Attribution for GMB Website Clicks?

[Imran Ali]

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if you could help. When a Google visitor views the GMB Knowledge Panel on the right hand side of the page and clicks the "Website" button it takes our users to the Local Page URL of that GMB listing. Does Google Analytics track this as an "Organic" or "Direct" session? I've had conflicting information including the article below which appears to indicate it incorrectly applies these clicks to Direct traffic?

Are you getting credit for all of your organic visits from GMB? - Search Engine Land

Many Thanks In Advance,

Imran

 

[Yan Gilbert]

It counts as organic.

Use utm parameters to split them up.
How To Track Clicks from a Google My Business (GMB) Listing

 

[JoyHawkins]

I believe Greg Gifford mentioned recently that he tested this and found all mobile traffic from GMB was classified as Direct. All the more reason to use UTM codes like Yan suggested.

 

[Imran Ali]

I believe Greg Gifford mentioned recently that he tested this and found all mobile traffic from GMB was classified as Direct. All the more reason to use UTM codes like Yan suggested.

Hi Joy, many thanks for your response. How can I test this? I reluctantly accept desktop traffic does indeed appear to register from the organic medium but mobile traffic? Would I use the real-time feature of analytics, phone in hand?

Thanks,

Imran

 

[JoyHawkins]

Yep, that's how I would do it.