Setting up Google Analytics Site Search

Written by Benjamin Mangold

Step 1

Perform a search on your website and look at the URL.

In this example a search for 'analytics' has been performed.

Google Analytics Site Search

This example shows a search for 'analytics', the resulting URL is http://www.example.com/search?q=analytics. Note that the Query Parameter is 'q'.

(Please note that your website's internal search may return a much longer URL, for example http://www.example.com/search.asp?site=example&area=products&term=analytics. Note that the Query Parameter is 'term'.)

Step 2

Log into Google Analytics and click 'Edit' on next to the website profile.

Google Analytics Site Search

Step 3

Click 'Edit' for your Main Website Profile Information.

Google Analytics Site Search

Step 4

Select 'Do Track Site Search'.

Google Analytics Site Search

Step 5

Enter the Query Parameter from your internal search.

Google Analytics Site Search

Selecting 'Yes, strip query parameters out of URL' will prevent your search from showing up in your Content reports, for example:

Google Analytics Site Search

Selecting 'No, do not strip query parameters out of URL' will include your search results in your Content reports, for example:

Google Analytics Site Search

Site Search also allows you to setup categories. This can be used if your internal search has the ability to segment results across different areas of your website. To setup categories you will need to know the parameter that returns results for the different areas of your website. For example if you are using a Google Mini or Google Search Appliance the Category Parameter would be 'site' on a default configuration.

If your search does not have categories do not enter a Category Parameter.

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Posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2007

4 Comments:

Blogger dauclair said...

Nice! Thanks for the walk through.

So, if my query string is: ?q=searchterm&c=category

I will add a q in the Query Parameter field and c in the Category Parameter?

May 24, 2008 6:29 AM  
Blogger Benjamin Mangold said...

Hi dauclair,

Exactly!

Thanks for commenting. You should begin to see data within the Site Search reports within 6 to 12 hours.

If you have any problems let me know.

May 25, 2008 11:11 AM  
Blogger dauclair said...

That worked out great! I would have liked to had turned this on since the beginning, that is some great data to have! Worked great, I am using OrcaSearch as my site search script. What do you use?

Thanks!
Daryl

May 28, 2008 6:50 AM  
Blogger Benjamin Mangold said...

We generally provide clients with site search using Google Mini Search Appliances. It is an excellent search solution, although for smaller sites it is probably out of reach. You should checkout Google Custom Search (http://www.google.com/sitesearch/), although the free version does include advertising and it is totally reliant on Google indexed content.

May 28, 2008 9:14 AM  

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Mangold Sengers provides Google Analytics consulting, Google Analytics onsite training and Google Analytics online training. Contact us to discuss your needs.