question about google analytics

Discussion in 'Google' started by fastmanfunnay, Nov 27, 2007.

  1. #1
    i was looking at some referrer stats and saw something very interesting

    there are a hand full of sites on there that apparently send traffic over to my site (it was all 1 visitor from each source in this circumstance)

    but when i would view their site, i would see NO link or reference to my site at all. it's not like they had links and deleted it either, because one was my main competitor and i know he would never put a link to my site on his main page.

    any ideas why im getting this?
     
    fastmanfunnay, Nov 27, 2007 IP
  2. astup1didiot

    astup1didiot Notable Member

    Messages:
    5,926
    Likes Received:
    270
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    280
    #2
    I personally believe this is caused by site scrapers or just improper reporting from Google Analytics. Do you type your website directly or use bookmarks to return to your website when viewing your competitors?
     
    astup1didiot, Nov 27, 2007 IP
  3. mit

    mit Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,278
    Likes Received:
    18
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #3
    Sometimes, it happens not even by Google Analytics but also from other Stats counters like Awstats...A referrer site is there in the stats, but if we actually like to find out the link over their on that website, we can't find it.
     
    mit, Nov 27, 2007 IP
  4. flippers.be

    flippers.be Peon

    Messages:
    432
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    someone may have your site in their bookmarks or type in the url manually..

    they have another site open, then select your site in their bookmarks..

    analytics on your site will see the previous site they were looking at was that other site and therefor assumes it has a link to your site..
     
    flippers.be, Nov 28, 2007 IP
  5. rehash

    rehash Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    30
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    150
    #5
    fake referrer spam?
     
    rehash, Nov 28, 2007 IP
  6. kodut

    kodut Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,738
    Likes Received:
    76
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #6
    even i used to get such referrals and when i visited them i couldn't find any link over there
    so i would also like to have a answer at that
     
    kodut, Nov 28, 2007 IP
  7. Abhik

    Abhik ..:: The ONE ::..

    Messages:
    11,337
    Likes Received:
    606
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    410
    Digital Goods:
    2
    #7
    yeah.. sometime I got this in statcounter also..
    and that keeps me wondering.
     
    Abhik, Nov 28, 2007 IP
  8. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

    Messages:
    28,810
    Likes Received:
    4,535
    Best Answers:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    665
    #8
    It's called referral spam and your site is targetted because you have, or have had public traffic stats. That or they are pinging anyone and everyone. I've had some really funny sites doing it but in general they're porn sites. The purpose is to have your site linking back to them - either because your stats are open and every hit is crawled by Googlebot et al or because you list the "top 10 referrers" on your homepage.

    The coding involved is very simple and it can be set up in minutes using Curl.

    If you are having to report the stats to anyone else then just cull the obvious misfits. Don't waste your time trying to block them.

    Here's an ancient blog post of mine: http://www.itamer.com/referral-spam/55
     
    sarahk, Dec 3, 2007 IP