How to block “seo-analyze” referrer spam in Google Analytics
What is Seo-analyze?
Seo-analyze is the name of numerous domain names owned by Volkan Ikiz that are used in various referrer spam campaigns that target Google Analytics accounts with fake referral traffic. Website owners and webmasters who monitor Google Analytics data may notice referral traffic from multiple domain names that share the “seo-analyze” name including:
- seo-analyze.ga
- seo-analyze.cf
- seo-analyze.gq
- seo-analyze.ml
- seo-analyze.tk
These domain names typically target random Google Analytics account simultaneously with fake referral traffic known as ghost traffic. This type of traffic does not actually land on anywhere, it just appears in Google Analytics so there is no concern over bandwidth usage.
The purpose of this type of spam is to catch the attention of website owners and persuade them to visit the referring URL. If Seo-analyze is visited a page that says Get Your Free Website audit now with a text field to enter a URL will be presented. If a URL is submitted the page will redirect to a new web page on the moradam.com domain such as http://panel.moradam.com/?s=no&r=42 and then to https://panel.moradam.com/project/. These websites are similar to notorious spammer Semalt.com and are suspected to be owned and operated by the same entity.
Although referrer spam is not technically malicious, it can negatively affect your Google Analytics data. For example, Seo-analyze referral traffic creates a 100% bounce rate which changes a site’s actual bounce rate, making it harder to understand a site’s real analytical data.
Furthermore, referrer spam is considered an unethical black hat SEO method. Websites that practice the marketing tactic disregard other sites in order to promote themselves. This is why it is recommended to avoid websites that utilize this method.
How to block Seo-analyze referrer spam
- Open your Google Analytics account and go to Admin > Filters.
- Click the + ADD FILTER button.
- Create a Filter Name such as “Seo-analyze” or “Referrer Spam.”
- Select the Custom Filter Type.
- In Filter Field, find and select Campaign Source.
- In the Filter Pattern text box, add Seo-analyze and click the blue Save button on the bottom of the web page.
To add multiple domain names to the same filter you make a Filter Pattern similar to “Seo-analyze | Example.com | Example\.com” with a | between each URL
