How to Get Not Provided Keywords in Google Analytics
In the world of digital marketing, understanding the keywords that drive traffic to your website is crucial for optimizing your SEO strategy. However, with the increasing use of secure search by Google, many of these keywords are now labeled as “not provided” in Google Analytics. This can be frustrating for marketers who rely on this data to make informed decisions. But fear not, as there are several methods to uncover these hidden keywords and gain valuable insights into your website’s performance. In this article, we will explore various techniques to help you retrieve not provided keywords in Google Analytics.
1. Utilize Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a powerful tool that provides valuable data about your website’s search performance. By analyzing the search queries report, you can uncover not provided keywords that are driving traffic to your site. To access this information, follow these steps:
1. Log in to your Google Search Console account.
2. Navigate to the “Performance” section.
3. Under “Search queries,” you will find a list of keywords that are driving traffic to your website, including those labeled as “not provided.”
4. Use the available filters to refine your search and gain deeper insights.
2. Implement UTM Parameters
UTM parameters are tags that you can add to your URLs to track specific campaigns and channels. By using UTM parameters, you can identify the source of traffic and the corresponding keywords, even if they are labeled as “not provided” in Google Analytics. Here’s how to implement UTM parameters:
1. Create a custom URL with UTM parameters for each of your marketing campaigns.
2. Use tools like Google URL Builder to generate these URLs with the appropriate parameters.
3. Share these URLs with your marketing team and ensure they are used consistently across all campaigns.
4. In Google Analytics, you will be able to track the performance of each campaign and identify the keywords that are driving traffic.
3. Analyze Referral Traffic
Referral traffic can be a valuable source of not provided keywords. By analyzing the referring domains and URLs, you can gain insights into the keywords that are driving traffic to your website. Here’s how to do it:
1. In Google Analytics, navigate to the “Acquisition” section.
2. Click on “Referrals” to view the list of referring domains.
3. Analyze the referring URLs to identify the keywords that are driving traffic from other websites.
4. Use Third-Party Tools
Several third-party tools can help you uncover not provided keywords in Google Analytics. These tools use advanced algorithms and data sources to estimate the keywords that are driving traffic to your website. Some popular options include:
1. SEMrush: Offers keyword research, competitor analysis, and not provided keyword tracking.
2. Ahrefs: Provides keyword research, backlink analysis, and not provided keyword tracking.
3. Serpstat: Offers keyword research, competitor analysis, and not provided keyword tracking.
By utilizing these tools, you can gain a better understanding of your website’s search performance and make data-driven decisions to improve your SEO strategy.
Conclusion
While the “not provided” keyword issue can be challenging, there are several methods to retrieve this valuable data and gain insights into your website’s search performance. By leveraging Google Search Console, UTM parameters, referral traffic analysis, and third-party tools, you can uncover not provided keywords and make informed decisions to optimize your digital marketing efforts. Remember, the key is to be proactive and continuously monitor your website’s performance to stay ahead of the competition.
