Do people abandon your website if you have Google Analytics?

[Clinton]

Most wouldn't, of course.

But does anyone have a link to any study or stats on the likelihood of visitors leaving your site (or not entering) if you have Google Analytics on your page?

I know that various ad blocking and privacy ads-ons strip the GA code from a page before loading the page in the browser. That's fine because though the visit is not counted in the GA stats at least the visitor has been able to read the content of the page.

However, there is increasing sensitivity about this issue especially among those vehemently opposed to being "victims" of remarketing. Or against the Gorg's massive data collection.

Related: Are there any add-ons / extensions etc., for any browser that can be configured to block the page loading if there's GA on the page?

 

[Cromulent]

I doubt many people would leave a page simply because you had Google Analytics (or any other analytics platform for that matter) simply because just about every serious website has some sort of analytics tracking software installed. Personally I use addons that block all Google Analytics and other analytics platforms but I still visit the web page.

Then again I block absolutely anything that isn't related to the website so things like Twitter buttons / Facebook buttons etc. I'm more worried about Facebook than Google to be honest.

I haven't heard of anyone seriously suggesting you shouldn't visit a website because it has Google Analytics mainly because it is so easy to block.

 

[garyk]

News to me, the average punter wouldn't know how to check anyway.

 

[HarveyIT]

Not wanting to appear rude, but you're asking what currently strikes me as a very bizarre question!
Given my current understanding of Analytics, I can't for a life of me, see why someone would abandon a site, just because it has Analytics tracking code on it (most people probably wouldn't know anyway).
Google's code has been around for donkeys years now, so it kind of strikes me as being a bit late to suddenly be worrying about it.
You might argue that they are two separate issues, but your ISP stores every website visit you make, so technically, your browsing is never 100% private anyway.
Also, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by " "victims" of remarketing " ?

 

[Xtm_Mike]

News to me also, the average visitor will never know, only more experienced web users would know by viewing the source code and those are the guys that would understand it's purpose anyway

 

[Clinton]

Not wanting to appear rude, but you're asking what currently strikes me as a very bizarre question!

Not wanting to appear rude myself, but did you actually read the OP (which explains the title of the thread)? I didn't ask one question there, I asked two. Which one is it that you consider bizarre - the question about whether anyone has any links to studies / stats ... or the question about whether any plugins exist that do the specific job described?

I doubt many people would leave a page simply because you had Google Analytics (or any other analytics platform for that matter) ....

I abolutely agree. And I've admitted this in the OP. However, I'm seeing anecdotal evidence of some resistance developing to sites that track via GA. Particularly GA. Whether the fears are grounded in fact or not, the case seems to be that a users are beginning to associate GA with the "creepy" ads that follow them everywhere. And the numbers of these users are rising. I think.

I can't share the anecdotal evidence I've gathered - it's from feedback forms on various sites and even the search terms people use within in-site searches on some sites I monitor.

Then again I block absolutely anything that isn't related to the website so things like Twitter buttons / Facebook buttons etc. I'm more worried about Facebook than Google to be honest.

I agree again. And I block FB too.

But I started this thread to find out if there's any research on this out there that anybody knows about ... or any browser add-ons to cater for visitors with this mindset

 

[Thomas Harvey]

However, there is increasing sensitivity about this issue especially among those vehemently opposed to being "victims" of remarketing.

I'm afraid that remarketing isn't actually through analytics. It's actually part of adwords: https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/2476688?hl=en-GB


As for the actual question, I have seen website owners go to different providers as they don't trust Google, but a user avoiding a site because they're using it, that's new.

 

[Sandira]

But I started this thread to find out if there's any research on this out there that anybody knows about ... or any browser add-ons to cater for visitors with this mindset

Any add-on in your browser is potential spy ware that could spy on you and transfer all your remarketing data to the marketing company and other DMP platforms who collect user's data behavior and then sell it to advertisers platform(DSP) and any other company(insiders ifno: even banks buy such a data)

Even if you blcok GA code or other tracking code on browsing web-site it doesn't mean that you ara not park of "victims" of remarketing".
Let me explain you why is that:
1. Browesing web-pages you have a way: your PC -> WIFI router- > network of ISP -> Global Internet -> Host of web-pages. Each step of this way coul inject ANY tracking code and collect you data-behvior:
your PC - you use a FREE browser, that could ahve add on and any tracking code injected into pages. How do you think web-developers who create FREE browser fo it? Do they work for free?
WIFI router - any malware code and frindly tracking code could be injecte in you router. Lets reed it article and you realize all vulnerabilties in routers
ISP - almost all ISP inject a code into the web-pages of customers. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 - COMCAST was mentioned in this acrticle, just remember this name
Host of web-pages - onwer of web site cretate content and service fo FREE and you suppoused they have no right to collect marketing data about users and us it? If you don't want it, lets use a web site with subcription such telegraph, ecconomist, Finanacial Time and etc. But they also watch you as well=)

Even if you don't want to be a part of "SKYNET" don't us internet at all) ohh, even if you stop using internet it doesn't help. Because, soon even you fridge would have a soft and report how many beers you drink)

Unfortunately, I have a few post and forum don't let me post a link that proof my point.

 

[Clinton]

As for the actual question, I have seen website owners go to different providers as they don't trust Google, but a user avoiding a site because they're using it, that's new.

New to me, too. Hence my interest in investigating this. I wasn't expecting this to emerge from my recent analysis of feedback and in-site search queries.

BTW, GA and GW accounts are often linked.

Even if you blcok GA code or other tracking code on browsing web-site it doesn't mean that you ara not park of "victims" of remarketing".

I do not dispute that tracking can (and is) added at various points. The issue here is whether GA is causing enough concern among a small section of visitors ... and is that small section growing.

 

[Sandira]

I do not dispute that tracking can (and is) added at various points. The issue here is whether GA is causing enough concern among a small section of visitors ... and is that small section growing.

Yes, I got your point. But it is useless to protect from GA and let another one collects you data. Where Google couldn't collect data via GA, these data could be bought from any sources.

Who is Gorg's?

 

[andygambles]

I'm afraid that remarketing isn't actually through analytics. It's actually part of adwords: https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/2476688?hl=en-GB


As for the actual question, I have seen website owners go to different providers as they don't trust Google, but a user avoiding a site because they're using it, that's new.

You can opt-in to using GA code for Re-marketing rather than having to implement additional Adwords tracking on your site. This has been possible for some time.

https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2611404?hl=en

 

[Sandira]

You can opt-in to using GA code for Re-marketing rather than having to implement additional Adwords tracking on your site. This has been possible for some time.

Even if you opt-in GA, Google don't stop collecting your data.

 

[Stuartb3502]

I can't help much with the OP questions. Not sure how big the anti-tracking sentiment has gotten. In general I think that boat sailed long ago when it became clear that most people would give up all privacy for a bit of "free". Maybe it will turn around?

I'm sure there's more that goes on under the covers, but worth mentioning that Google re-marketing is possibly the least pernicious because it can be turned off by the user without needing to block cookies?

Google - My Account - Personal info. and privacy - Ad settings.

Stuart

 

[Paul Pitchford]

BTW, GA and GW accounts are often linked.

Hi, I'm late to the thread but please correct me if I'm wrong but this is how I understand browser tracking work.

GA and GW accounts as you correctly state can be linked. My understanding though is that is for analytical reporting of adwords. You can set goal tracking for adwords to link with analytics for very fine detail reporting. GA reports give visitor demographics but no real information about the user.

I wasn't aware that the user per se was tracked via the websites GA code. The user by my understanding is tracked by a unique code issued by the browser. That's how when you've been searching for new watches, the adds on other sites can target you via that unique code to offer you more watch ad's.

Most modern day browsers will allow you to enable a setting called "Do Not Track" which will either stop or change your unique code (can't remember which way around) if you're conscious if being tracked.

Going back to your OP, I'm not aware of any studies regarding users theory on Google Analytics but I'd likely gamble that if there were such a study, 99% of users asked wouldn't be worried.

 

[qurttlfqrq]

People won't leave your site is the ads are correctly placed. There is no way of avoiding Google to tracking users. They can block ads but Google have others way to track users like ip address. And by Analytics we can see the location and keyword search by the user but no other information.