Reason Not to Use Google Analytics
If you’re using any automated process for generating lots of low-value inbound links (such as article spinning), Google doesn’t have a way of distinguishing them from valuable links.
The key difference is between link structure and link popularity.
If a linking page has links pointing to it from other pages, it will seem as relevant as other similar pages with similar inbound link structures.
To tell whether those links are useful, valid, or meaningful in any way, it would really help Google to know how often they’re clicked.
A page that has lots of inbound links – that are never followed – is clearly not as hot (interesting, useful, relevant, valid) as one that has links that ARE clicked.
A Better Indicator of Link Value?
You could even go as far as to say that clicks (link popularity) are a BETTER indicator than inert link structure!
Of course, Google records all clicks from its own search results. But how can it tell when links are followed between sites it doesn’t control? The only way I can think of is if the target site (the one being linked to) uses Google Analytics.
If you have GA on your site, and you’re building a lot of low-value links (which are not likely to be used, just to increase your link structure) surely you’re giving Google all the information it needs to spot your strategy. It could then mark down not only the value of your inbound links, but even the trustworthiness of the sites that link to you.
However, if your links are all natural (like WDFS), generating a natural-looking pattern of clicks and visits, letting Google see this could be beneficial.
Do You Want to Give Google Your Data?
Take into account the following:
- Google is a commercial enterprise. It exists only to make profits for its shareholders.
- Google search is free, paid for by advertising. GMail is free for most people, paid for by advertising. YouTube, Docs, Calendar, Maps etc.. All the effort.
- Google puts into developing these great applications should generate profits at some point.
- Analytics is free, and has recently had a major update. If it didn’t seriously benefit the corporation in some way, it would not receive investment. How does/might Google see a return on this investment?
Further Reading
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Well… Then how many reasons for not using Google Search, Facebook, Bing, whatever…? Even this cool web site is trying to sell me something from its ads!!!!!!
Panic!!! We’re f@cked up!!! DOOOOOMED!!!
Just kidding, of course.
Trust no one Abx78!
What I want to know is are any of these analytics programmes are still legal in the UK? The ICOs office is not particularly helpful.
There again it is unclear whether a basic WordPress site is still legal. The new Privacy Act is draconian.
Of course it’s not only analytics that google can use to get intelligence on your website – chrome, google toolbar…
And of course, while you can decide not to use google analytics on your own site, you don’t have any control over the sites that link to you…
Good points Doug. I don’t think Google Analytics tracks outbound links from any sites though, so it’s only the JS code on your own site that will help Google count all the traffic you get.
Wow , this is an excellent idea. My company actually uses omniture for major projects , but I personally use Gooogle Analytics.
I am thinking if there is any other way Google can obtain the same data. Also it will be worth investing some time to find out how many sites uses GA versus its compettor.
Of course it’s not just the analytics tracking code on your own website that google will use to keep an eye on your inbound link popularity.
Obviously you can’t do much about other site owners running google analytics on the sites that link to you, and google toolbar, chrome, android… how many other ways are there for google to collect this intelligence.
GA is used on 52% of top 1 million website. This is becoming a real issue!!!!
http://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/traffic_analysis/all
The open source PIWIK Is great and is ranked #13 already (first self hosted tool in the list). it’s the best alternative to GA for sure, I use it on all my sites
Piwik is cool! I used it once and pretty amazing!
jesus, that means we leave a lot of traces out there …for google to see… gosh!
All you GA fans out there who manage a company website, let me ask you these simple questions:
Would you sell all you CRM/Customer DB information from this day forth to an advertising agency who has ALL of your competitors as clients and who offer these same competitors the opportunity to target their ads towards people based on peoples behavior on other websites? Would you sell ALL that information from now and going forward for the price of a decent enterprise analytics tool?
And for the readers who think WTF is he on about.
Google provides you with behavioral targeting through display and paid search ads. If you doubt me Google it. If you still can find it, here is a few links:
http://searchengineland.com/google-rolls-out-behavioral-targeting-to-all-adwords-advertisers-82976
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2082391/Interest-Category-Targeting-in-Google-AdWords
What this means, is that if you sell Hifi equipment, you can target for ads towards people who are interested in Hifi equipment.
Google knows who is interested in Hifi equipment because you have been so kind (read extremely idiotic) as to install a tool (GA) on your site that sends every single bit of information about your clients and prospects’ behavior to their data base. And you willing do that, for a free mediocre analytics tool.
So, lets sum up. Lets play that I am a sales agent for an advertising company and you are in charge of sales for your company. I call you and ask:
“Hi there, I am from this global advertising agency Google. I have all your competitors as customers and they would pay me a fair amount of money if I could help them grab some of your clients and potential clients. All they really need is your customer and lead contact information and what products they are interested in. You know, all your CRM data. OH! if you could throw in how much revenue each client is generating, that would be really sweet of you. You know, it would help us a whole lot in asserting who exactly would benefit your competitors most to snatch from you. In return we will provide you with this (wave hand in a jedilike fashion) magic tool for free. If you use it right, you might just better at getting more customers and retaining the ones you already have. You will save tens of thousands of dollars every month and it will only cost you all your customer information. Oh and by the way, we designed it so it automatically send us everything your clients and leads do every single day. In fact we just updated it, so it also allows us to use the data in real time. You know so we can grab your leads the minute they have left your site….clever huh?”
Would you REALLY in your right mind say: “Sounds like a fair deal. Consider it done!”
Or would you think, the easiest and cheapest way to retain customers and work your leads would be to NOT install Google analytics?