How to Filter Spam Traffic From Google Analytics [Infographic]

As we all know, Google Analytics is the most powerful web analytics service on the Internet. It’s a powerful tool which provides in-depth insights of the website traffic. As it helps to make decisions based on the data it is easier to measure the performance of the marketing goals.

There are many other web analytics tools such as Kissmetrics, Woopra, Piwik, Clicky, and Audience Data & Content Analytics for Digital Media, etc.

Despite the good number of competitors, Google Analytics still remains unbeaten on the top owing to its built- in filter functionality. This helps against spam, bots, and other junk traffic that damage the integrity of the data.

But, are we following the right practices to install filters on our websites? Of course, not. Most websites don’t use filters or they use them but in the wrong way.

Here’s an infographic illustrating the right practices to filter spam from Google Analytics.

Take a quick look!

filter spam from google analytics

How to Optimize Your AdWords Campaign Performance

Small businesses or medium scale businesses, AdWords can help you a lot in the way of generating leads for your business. Google has made it so easy that it takes only a few minutes to get started with AdWords.

On the other hand, it requires a great effort to manage business through it. Some people manage their own AdWord campaign while others outsource to companies who can take care of their business campaign.

AdWords can be a boon to your business if used correctly. Wondering whether you are using it correctly or not? Don’t worry! We have it covered for you. If you can take care of the following steps, then it’s hassle free to manage your AdWords campaign performance.

1. Keyword Research

Keywords are the building blocks of your campaign. The keywords you choose have a great impact on your AdWords campaign performance.

As an initial step, make a list of suitable keywords that you think is suitable for your business industry. If you are done with that, you can make use of Google’s free tool named AdWords Keyword Planner. Submit the keywords that you have in hand into it and it will generate a detailed list of similar keywords.

Along with that, AdWords Keyword Planner will give a detailed information on how often those keywords are searched on the internet and also number of competitors who are targeting on the specific keywords.

Carefully, select which all are relevant keywords and discard the irrelevant ones. Periodically, analyze which keywords are giving high generated conversions and which are not.

You can set a filter based on keyword conversion rate and can find out the well performing ones. Based on that, you can increase bids for those keywords and decrease bids for non performing keywords.

2. Assign similar keywords for campaigns and ads

Rather than dumping all your keywords list into AdWords bucket, assign similar keywords for campaigns and ads. For example, healthcare management, healthcare service and healthcare clinics should fall under same ad group and healthcare software should be under another ad group. Like this, if you segment your keywords wisely you will be easily able to analyze the data later.

3. Analyze Search Term Report for New Keywords and Negative Keywords

When you are doing a campaign, it’s crucial to regularly check search term report for newly searched keyword and negative keywords.

  • How to find out Negative Keywords?

If you are opting for Broad match or Phrase match targeting, there are chances that your ad might trigger queries that are irrelevant for you. If you don’t wish to show ads for such queries, you can mark it as negative keyword. Same applies for your campaigns also.

Finding out and filtering negative keywords will make sure that your ads are seen by right people only and will trigger subsequent queries that are relevant for your business.

  • How to find out new Keywords?

Search Term Report will also allow you to find out new search terms which have generated conversions. You can add these as new keywords into your campaign/ads. As said before, analyzing the search term report, adding new keyword and eliminating negative keywords, you can control your ad efficiently and generate more conversions.

4. Include ad text related to keywords in an ad group

Don’t forget to add at least a text exactly related to the topic of the ad group. This will in turn help your ad to achieve quality score and also allows customers to easily land into your ad.

5. Make Use of Ad Extensions

Navigating people who click on your campaign/ads to another pages that similar topics can help you to achieve better Quality Score. Make sure that you add links of only similar topic pages; otherwise, visitors will lose interest in the topic and may exit the page.

6. Exact Match Targeting or Broad Match Targeting?

For small businesses which are new to AdWords, Exact Match Targeting is a good choice as it will show ads only when someone searches with exact phrase/keyword that you have included in your campaign. It will give full control over their ads/campaign and prevent them to waste money on irrelevant keywords.

Once you get an idea of how your keywords are performing, you can try your hands on Broad Match Targeting which can be of more useful and also can optimize your campaign performance.

7. Make Bid Adjustments on different device platforms

One of the effective ways to optimize AdWords campaign is by measuring its performance on three device platforms such as computer, tablets and mobile. You can make bid adjustments based on the data received.

Periodically, check the performance of your AdWords campaigns and ad groups on these three device platforms.

For example, if you spend more money on computer bids without analyzing the trend but you get more conversions from mobile bids, you need to decrease the computer bids.

Always keep on check that your budget doesn’t runs out on device platforms. If managed correctly, these device platforms can make a huge difference in optimizing campaign performance.

8. Use Geographic Location Targeting

Setting geographic target in AdWords is an excellent way if you are planning to provide services inside a particular geographic location. Google allows its user to set location targets for each ad/campaign where you can adjust your bids for various locations.

Make sure to increase bids on location that works perfectly for you and get conversions. On the other hand, decrease the bids on locations that don’t give you conversions.

9. Set timings with Ad Schedule Bid Adjustments

Like geographic location targeting, Google also allows you to set ad schedule for each of your campaign. You can set bid adjustments for various hours of the day/days of a week which works well for you.

While optimizing the campaign, make sure to increase bids on hours and days that works well for you and decrease bids for areas where you spend money but doesn’t get conversions.

10. Remove or pause non-performing factors

Last but not least, if you want a sudden boost in your campaign performance, you need to remove everything which is not working. To achieve this, you need to check your account features one by one and remove/pause things that are not working for you. Also check on campaigns that you have invested large amount of money but have poor performance; then, pause on that campaign.

Confused whether AdWords will work or not for you?

Of course! It will work for you, regardless of the size of your business or location. If you can always keep an eye on the AdWords tool and periodically analyze it thoroughly keeping in mind of the above ten points, you can definitely succeed in this area.

If you have any questions, please revert to us.

How to Deal with Ranking Fluctuations in Google [Infographic]

Nowadays website owners are in frenzy regarding the ranking fluctuation that has happened in Google search results. People are extensively talking about it on the internet. One day a website will be on the first page of Google search list and on the other day it will be on the fourth page.

Ranking fluctuations have always been common in Google search results due to the various algorithms they try frequently. However, something this strange and irregular is a first. This frequent fluctuations can be frustrating for those who are working hard to do better in Google rankings.

Here is an infographic that gives an exact idea about whats going on and how to deal with it.

How-to-Deal-with-Ranking-Fluctuations-in-Google-infographic

 

Google Expands AMP Across Search Results

It’s good news to mobile users that Google AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) for faster mobile search results is now being expanded across search results. In fact, Google is working on it and the full benefit of AMP will be available to the users in the near future.

Google has revealed that some high profile companies such as eBay and Reddit are adopting AMP owing to its speed and performance.

Source

Penguin 4.0 will be launched soon, says Google

Google revealed that the latest update to Penguin 4.0 will be launched as soon as its ready.  It’s been a year and 10 months, since Google launched Penguin 3.0 in October 2014.

Google Mueller of Google said “”we are working on an announcement for that there, so like when it’s ready we will let you know.” He made such an announcement at the 44:30 mark into yesterday’s hangout on YouTube Live.

This clearly indicates that Google is already working with press to ensure users get the Penguin announcement precisely. When enquired whether the Penguin announcement will come before or after it goes live, John added “I don’t know about before but we will try to get the timing so that we don’t confuse everyone.”

So, it’s obvious that Google is serious about Penguin release and hopefully they will come with a better version soon.

Source(s)

Google Launched “Search Live Coverage Carousel” Powered by AMP and Atom!

Google said “content that makes sense for this live coverage carousel includes “live sports, elections, and breaking news” and “can include live blogs, full length articles, videos and more.”

You should use AMP HTML to take part in this. Here are the more detailed requirements:

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) should be used while publishing content: Making use of AMP will allow your pages to be get loaded immediately to user’s devices.

Structured data markup should be used in AMP: It allows the preview for your live coverage article on the search page and also helps Google to understand the context around a piece of content.

Content should be pushed to Google with the use of Atom XML feed: You must use HTTP POST request in an Atom XML feed containing AMP page content immediately after it gets published on the web when you send content to Google.

This is a PILOT to select publishers and will allow Google to “surface content more quickly as compared to now”.

Source(s)

Google’s Browser to Block Flash Content

Google announced that its chrome browser is going to block the flash seen in the background of web pages in September.

Flash can slow down your web browsing experience, which is why Google has made this decision.

“HTML5 is much lighter and faster, and publishers are switching over to speed up page loading and save you more battery life. You’ll see an improvement in responsiveness and efficiency for many sites” , says Google.

Apart from this, Google also announced that it will make HTML5 as the default standard for videos and games on Chrome 55.

This change will be effective from the month of December.

Source(S)

Google’s Hasten Mobile Pages to Make Their Way to Search Results

Google announced their plans yesterday of expanding AMP, accelerated mobile pages, from the top news section.

They said first, they are launching it in a preview form at https://g.co/ampdemo – note, it works only on mobile.

“There is NO ranking boost for AMP specifically, at least now. Of course, mobile friendly and speed are ranking signals and AMP is mobile friendly and fast. But AMP vs mobile friendly is not any better for rankings – thank goodness”, Google said

“To clarify, this is not a ranking change for sites. As a result of the growth of AMP beyond publishers, we wanted to make it easier for people to access this faster experience. The preview shows an experience where web results that that have AMP versions are labeled with The AMP Logo. When you tap on these results, you will be directed to the corresponding AMP page within the AMP viewer.”, Google wrote.

Accelerated mobile pages came to each and every Google’s platforms which includes its news app also for Apple and Android devices.

Source(s)

Google Dropping Custom Date Range Search Filter for Mobile Users

Google is removing another search option filter for mobile users.

Mobile users will not be able to use the custom date range search filter.

After much thought and consideration, Google has decided to retire the Search Custom Date Range Tool on mobile. Today we are starting to gradually unlaunch this feature for all users, as we believe we can create a better experience by focusing on more highly-utilized search features that work seamlessly across both mobile and desktop. Please note that this will still be available on desktop, and all other date restriction tools [e.g., “Past hour,” “Past 24 hours,” “Past week,” “Past month,” “Past year”] will remain on mobile.”, AJ from Google wrote.

Read Also: Google’s Newest Mobile Friendly Update- Winners and Losers

This is the custom search date range filter found under the “Search Tools” option by clicking on “Any Time” and then selecting “Custom Range.”

They can access this feature only in the desktop version of Google.

Source(s)

Google Launched Springboard- Search Engine for Business Users

Recently, Google introduced search engine “Springboard”, an app search tool for enterprise users.

This tool is designed to “put the right information at your fingertips.”

In addition to search, Springboard will also act as an assistant of sorts by “proactively providing useful and actionable information and recommendations.”

Read Also: Google Tests New Look for “People Also Search For”

Springboard ‘searches easily and quickly across all of your information in Google Apps including Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Drive, Contacts and more”, says the company.

Along with this, Google also announced that they are upgrading its sites also.

It is “one of the most popular products among our enterprise customers”, to make it easier for professionals to share information with work colleagues”, said Prabhakar Raghavan, Vice President of Engineering at Google.

These new sites can build great functional pages aggregate and distribute content across the enterprise.

Source(s)