Ads. Therefore, these CPC ads can be considered as traffic sources. Although, they are still referred to as mediums since it’s a technique/tool to generate traffic.
4. Web Referrals
Web referrals, in a broad sense, simply refer to other websites where a link to your website is provided. Meanwhile, websites where blogs will provide backlinks to other websites, referred to as web referrals. Here, the website that hosts these referrals can be the source but not the link itself.
Types Of Sources In Google Analytics
Types of sources you must know to understand what will not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default are:
1. Google Search Engine
The Google search engine is by far the most used search engine in the world, overtaking the likes of Bing. Therefore, since Google provides links to websites and webpages on its search results, the platform itself will refer to as a traffic source.
2. Referring Websites
Every website that has backlinks pointing toward your website is a referring website. However, it also refers to the mediums since they fall under the general categorization as traffic sources as well.
Here, social media posts with links to your business website will refer as sources in Google Analytics. This is because social media posts will directly refer to your post. It will get count a source as long as the posts will be from your own business page or by others.
Newsletters are will considered as sources in Google Analytics. Here, the emails that the users receive will referred to the mediums, with the newsletters being the sources of traffic.
4. Direct Search By URL
However, if someone directly enters your website by typing the link, then it be considered a source of traffic. Google Analytics also records these actions and typically refers to returning users who have subscribed to your website.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Some of the most relevant questions is what will not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default are:
When it comes to default sources in Google Analytics, they will grouped in various channels. These channels simply categorize the sources of your website traffic. Some of the default channels in Google Analytics are:
1. Facebook.
2. Instagram.
3. Twitter.
4. Pinterest.
5. YouTube.
6. LinkedIn.
According to Google Analytics, some of the main elements will not considered default mediums in Google Analytics are:
1. Google Search Engine.
2. Social Media Platforms.
3. Domains.
No, emails will not considered sources in Google Analytics. Instead, be considered as medium, which is how sources are then placed in proper categorizes. This also includes organic search results and web referrals.
Ans – The four main components of Google Analytics are:
1. Collection: This refers to the data collection feature of Google Analytics.
2. Configuring: Here, Google Analytics configures its various parameters.
3. Processing: In this step, Google Analytics processes all the data collected as per the configurations set.
4. Reporting: Once the data had processed, Google Analytics will generate the report for you to see.
Conclusion
Well, now do you understand what will not considered a “source” in Google Analytics by default? Sources refer to the direct sources of traffic. You click on them, and you will be automatically will redirect to your website.
It’s important to understand which sources of traffic are the most “trafficable” for your website. If you know what these sources are, you can set up campaigns and content strategies around them to capitalize on them.
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