Curl messing with referer statistics

Discussion in 'Google Analytics' started by SpeakToMe, Oct 16, 2009.

  1. #1
    I am getting incorrect readings from Google Analytics in regards to Traffic sources. Specifically, Yahoo is sending me 50-100 clicks a day. Google Analytics shows the activity on the landing page but does not show the traffic as being referred by Yahoo.

    The landing page is Curled -- could that have messed up Google Analytics and its mechanism for capturing referrals?

    Is there an alternative to Google Analytics?
     
    SpeakToMe, Oct 16, 2009 IP
  2. seolion

    seolion Active Member

    Messages:
    1,495
    Likes Received:
    97
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    90
    #2
    Have you tested your implementation on the scenario mentioned?

    I couldn't really understand what curl can do with GA. Could you please explain a bit more?
     
    seolion, Oct 20, 2009 IP
  3. RaymondFung

    RaymondFung Peon

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    If you have the complete and correct code before the end of the body tag, the curl shouldn't interfer if you have the java script tidy.

    Is it a difference between yahoo figures and google figures, that can occur, or is it not showing the figures at all?
     
    RaymondFung, Oct 21, 2009 IP
  4. SpeakToMe

    SpeakToMe Peon

    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Its only on the referrer data, found in Traffic Sources -> Search Engines. Yahoo is showing up far less than they claim on their own site.

    I actually believe Yahoo is delivering the traffic. Google is not capturing their success for some reason. The google analytics is showing an increase in traffic to the yahoo target page, so their is that confirmation.

    If the problem were Curl or an incorrect javascript code, I don't believe the target page's traffic would show up. I am seeing that on Google Analytics, so there is something else going on.

    An email to Yahoo resulted in a long canned response that I should use Yahoo analytics.
     
    SpeakToMe, Oct 21, 2009 IP