How to Block Bots from Google Analytics
I’ve been noticing a few foreign sites under “Referrals” when I review my Google Analytics. The names themselves even sound shady. The four pesky ones I had to deal with today were:
- trafficmonetize.org
- 4webmasters.org
- webmonetizer.net
- www.event-tracking.com
It is very easy to create a filter within Google Analytics to exclude these bots from your reporting, thus giving you more realistic numbers.
- Log into Google Analytics and click on Admin.
- In the left column, click on All Filters.
- Now click on “+ New Filter”.
- Enter in the name of the offensive bot in the field under “Filter Name”.
- Now click on “Custom” as the Filter Type.
- Choose “Campaign Source” beneath “Filter Field”.
- Enter the bot name again in the “Filter Pattern” field and then click “Save” at the bottom of the page.
Voila! It takes about 24 – 48 hours for the filters to kick in, but you should see a difference in your numbers shortly. I hope this helps!
If only I knew how to use google analytics.. lol
Ah…that’s how you do it! Great step by step to the ridding of the bots! Thanks!!!
Thank you for this! I haven’t noticed any bots yet on my GA, but I’m going to bookmark this for the inevitable day that it does happen!
Awesome! Thank you for the step by step guide!
I can’t even figure out how to install Google Analytics. 🙁
I always wondered what those kinds of sites were!!! I see them pop up on my analytics all the time. Now I know lol. Thanks!
I know! At first I thought, “Wow! What a great referrer”…then, I realized what they were AND that aside from messing up the number of visitors, they were totally botching up my bounce rate, subsequently increasing my Alexa score.
Wow, thanks for posting this! I was really easy to follow. I’ve been blogging since April and just started exploring google analytics…there’s a lot to learn!
Shared this on my social media because I love it so much! I can’t wait to add it to my own google analytics.
I never thought about the bots messing with my bounce rate. This is a good idea. Thank you!
Thanks Michelle! I didn’t think about it either until I kept seeing them in my analytics.
Oh I need to do this! Thanks so much for the step by step instructions. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned to the Bloggers Brags Broad.
Awesome! Doing this and pinning this post.
Thank you so much! I have been looking for an easy (aka understandable) way to do this and your post is the one that finally helped me! You’re awesome!
Yay! I am so happy I could help out with this Tennille!! 🙂