Google Analytics has taken a hit lately in the form of referral spamming, or spoofing. I started to notice it in my own reports, then came across this article.

We manage search engine optimization and search marketing for a number of our clients. Some are SMEs with local markets that have naturally small amounts of traffic. This month I started preparing the report for one client and my jaw dropped: a 500% increase in traffic:

However a quick filter by country showed that 90% of the new traffic is from Russia. Not their market by any stretch.

Rebuilding a website has a distinct advantage compared with starting out anew. Detailed data on website visitors can provide crucial insight into what content is working and what needs work, as well as help focus your business goals for the new version. Redesign based on facts, not feelings.