What you should collect and analyze site search data. And a few examples of how to collect search data.

1. Analytics and
Search
Andrew Stevens
April 29, 2015
Mason Web Analytics Group

2. Why do it?
When people can find stuff, they search
● Great way to identify hidden content or
confusing navigation

3. Without Analytics
$ln = $_GET['ln'];
$date = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
$UserIP = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
$refer = isset($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']) ?
$_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] : null;
$browserAgent = $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'];
$file = 'hmln.txt';
$entry = "$lnt$datet$UserIPt$refert$browserAgentn";
file_put_contents($file, $entry, FILE_APPEND | LOCK_EX);
header("Location: http://timesync.gmu.edu/libnews/");

4. Why use analytics?
● It’s free
● It’s easy
● For many site searches it doesn’t require
access to server

5. With Analytics
Set up Site Search - Analytics Help
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1012264?hl=en

6. What is a Query Parameter?
On a search results page:
http://www.google.com?hl=en&q=mountain+view…
The stuff after “&q” is the parameter
This works for “Get” forms
● <form method=”get”>

7. For forms using the Post http request
method
What about for “post” forms?
● <form method=”post”>
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/10
12264?hl=en#Post