With any program there will be quirks that one has to learn either through trial and error or just common usage and Google Analytics has some of these aspect as well.

  • Visits / Entrances: Visits are mostly used within the Traffic Sources section whereas Entrances are used within the Content section. The quirk about these two metrics is that they capture the same kind of data–essentially a session entry into the site. Therefore, if you check the number of entrances in the Top Landing Pages in Top Content and then go to Traffic Sources and segment by Landing Pages, the numbers between Visits and Entrances are the same.
  • IP Addresses: One can include or exclude IP addresses (say for the purpose of excluding or including internal traffic), but if you want to find out what IP addresses you may want to segment, this cannot be done within any profile. Not sure if it is possible even with GA’s API.
  • Page Titles: Google Analytics can pull page titles as a way to view duplicate page titles, but you cannot view your Meta Descriptions for the same purpose as well.
  • Ad Slot Position: PPC can see whether the PPC ad is displayed on the top or on the right hand side, and yet, cannot actually optimize the ads to be placed in those specific positions. Oh, and of course, no ability for SEO to see their keyword positions

Any other quirks noticed?