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A comment on Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics cannot be used lawfully. Parent comment

Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by closewith on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @02:43PM (#32929499)
Google Analytics is outclassed by many other tools, but it has two features that make it essential (along with its brethren, Google Ads tracking) for most enterprises.

One is the Search Console integration, which is the only way to see what Google search queries led people to your site.

The second is Google Ads conversion tracking and remarketing, which is de facto required to advertise with Google because it can easily 10x your Return On Advertising Spend, which is a key metric for digital marketing teams.

Without those two features, Google Analytics would be easy to drop. Many big companies already have other first- or third-party analytics tools they prefer.

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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by that_guy_iain on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @03:25PM (#32930208)
> One is the Search Console integration, which is the only way to see what Google search queries led people to your site.

Don't most analytic tools have this? I know Plausible has Search Console Integration.

The Google Ads conversion is the killer feature Google Analytics has in my opinion. But the reality is, most use it because it's defacto and free.

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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by erik_seaberg on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @04:13PM (#32930906)
Didn’t Google add a hop so the Referer header no longer provides the actual search URL?
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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by kurikuri on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @04:15PM (#32930937)
Breaking standards to protect a moat

Ew

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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by that_guy_iain on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @04:17PM (#32930950)
Yea but plausible integrates with the search console. Google probably has to provide some intergration ability which is why it’s possible.
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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by exikyut on Thursday September 22, 2022 @11:33PM (#32947707)
Ooooooh that's why search results redirect to /url?...

I thought it was just for click tracking on my end.

Ha!

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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by openplatypus on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @05:53PM (#32932044)
We are adding Google and Bing search console integration to https://wideangle.co, should arrive rather soon :)

As other posters mentioned, there are numerous GA alternatives, with varying degree of compliance and features.

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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by tannhaeuser on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @05:36PM (#32931831)
Search Console is reporting how many Google searches have resulted in page impressions or clicks to your site, with what ranking on the respective search query (keywords/phrase) etc.; works without ga.
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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by the_duke on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @05:03PM (#32931500)
Maybe I'm missing something, but you can use the search console just fine without Google Analytics?
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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by bobwaycott on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @10:17PM (#32934127)
> One is the Search Console integration, which is the only way to see what Google search queries led people to your site.

I can see this on sites without GA just fine. Are there some kind of advanced insights you’re referring to?

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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by edgyquant on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @10:33PM (#32934213)
You can see the query in the http referrer can you not
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Re:Danish Data Protection Agency concludes Google Analytics ... by daniel-cussen on Wednesday September 21, 2022 @04:20PM (#32930987)
How can that be if companies don't get a good ROI from online advertising? So that means you need to get Google Adwords in order not to waste practically all your ad spend?
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