Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Service URL: policies.google.com
_gac_
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
7 September, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
Thanks for the reads, I've started to get a bit of recognition from PR companies, very exciting and surreal. I do sometimes feel a bit insecure about the whole thing, but I'm hoping it can help my future career and networking prospects, plus it's something I love doing. I'm finally starting to unite my online and real identity.
7 September, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
Funny: I have a post percolating somewhere on just the same topic (with a rant about dumbass publicists who leap on the bandwagon without reading our content. Don't send me rude emails berating me for not replying to yr bribery & corruption blogger drinks. If you bothered to even glance at LLG, you'd know I live in America…) sigh. LLGxx
7 September, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
Very interesting – they do need to explore the usefulness of using bloggers be market segmentation and reach.
I've never pushed myself forward but I get a massive amount Of UK traffic and global on a daily basis it has grown from not much to thousands on a daily basis – not a big as some of course. I honestly don't think they know who is what and which sites are a pr & marketing dream.
7 September, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
What an interesting read!
:-)
Florrie x