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Difference between Search referrers in Traffic Sources and Behavior Tracking

Modified on: Mon, 30 Aug, 2021 at 5:14 PM

This article explains the difference between the number of Search referrers seen in Traffic Sources and those seen in Behavior Tracking for a particular page.


The figures refer to two different metrics described as follows:




  • Search engine referrers in Traffic Sources count visitors where the initial visit to the site from a search engine was on that specific page.
    i.e. The first time they came to your website was from a search engine to that specific page.


  • Search referrers found in Behavior Tracking counts visitors who visited the specific page and used a search engine but have visited other pages on your website initially.
    i.e. The first time they came to your website was not from a search engine to that specific page, but they did use a search engine and visit that page afterward during the same visitor session.


Traffic_sources_Search_engine_referrersScreenshot of Search engine referrers in Traffic Sources


Behavior_tracking_Search_referrersScreenshot of Search referrers in Behavior Tracking

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