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Get Rid of Self Referral Traffic in Google Analytics

How to Get Rid of Self Referral Traffic in Google Analytics

Image from forbes.com
Image from forbes.com

I’d like to preface this article by pointing out that if you’re not using Google Analytics right now to track your website traffic then you need to get on that immediately. Shockingly, nearly 50% of the practices that have partnered with TRBO over the past year did not have any Analytics installed prior to working with us! For some basic to advanced tips for getting started with and using Google Analytics check out this article.

If you do have Analytics installed, you’re over halfway there! The next step is all about how to decipher the information. Most of it is self-explanatory, but some of it may be confusing. Even worse, some of the data can be misleading, such as your bounce rate and conversion sources. You may also have noticed over the past year or so some weird referral sources, such as “social buttons” or references to SEO companies. Check out this article for information on how to remove those sources from your reports.

The Latest Challenge: Self Referral Traffic

So what exactly is “self referral traffic?” It’s website traffic that’s categorized as a “Referral” – under the Source/Medium column- from your own website. You can see an example of this below…

self referral

The reason that you’re seeing this is because there’s an issue with the tracking code. The code is not accurately tracking visitors to the site from start to finish, and therefore Google Analytics, while recognizing the visitor, does not know which Source/Medium to credit as the referrer.

You shouldn’t see any self referral traffic in your reports, but if you’re seeing your own site as the #1 referrer you have a big problem. Why? If you’re investing in any type of digital marketing, such as SEO, advertising, or social media, to name a few, and you see self referral traffic then you know your data is skewed. Bad data means you cannot accurately gauge ROI. Bottom line, you need to be able to accurately see exactly how many patients visited – and converted – from each referral source.

How to Solve the Problem

Example javascript from Google Analytics
Example javascript from Google Analytics

First, check how you’ve installed Google Analytics. Find the exact plugin you’ve used as that is more than likely the issue. I’ve seen issues with plugins where you simply paste in your Analytics UA # vs. pasting in the entire tracking javascript. For every client where we’ve spotted this mistake, we either fixed the issue by replacing the existing plugin with the NK Google Analytics WordPress plugin or by simply pasting the Analytics javascript code directly into the appropriate field for the WordPress theme you’re using. If you’re not using WordPress ,I recommend you check out this detailed article, with step-by-step instructions for fixing your self referral issue.

To learn more about Google Analytics I encourage you to check out all of our articles on this topic. If you need help getting your lead tracking in place, or your practice needs a digital marketing overhaul or review, then shoot TRBO a message here or call us directly at 877-673-7096 x2.

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Friday, September 22nd, 2023
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TRBO ADvance is a multichannel digital advertising and marketing agency specializing in Medical Beauty. We combine great design, cutting-edge technology, and proven business strategies into a clear message powerful enough to propel practices forward.

Our Services

Patients finding your practice is a major key to building your client base. We help physicians and aestheticians build thriving practices by improving your website’s position in search results and page rankings.

We transform your business while you transform your patients. 

Your website is a showplace for aesthetic beauty and the rich emotional rewards every patient wants to feel. Information about your practice, staff, and specialties is displayed in a modern setting to invoke all the possibilities available to your patients.

Our web design brings beauty to life through innovation and ever-changing technology.

Our expertly crafted email marketing campaigns help you reach your patients on a whole new level. With today’s fast pace, timely communication keeps warm leads warm, helps patients stay informed about your practice, and saves you invaluable time.

Retain existing patients and bring in new, prospective patients easier than ever.

With marketing services tailored to your practice’s individual strengths, TRBO ADvance helps you convert consultations into patients.

Through the science and psychology of patient decision-making, we position your practice as the best choice for helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals.

The Medical Beauty world is a marriage of art and science designed to bring patients joy and confidence in themselves.

We bring creativity to that relationship with compelling writing, on-point branding, informative videos, smooth photo galleries, and engaging web and email content to showcase your practice’s exacting standards of patient care and results.

TRBO ADvance strategizes solutions for your practice using our considerable industry knowledge, so you take advantage of the trends and topics which most interest patients.

We offer a blueprint for your practice to flourish and grow.

Finesse in advertising is a must for the modern Medical Beauty practice. Patients are savvier than ever, and traditional sales pitches are best left in the past.

We’ve mastered the art of digital media advertising to bring attention to your practice with style and expertise.

As a gateway to potential patients, social media engagement is a major component to building successful branding for your practice.

Interactive information and educational exchanges with prospective clients can increase your website traffic and your reach, so you can connect, build trust, and increase your digital footprint.

SEO
Web Design
Email Marketing
Conversion Services
Creative Direction
Strategic Consulting
Digital Media Advertising
Social Media

Patients finding your practice is a major key to building your client base. We help physicians and aestheticians build thriving practices by improving your website’s position in search results and page rankings. We transform your business while you transform your patients.

Your website is a showplace for aesthetic beauty and the rich emotional rewards every patient wants to feel. Information about your practice, staff, and specialties is displayed in a modern setting to invoke all the possibilities available to your patients. Our web design brings beauty to life through innovation and ever-changing technology.

Our expertly crafted email marketing campaigns help you reach your patients on a whole new level. With today’s fast pace, timely communication keeps warm leads warm, helps patients stay informed about your practice, and saves you invaluable time. Retain existing patients and bring in new, prospective patients easier than ever.

With marketing services tailored to your practice’s individual strengths, TRBO ADvance helps you convert consultations into patients. Through the science and psychology of patient decision-making, we position your practice as the best choice for helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals.

The Medical Beauty world is a marriage of art and science designed to bring patients joy and confidence in themselves. We bring creativity to that relationship with compelling writing, on-point branding, informative videos, smooth photo galleries, and engaging web and email content to showcase your practice’s exacting standards of patient care and results.

TRBO ADvance strategizes solutions for your practice using our considerable industry knowledge, so you take advantage of the trends and topics which most interest patients. We offer a blueprint for your practice to flourish and grow.

Finesse in advertising is a must for the modern Medical Beauty practice. Patients are savvier than ever, and traditional sales pitches are best left in the past. We’ve mastered the art of digital media advertising to bring attention to your practice with style and expertise.

As a gateway to potential patients, social media engagement is a major component to building successful branding for your practice. Interactive information and educational exchanges with prospective clients can increase your website traffic and your reach, so you can connect, build trust, and increase your digital footprint.

Patients finding your practice is a major key to building your client base. We help physicians and aestheticians build thriving practices by improving your website’s position in search results and page rankings. We transform your business while you transform your patients. transform your business while you transform your patients.

Patients finding your practice is a major key to building your client base. We help physicians and aestheticians build thriving practices by improving your website’s position in search results and page rankings. We

Your website is a showplace for aesthetic beauty and the rich emotional rewards every patient wants to feel. Information about your practice, staff, and specialties is displayed in a modern setting to invoke all the possibilities available to your patients. Our web design brings beauty to life through innovation and ever-changing technology.

With marketing services tailored to your practice’s individual strengths, TRBO ADvance helps you convert consultations into patients. Through the science and psychology of patient decision-making, we position your practice as the best choice for helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals.

The Medical Beauty world is a marriage of art and science designed to bring patients joy and confidence in themselves. We bring creativity to that relationship with compelling writing, on-point branding, informative videos, smooth photo galleries, and engaging web and email content to showcase your practice’s exacting standards of patient care and results.

TRBO ADvance strategizes solutions for your practice using our considerable industry knowledge, so you take advantage of the trends and topics which most interest patients. We offer a blueprint for your practice to flourish and grow.

Finesse in advertising is a must for the modern Medical Beauty practice. Patients are savvier than ever, and traditional sales pitches are best left in the past. We’ve mastered the art of digital media advertising to bring attention to your practice with style and expertise.

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