Why is Ezoic's Analytics reporting different traffic from Google Analytics?

It's not uncommon for publishers to notice discrepancies between Ezoic's analytics and Google Analytics when tracking website traffic. This article addresses why a difference of up to 10-15% in traffic figures is normal and explores other potential reasons for discrepancies that may require further investigation. We will guide you through a comprehensive checklist to troubleshoot and resolve these differences, covering topics such as report filtering, integration methods, Google Analytics setup, and browser extensions. Our aim is to help you understand and minimize the variance in traffic reporting between these two tools, ensuring accurate data analysis for your site.

Users might notice a difference in traffic figures when comparing Google Analytics with Ezoic’s Big Data Analytics, typically up to a 10 - 15% discrepancy. This is because the methods of tracking differs between the two tools. However, there are other possible causes of discrepancies between the two platforms. Symptoms of these may include:

1. Mismatched traffic data when filtering reports
2. Discrepancies observed in the traffic reported for different device types, such as mobile traffic
3. Differences in traffic data when comparing specific date ranges
4. Traffic reports in Ezoic reporting different numbers until midday PST for the previous day’s data
5. Higher reported traffic in Google Analytics for browsers like Chrome
6. Differences between UX metrics such as time on site, bounce rate etc.

These symptoms indicate the need for closer inspection and alignment of reporting settings in both tools to ensure accurate comparisons.

To troubleshoot discrepancies between Google Analytics and Ezoic’s Big Data Analytics, consider the following steps:

1. Filter Reports Correctly:
   • Ensure the date range selected is the same in both tools.
   • Verify that the correct website is chosen in your Ezoic report.
   • Match sub-domain selections in both tools if applicable.
   • Select 'all platforms' in Ezoic’s Big Data Analytics.
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   • Compare the same metrics (e.g., ‘Sessions’ in Google Analytics vs. ‘visits’ in Ezoic).
     
     
2. Time Zone and Update Considerations:
   • Ezoic's reports update typically until midday PST for the previous day's data. Wait until midday PST of the following day to run reports.
   • Ezoic reports use PST time zone, so ensure Google Analytics is set to the same time zone to avoid discrepancies.
     
     
3. Traffic Source and Device Filtering:
   • Filter by the same traffic sources in both tools (e.g., organic traffic). traffic source reports are found here: https://analytics.ezoic.com/reports/trafficSources/trafficSource
   • Include the same device types in both reports (e.g., mobile). 

     For a detailed video of how to navigate Big Data Analytics see here.
     
     

4. Non-Human Traffic:
   • Ezoic automatically filters out non-human (bot) traffic, which can cause differences.
     
     
5. Integration Method:
   • For sites using Ezoic’s Wordpress integration plugin, ensure no caching plugins interfere with Ezoic's reporting.
   • Consider switching to Cloud integration for better performance and accurate reporting.
   • For Cloudflare integration, disable browser or page-level caching in Cloudflare, and toggle off Rocket Loader and Cloudflare’s APO.
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     Cloudflare APO

     Page level caching
     
     

6. Google Analytics Script:
   • Verify the correct insertion of Google Analytics code.
   • Reverse any recent changes to UA code if discrepancies started recently.
     
     
7. Browser Extensions:
   • Check browser reports. Ad blockers in Chrome may block Ezoic's tracking but not Google Analytics, causing higher traffic reports in Google Analytics for Chrome users.
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By following these steps, you can identify and resolve the factors leading to discrepancies between Google Analytics and Ezoic’s Big Data Analytics.

To ensure data consistency between Google Analytics and Ezoic's Big Data Analytics, always verify that your filtering settings match in both tools. Regularly check and synchronize the date ranges, website selection, and subdomain settings. Align the metrics you are comparing, and be mindful of the time zone settings to avoid discrepancies. Regularly review and update your traffic source filters and device type filters to ensure uniformity.

If your site experiences traffic discrepancies, consider adjusting your integration method to either disable incompatible caching plugins or switch to a cloud integration method for improved accuracy and speed benefits. Additionally, monitor browser and page-level caching settings in Cloudflare, and ensure your Google Analytics script is correctly implemented and not affected by functions such as Leap's Script Delay.

Finally, be aware that browser extensions like ad blockers can impact tracking data, and regularly check browser reports to identify and mitigate such issues.

Big Data Analytics - How It Works

If you need further assistance with reporting, please log in via https://support.ezoic.com/ to make use of our dedicated resources for support. We're here to help!