Where are direct visitors coming from? - tracking the full direct landing page

Discussion in 'Google Analytics' started by Eagle747, Jul 13, 2010.

  1. #1
    So I have been leaving my website address in blog comments and have been getting some hits. Problem is, they all show as direct in GA since people have to copy and past the link from the blog and into the address bar.

    I thought about adding a number after the site address so I could track it. Example on blog one I leave an address mysite.com?blog1 and on blog two I leave the address mysite.com?blogtwo

    but still google only seems to track them as direct.

    Any way to get more detail landing page info or the full address entered for direct sites?

    Most of my traffic is direct and I need to know where it is coming from

    Thanks.
     
    Eagle747, Jul 13, 2010 IP
  2. apfotodesign

    apfotodesign Peon

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    #2
    If they have to copy and past your url into the address bar then that means its not a link. Its just plain text.


    Have you tried making your website url a link in these comments?
     
    apfotodesign, Jul 13, 2010 IP
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  3. Eagle747

    Eagle747 Peon

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    #3
    many sites will not allow the posting of links. Has to just be an address that people copy and paste. I guess I could try inserting html, but that will probably not work on a lot of them.
     
    Eagle747, Jul 13, 2010 IP
  4. dryeraser

    dryeraser Peon

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    #4
    Ah... sounds like a lot of tedious work.
    But if you really wanted to track where things are coming from - I'd A/B test - create different pages (like mysite.com/example1, mysite.com/example2, mysite.com/example3) and track where you're posting those links (i.e. keep a spreadsheet). Also test out the best performing, converting landing pages.

    Good Luck! :)
     
    dryeraser, Jul 13, 2010 IP
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  5. Eagle747

    Eagle747 Peon

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    #5
    I agree I should do that, but due to the way my site is maintained right now I cannot. Need to direct everyone to the same page. Only option I have is adding the ?# to the end. Unfortunately google does not see those as different pages apparently.
     
    Eagle747, Jul 13, 2010 IP
  6. dryeraser

    dryeraser Peon

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    #6
    You can try to redirect ...like if someone clicks on the link they get redirected to your main landing page...
     
    dryeraser, Jul 13, 2010 IP
  7. Eagle747

    Eagle747 Peon

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    #7
    Unfortunately I cannot create additional pages at this time. It is either send them to my blog or my homepage
     
    Eagle747, Jul 14, 2010 IP