Google Analytics - Question about "Direct Traffic"

This is probably a basic question, but if I'm showing that 51% of my visitors are from "Direct Traffic", how exactly are these people getting to my site. I can't believe that 20,000 people per month are directly typing my URL into their browsers, my site is not that well know. I get about 40K-50K unique views per month. I'd really like to know where these 20,000 people are coming from.

 

That is a really bizarre problem. I will definitely be interested in hearing the solution to this.

Oh, and congratulations on your 1,000th post!

 

maybe you can make a feedback question on the front page of your blog asking where people came from and ask them to reply in the comments section.

 

Maybe you've got a lot of return visitors. If your reporting time is set to 1 month they could be classed as unique visitors, but just coming in monthly ? Just a possible explanation..

 

It's not a problem at all! It's actually a really good thing to have, plenty of return visitors or type-in traffic.

I'm guessing the site is a forum?

 

bounce rate is good, it proves how much your site is sticky amongst the readers.

 

Hi, Do you email your visitors with a news letter? if you do and your visitors open your email using outlook then GA will include those visits to the direct traffic.

 

Thanks for the responses. Actually it's a niche game site (not the one in my sig).

Up until a month ago, I had 89% of my traffic coming from organic google searches. Then, for some reason, I dropped down to 50% organic google searches...OVERNIGHT!. My keyword rankings didn't change, so I can't figure out why my SE traffic was almost cut in half. Now my direct traffic is at 50%, which I also can't figure out. I don't send out an email newsletter or anything like that. My bounce rate is around 29% give or take.

 

Have your visits dropped significantly?

 

Yes, by about 400 visitors per day. I can't find where the loss of traffic is coming from though. My search engine traffic is way down, but I have the same keyword positions. It's just weird.

 

That is odd... Sorry I don't bring much to the table here, but let us know if you figure out what caused this!

 

I Think there is Some robot hits, not always all the hits are real

 

Your far more experienced than myself. Maybe you can tell me what is wrong with my logic and I'll learn something. I'm all for that!

You said your visits are down.
and
Your SE visits are down.

Then you're direct traffic percentage would go up. it is just how the match works. You didn't get more direct, you got less SE.

You have a good bounce rate so you've got a lot of folks coming back so yea they probably are coming back. Repeat would still be direct, no?

I don't know how you are monitoring your keyword position but that might be faulty. It is unlikely that a massive amount of people changed their search behavior over night unless it was a very trendy subject like "super bowl."

So less people are finding your keywords. Either people stopped searching or you have been downgraded. Also, you're bound to have keywords that you don't realize you have. Another thing someone might have better keywords for the same subject.

You've got some dang nice stats there, wish I had your problems. LOL Perhaps in a few more years I will. I'm still down in the hundreds range .

As an afterthought if Google detected your use of an automated keyword ranking took like Webpostion Gold they might have busted you for it.