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Ask HN: What are some good reasons to NOT put Google Analytics on a website?

3 points by busymom0 6y ago

For those who run websites with decent traffic, what are some good reasons to not put Google Analytics on it? Anyone used it previously and then removed it?

kjrose 6y ago
I had to remove it from some client websites simply because of the client having more strict privacy and information security needs.
- busymom0 6y ago
  Did you notice Google penalizing the site for not having their analytics? Google says they don't penalize but I am not sure if I trust their word.
  - kjrose 6y ago
    Not in a major way. But then again, the differential was likely just statistical deviation.
  - XCSme 6y ago
    I removed GA from several sites and didn't notice any easy-to-corelate change in SEO traffic.
tarun_anand 6y ago
We have several clients who have removed it and not seen any penalty. Full disclosure: we run an alternative solution www.appice.io Google analytics has several limitations including privacy, and security issues. Also, the reports are not actionable.
quickthrower2 6y ago
GDPR warnings and if you don’t agree with the amount of data Google has on everyone. Plus I find their UI a bit slow and cumbersome. You might want to go home grow for more programmatic control. Server logs might show more traffic traffic due to ad blockers and privacy tools.
elliottinvent 6y ago
If your offering is to tech folk, like the HN community, GA may be a red flag. I suppose it depends on your product and offering. Personally I think anyone who reports my visit to their website to a third party is a gossip. And GA is the biggest mouth in town. Browsers will stop it eventually and in the meantime I will do whatever I can to stop it.