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Google Analytics changes how image search is reported

Last week Google appears to have made a significant change to how image search referrals are reported in Google Analytics.

The change means that the traffic is reported as Google Organic rather than as referral traffic like it used to be. This means that you are likely to see a chart like the one below.

Google image search traffic

It’s not yet clear whether this is a change in Google Analytics or whether the new Google Images design is sending traffic in a different way. If it’s the latter then other analytics systems might show the same change in figures.

This will certainly cause some increases in the perceived success of SEO campaigns around the UK over the next few weeks!

BY Patrick Altoft AT 1:49pm ON Thursday, 28 July 2011

Patrick Altoft is Director of Search at Branded3 and has worked in the SEO industry for over 10 years. With experience across some of the worlds largest brands as well as startup businesses Patrick is well known in the industry and speaks regularly at the major SEO conferences and events. Follow Patrick on Twitter or Google+

Comments

  • T

    Hmm, whilst I can see a drop in referrals from Google’s image search, I don’t see a corresponding increase in organic traffic – don’t know why :(

  • Pingback: Google Image Search traffic is ruining my SEO reports - Analytics, Google - State of Search

  • http://www.woodworkers-online.com Mark Hunt

    About time, I think this will make the analytics data a bit clearer.

  • http://www.mysocialagency.com My Social Agency

    Yes this confused the life out of me for a while. We can see where the traffic is going a little clearer now though.

  • http://www.otreva.com Scranton Web Design

    I hadn’t noticed this until reading the above but if I look back, I noticed the same thing. I agree with the above comments, it should have been organic traffic the whole time.

  • http://www.basecandy.com/ Match

    I was wondering what was going on, thanks for the information. Google is always experimenting with different ideas. Some good some bad.

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