Tracking Site Search with Google Analytics

[Design2Please]

Hi,

Does anyone in here use Google Analytics to track onsite search as I added the search and category query parameters a couple of days but still dont seem to be receiving any data for this when all other analytics tracking is working correctly.

I have managed to get this working on a site which i have created which was not built in actinic but not my actinic site.

From looking at the search url am i right in thinking that the Search Query paremeter is "SS" and the category one is "SX"?

I have tried searching the forum but have only been able to find details on setting up the standard and ecommerce analytics tracking.

Kind Regards

[Mike Hughes]

Hi Jon,

I'm not sure what you're trying to track with this but Actinic can be set up to log the search terms used on your site. See http://knowledge.actinic.com/cgi-bin....com/acatalog/

Mike

[Design2Please]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I do already have the log set up form the AUG to track terms searched on but wanted to be able to track through Google analytics as well so as to be bale to view the more detailed reports that Google analytics provide including things such as average number of results, search exits, refinements etc.

Regards

[dave_finlayson]

Jon,

Up and running perfectly in our account. Your search query parameter is correct, the category parameter I can't comment on as this will be unique to you.

Only thing I can suggest is that you double check you have actually selected 'Do Track Site Search'

[dave_finlayson]

Or perhaps your category parameter is incorrect and this is stopping Google tracking all searches?

I would expect it to be something more along the lines of "S_MyCustomSearch0_0"

[Design2Please]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply,

I have definately got the 'Do Track Site Search' selected and so think this must be something to do with having the category section although I used the same method to determine the query parameted for this as i did for the site where I have got it working.

Basically by using the select name of the category dropdown which in my case is "<select name="SX">"

Regards

[dave_finlayson]

Actually looking at your site I see when you say categories you mean the section drop down. We run it slightly differently as we use a custom search for sections.

Only thing I can suggest at the moment is disabling the section option and see if google starts tracking the search phrases after that, If it does, we know where the problem is, if not, then we can look somewhere else.

[Design2Please]

Cheers Dave,

I think that is probably the best bet.

Thanks for your help so far.

Regards

[Design2Please]

Having disabled the section option unfortunatley still does not appear to have resolved the issue.

Out of interest Dave do you use the new or the old analytics code as realised I have used the new code on my non actinic site which does appear to track on site search but still have the old one on my actinic stie - due to the fact that my actinic site uses the ecommerce tracking and havent had a chance to look into working out using the new tracking code in the same way that the old one is set up (as per eileens google analytics thread for V8).

Kind Regards

[dave_finlayson]

Jon,

I'm still using the old analytics code and everything is working fine (settings screen shot attached, just in case)

The only difference I can see between us and you is that you have the e-commerce code in your search reults page, maybe this is messing with it?

HTH

[Design2Please]

Thanks for another prompt reply Dave - You maybe right regarding the ecommerce code.

Am i right in thinking then that on your search and search results pages that you have the analytics code just before the closing </body> tag like below as opposed to using the ecommerce version on these pages?

<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
</script><script type="text/javascript">
_uacct = "XX-XXXXXX-X";
urchinTracker();
</script>

as opposed to:

</script><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
</script><script type="text/javascript">
<!--
_uacct = "XX-XXXXXX-X";
urchinTracker('Search Results.html');
//-->
</script>

just before the closing head tag?

Kind Regards

[dave_finlayson]

Yes, that's correct. We are also using the https version of the code but I can't imagine this will make any difference.

[Design2Please]

Once again thanks for your help Dave - I will try changing the analytics code on the search and search results layouts this evening and fingers crossed this will reoslve the issue.

[Design2Please]

Hi Dave,

Just wanted to say to say thanks for all your help with this it is now all working as expected now that I have changed the analytics code on the search and searc reuslts pages.

Kind Regards

[dave_finlayson]

Glad it's working Jon!