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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 1d

Full walkthrough here: youtu.be/l_gz2SRrMec

If you're dealing with this, hope the video helps. Reply if you have questions or comments, and I will share updates if I find better solutions or if Google fixes this.
#analytics #GA4 #dataQuality

How to Filter GA4 Spam Traffic (Started Oct 7 2025 - Here's the Fix)

YouTube video by Analytics Playbook: Analytics Workshops & Courses

youtu.be

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 1d

I just recorded a quick video showing how to filter it out using browser version segments in GA4 explorations. It's not perfect - browser version isn't available as a custom dimension outside explorations (GA4 limitation) - but it's what we've got for now.

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 1d

Here's what's happening: People are seeing massive spikes in organic search traffic in GA4, but Search Console is completely flat. The engagement rate is terrible. It's spam traffic coming from Chrome 139.0.0.0 on Windows 10.

@rustybrick.com covered it here: www.seroundtable.com/ga4-surge-or...

Google Analytics Showing Surge In Organic Search Traffic But Search Console Flat

There are a nice number of reports of GA4, Google Analytics, showing a huge surge in organic search traffic over the past couple of days, but Google Search Console is not showing any increase, it rema...

www.seroundtable.com

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 1d

Guess what! You might have spam traffic flooding your GA4. Just started this week because of course it would, right before a long weekend. 🙃 (Thanksgiving here in Canada)

Thread on the spam traffic spike you might be seeing (and how to filter it out) 👇🧵

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Reposted by Dana DiTomaso

Sitebulb @sitebulb.com · 2d

Stop Explaining GA4 Unassigned Traffic - Rename Confusing Channels - via @danaditomaso.com #seo

Stop Explaining GA4 Unassigned Traffic - Rename Confusing Channels

Turn GA4's confusing "Unassigned" traffic into clear, professional reports. Learn how to rename default channels for better client communication and meeting efficiency.

kpplaybook.com

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 2d

Thanks for sharing!

Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 9d

The difference this makes is incredible. Clean platform names, easy totals, professional reports that make you look good.

Here is the full breakdown with all the regex patterns: kpplaybook.com/resources/tr...

Questions? Ask away!

#analytics #GA4 #socialmedia #marketing

How to Track Social Media Traffic in GA4 | Step-by-Step Tutorial

Learn how to create custom channel groups in Google Analytics to properly track and report on social media traffic.

kpplaybook.com

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 9d

Here's the process:

1. Create custom channels for each platform using regex patterns (I have a list for you!)

2. CRITICAL: Reorder these channels ABOVE "Organic Social"

3. GA4 processes top-to-bottom, so order = everything

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 9d

The fix is a custom channel group, and they aren't difficult to set up, BUT the channel order matters! If you don't reorder them correctly, your lovely new channels never get used.

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 9d

GA4's default channel grouping system wasn't designed for how social platforms actually work.

When someone clicks your link from the LinkedIn mobile app vs desktop vs a shortened link, GA4 sees three different sources instead of just one LinkedIn channel.

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 9d

Okay, social media managers, let's talk about something that's probably making your life way harder than it needs to be.

GA4 lumps ALL your social media traffic into one generic "Organic Social" bucket. When you try to see which platforms are actually performing, your reports become a mess.

🧵 👇

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 12d

Here is my full breakdown with step-by-step guides: kpplaybook.com/resources/re...

And the replay of the webinar where I went over this process: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw0z...

Questions? I genuinely want to hear about your GA4 experiences!

#analytics #GA4 #marketing #AIanalysis

Referral Traffic in GA4: AI Tools + Privacy Framework [Webinar Recap]

Learn to track AI referral traffic in GA4 with privacy compliance. Dana's complete framework from recent webinar covers tracking, analysis & legal considerations.

kpplaybook.com

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 12d

The framework I shared in my recent webinar works because it acknowledges LLM limitations while leveraging their pattern recognition strengths.

Your business context is what turns AI-identified patterns into actual strategic insights.

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 12d

Here's what to do:

1. Create a custom channel group in GA4 using my regex pattern (10 minutes of hands-on time)

2. Set up text highlighting tracking for AI Overviews (another 15 minutes)

3. Build a framework for AI data analysis

(And check with legal first to make sure you can use AI)

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 12d

Here's the thing that really gets me excited: AI traffic is QUALITY traffic.

Visitors from AI tools show higher engagement rates, spend longer on the website, and view more pages than your average visitor.

This isn't just a measurement exercise - it's a revenue opportunity hiding in your data!

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 12d

🧵 AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are sending visitors to your site right now, but they're buried in your referral traffic, or worse Unassigned (because these platforms don’t know how to properly set UTM parameters).

Thread below 👇

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 16d

Hey friends! I'm hosting a free webinar October 21st with @britneymuller.bsky.social, discussing what marketers get wrong about AI.

I'm really looking forward to it. You can register here, it's free! www.linkedin.com/events/73727...

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn

Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.

www.linkedin.com

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 20d

Didn't take long to make a new friend at #brightonSEO. Who else will I see here this week?

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 25d

We used to say tab hoarders but then we were thinking that's a bit making fun of the actual mental illness so let's come up with something better.

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 25d

Full breakdown with screenshots: kpplaybook.com/resources/ga...

Video walkthrough: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNI6...

Questions? Let me know!

#analytics #GA4 #marketing #clientreporting

GA4 Unassigned Traffic: Rename Channels Instead of Explaining Them

YouTube video by Analytics Playbook: Analytics Workshops & Courses

www.youtube.com

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 25d

Here's what works:

1️⃣ Create custom channel group in GA4

2️⃣ Add "Other" channel with regex \S+

3️⃣ Add "Tab Collectors" with regex .*

4️⃣ Make sure that Other is always 2nd last and Tab
Collectors is last in the channel list.

Your reports suddenly make sense to humans 🎉

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 25d

You could spend meeting time educating stakeholders about GA4's session timeout behavior...

OR you could just rename the confusing channels to something that makes sense.

Guess which approach saves your credibility AND meeting time?

I call mine "Tab Collectors".

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 25d

That "Unassigned" traffic? It's mostly people who leave browser tabs open for days.

When someone returns to your site tab after their session times out, GA4 can't figure out how they originally arrived.

So it marks them as "(not set)" and dumps them in "Unassigned." 👎

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · 25d

Every time I show GA4 reports to non-analysts, the conversation stops at "Unassigned" traffic.

"What does that mean? Is our tracking broken?"

Then we end up discussing Google's weird terminology instead of discussing actual performance.

There's a better way... 🧵

#analytics #GA4 #marketing

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Dana DiTomaso @danaditomaso.com · Sep 5

Haha I know! Even with AI regex is still iffy.

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