Google Analytics is tracking my affiliate (referral) orders as direct traffic??

Discussion in 'Google Analytics' started by glenws, Sep 1, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hi Guys

    We use an affiliate network to drive orders to our site and have google analytics and ecommerce tracking installed on our site.

    For some strange reason it tracks half of the orders we receive from affiliates correctly (as a referral) while the other half it tracks as a direct order??

    These orders come from the same URL's so we are really confused to why this is happening.

    Anyone else had any similar issues? or even know what could be causing it as we have run out of ideas here!! and our web company are also clueless!!
     
    glenws, Sep 1, 2010 IP
  2. unomateo

    unomateo Peon

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    #2
    Can you add "utm" tags to your affiliate links?

    utm_source=XXX
    utm_campaign=XXX
    utm_term=XXX

    I had the same problem with twitter links, since most people use 3rd party tools to tweet, GA shows twitter traffic as direct traffic. By setting the utm tags you can define where the referrals are coming from
     
    unomateo, Sep 1, 2010 IP