Google recently switched to all secure searches, which means we will no longer know what words people are typing into Google to find our websites or blogs. For a while now, My Local Business Online’s (not provided) keyword data has been creeping up and was well into the 60% of searches.
Yes, it’s a pain.
I’m not a huge data follower, but I do check analytics. I want to know how people are finding me, where they’re landing and if that page met their needs. The info will no longer be available.
Rather than moan, I thought I’d review some of my favourite weird keywords that people have typed into Google’s search box to land here on the blog. These are actual search terms…
Queue Top of the Pops count down music (am I showing my age there?)
10 Fav Google Searches I Won’t See With “Not Provided”
Counting down from 10…
What’s my private address?
Well I know a lot of things, your private address is not one of them!
At 9 My website has been down since Friday
Sorry to hear that…
In at 8 l’m sorry now the service is not available
I may be able to help if I knew what service… possibly?
And 7 Yell websites crap
*cough* I never said that…
At 6 Would you give up sex for social networking?
No…
We’re at the top 5! Number 5 Where to find my pins
Connected to your feet? (Pins = legs get it? no…) Or in a pin box, my Aunt had one of those.
In at 4 Time spent watching adverts on catch up
None, I fast-forward them
At 3 Someone hijacked me
I’d call the police rather than search Google…
Nearly there at 2 I can see you now, giving
STALKER! That’s just creepy. Giving what exactly?
And straight in at number 1 for the weirdest keyword…
Jans urine
I feel violated – honestly, this is not that type of blog…
There are ways you can gain some understanding of how people are landing on your site from Google searches now everything will be (not provided). Here’s some helpful links:
When Keyword (not provided) is 100 Percent of Organic Referrals, What Should Marketers Do? – Whiteboard Tuesday
Google ‘(Not Provided)’ Keywords: 10 Ways to Get Organic Search Data
Your turn…
What’s the wierdest search term you have seen people using to find your blog? Will “not provided” change how you work online? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.
Keyword Not Provided: I Won't Know You're Searching For Jan's Urine... by Jan Kearney
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I got a very good offer for your urine unfortunetly I was Hi- jacked and I didnt know my own private address….. I can see you now giving me a wallop for this reply 🙂 great post Jan xxx
*wallops Kelly*
Thanks for popping in, Kelly 🙂
no probs oh wise one 🙂 x
Lol had a chuckle at this post! And at Kelly’s comment!
hahaha this was the best post I’ve seen all day. How hilarious. I think the strangest one I have had was on a photography related niche site I run I once had someone search for “nude photos of trees”. Funny thing is, there is a huge google image return on this. LOL
This is great! Jan’s urine? Really? You have to wonder what type of information they were looking for or if kids were just messing around on Google.
Thanks for the many laughs.
Missy Bell
http://www.Peaceandhappinessproject.com
http://www.WhereTheGhostsLive.WordPress.com
This post actually made me go search my CPANEL and Google anal (yes, I went there) to see what people typed to find me.
Hehe, nobody wants to learn about Bonnie’s urine, so I’m safe! 🙂
Nothing out of the ordinary! 🙂
NOW, for Google to pull this crap does not surprise me, but I never relied on them for my website – but I did rely on searches for article writing (so I would know what people wanted to learn).
I guess this means we need to chum up to our prospects/customers/visitors more often so we can prod the information we need from them rather than finding it on Google!
They are really becoming a “useless” resource in my eyes!
Oh my goodness! I’ll have to pay more attention, although if they’re not providing the info anymore, then maybe not!
It does make one wonder – both about people and Google 🙂
I am not sure about the “not provided” however I do think it will have an effect, and I do not think it will be a positive one