Panda & Google Analytics

Not just dodgy link building... ANY link building.... and ANY site for that matter.

If Panda, Bamboo, Penguin, etc. has shown anything it's that Google's discrimination filters are in the rough. With billions of sites to index, a shotgun approach works in favor of Google.

Google has claimed that Analytics plays no part in their search algorithms. If you believe that, I some swamp land to sell you.

GA was great (at one time) because it was the only solution... but it's not the only choice any more: PIWIK is just like GA -- without the Big Brother element.

If you don't need ecommerce tracking, then WordPress Jetpack is also a good alternative to GA. It's a little leaner, provides less data, but it's respected even amongst flippers as solid site intelligence.

As for me, I've been able to avoid all of the recent Google updates/impacts.... simply because I removed GA from all my sites LAST YEAR, right after the Panda update.

I began using GA when it first came out YEARS ago... it was great because it was free and comprehensive... but NOW, in 2012, there are so many more BETTER, more robust, more PRIVATE alternatives. Of course, if you're using Adsense on any of your sites, that's just the same as Analytics. SO if you're using Adsense, you might as well use GA... you're giving them all your site data anyway.

But.... if you aren't using Adsense, then why would you want to give your data to Google to use against you? Without GA, the only element that G can measure is Bounce Rate, Exit Rates, and a rough estimate of Time on Site (all of which is detected by "back button" usage or a new search query... or a jump to another site which has GA installed.... Yes. GA tracks you that way, too... if you go to another site that has GA installed, you're being tracked.... )

Not to sound paranoid, but Panda, Bamboo, Penguin, and whatever BS/PR name Google comes up with next will continue to use your GA data against you.

Seriously, if you're still using GA in this day and age, you need your head examined. Google is NOT your friend any more... Has anyone actually read the disclaimer/terms-of-service that goes with GA? It's scarey. Even with the "do not share" option, Google still retains all rights to use your site analytical data in any way, shape, and form... and that includes algorithm usage.

Read their TOS. It's all in black and white. Want to increase the likelihood of getting hit by the next Google update? Then keep using GA. There are already TONS of complaints from legitimate sites/webmasters who have used non-aggressive, 100% white hat SEO techniques... and yet they got hit by Penguin and/or got themselves on Google's radar with a "warning" email.

Two out of three sites that were hit by Penguin were using GA.

Figure it out.

Frankly, with all the competition (and ignorance), it will work in your favor if (most) people keep using GA. Sites that are using GA are the first to fall. There will always be ardent defenders of a defunct product, so expect a lot of contrarian advice. Test it out. I did and I'm quite happy that I ditched GA.

The people in Google's PR department are smiling when you believe such rubbish.

Fortunately, Google is not technically omnipotent and it most certainly does *not* have the ability to track time on page data, # of Pageviews, time on site, etc, etc, etc... UNLESS you are using Google Analytics or Google Adsense. *Without one of those installed,*Google*can only deduce:

1) Entry Page (if referrer is G or has GA. If not, then G is blind)
2) Exit page *(if referrer is G or has GA)
3) Time on site (if referrer is G or has GA)
4) Bounce rate (if referrer is G or has GA)
5) Rough visitor count (by examining blog comment # change after subsequent spiderbot sessions)

That's all... *

Hardly like giving away ALL your sites's data to Google with full-blown analytics.*

Seriously, when you install GA, you say goodbye to your privacy and you put yourself on Google's radar... Even if your link building is pristine. They can and will use that data against you if it benefits them.*

No thank you, Google. My search engine doesn't need to know everything about my site.*

PIWIK stats are much, MUCH better. Same as GA without the Big Brother element. No privacy risk. No need to give Google all your data... And no risk of getting screwed by Google.