Semalt: The Importance To Exclude All External IP Addresses

It is human nature to err. That's why it is obvious that some things need to be done sooner rather than later, they still get postponed. In other words, procrastination always wins. Excluding all external IP addresses is important especially when dealing with a startup blog or website. If you wish for a smooth and efficient system, then this should not be overlooked. All the same, it has two bottlenecks. First, this traffic skews crucial data like the number of page views and time spent on the web page. Secondly, it decreases the bounce rate while increasing the frequency of returning surfers (users).

Since web administrators use this data for analysis and improvements, there is a need for you not to block your IP address. Anything contrary to this spells doom to your ability to capture valuable insights - from the analytics.

Here is a guide by Frank Abagnale, the Semalt Customer Success Manager, on how to exclude IP address from Google Analytics.

First step: determine your IP address

This step is rather straightforward, and Google is there to help. Just type What is my IP address. Within seconds results will appear, and on the top of the results, you'll see the IP.

Step two: navigate to the filters

For this you should do the following:

  • Go to Google Analytics and log in to your account. Once you've logged in, you should be able to see Account's home.
  • click on the 'Admin' tag somewhere at the top of the navigation menu. This will redirect you to another screen
  • after the step above, select the account under which your domain is nested
  • identify and select the domain (property) which you'd wish to exclude from your analytics report.
  • select one of the tabs labeled filters then create one (add a new filter).

Step three: applying the filter

Assuming that you have not done this before then observe the following:

  • create a new filter for the profile
  • think of a distinct yet easy to remember the name for the filter. Try something like my blocked IPs
  • select the predetermined-filter then proceed to the next step
  • make changes to the second drop down menu such that it reads 'traffic from IP address.'
  • key in your IP address as you found it as illustrated at the beginning of this guide.
  • save the changes, and you're good to go

It's that simple. Now that you've taken care of this, you are at liberty to surf through your website without having to worry about anything messing up your Analytics report/ data. How about your convenience? The prices of excluding the IP address from Google's Analytics is simple and does not require you to be a technical guru. Just follow the steps listed, and you're done:

  • Step one - let Google help you identify your unique IP
  • Step two - navigate through the account menu and create a custom filter
  • Step three - edit the custom filter to exclude your IP and save all changes.

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