Site Buying Analytics Question

[Herbshack]

Basic question here for someone with experience flipping sites:

If someone has installed google analytics on a site you're looking to buy, can you get all of that historical traffic data when you purchase it from them?

Thanks guys.

 

[meathead1234]

If you get added as an adminstrator, yes. You can then remove them once the sale goes through. Pre-sale you will just get added as a user to the GA profile so you can't make any changes, so just ask them to upgrade you once the sale goes through.

As an aside, I generally ask them to add me as an admin, delete their profile (post-sale) and then install my own GA code. You can still access historical data, but it's always best to keep all of your sites under one code.

 

[Herbshack]

Thanks man. But when you install the new code onto your global GA account, you can't import historical data?

The reason I ask is because people care so much about verified GA on Flippa so it would be hard if your data is split between two accounts.

 

[meathead1234]

Thanks man. But when you install the new code onto your global GA account, you can't import historical data?

The reason I ask is because people care so much about verified GA on Flippa so it would be hard if your data is split between two accounts.

No you can't import data. Unless you're planning on flipping the site really quickly then put your own code in. You can always upload PDF reports with the old data if people want it.

If you're planning on flipping it quickly, then just get added as an adminstrator and it will save you the hassle of switching codes and losing data.

 

[kvmcable]

Thanks man. But when you install the new code onto your global GA account, you can't import historical data?

The reason I ask is because people care so much about verified GA on Flippa so it would be hard if your data is split between two accounts.

http://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1009698?hl=en&ref_topic=1009690

You get the original owner to add you as Admin so the website is in your account. You delete him as Admin after you purchase but the website is still in your GA account and now you're the only Admin so you're the owner.

Now sure why you're changing codes and trying to import data.

 

[meathead1234]

Now sure why you're changing codes and trying to import data.

I change codes just to make sure that there are no after effects of being linked to the old owner. You might have removed their profile, but it's still their GA code in there so could be other risks (e.g. competitors might be reverse engineering sites by GA code). I'm a little paranoid, though, and only do this myself on purchases of significance ($10k+).

 

[dbyrn]

If I'm going paranoid with a site I'm installing Piwik codes there and self host the Piwik server.
D.

PS.
If I'm extremely paranoid I set Piwik to proxy mode and hide even the piwik id code and my server.

 

[Herbshack]

You can always upload PDF reports with the old data if people want it.

There we go. That's what I needed to know right there. Thanks Meathead

 

[Herbshack]

http://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1009698?hl=en&ref_topic=1009690

You get the original owner to add you as Admin so the website is in your account. You delete him as Admin after you purchase but the website is still in your GA account and now you're the only Admin so you're the owner.

Now sure why you're changing codes and trying to import data.

Nice. Thanks for that useful link.

Well the way I am looking at things is this:

I could buy a site on DP that has traffic. I'm good at monetizing traffic or wording an auction to sell if the traffic is there. I've build a number of sites from the ground up and flipped them when they're getting around 5k visits / month so I know that if you want to make money on Flippa (at least in the last couple years), traffic is the name of the game. At least that's my two cents.

After Panda I've just really sucked at SEO and have never actually done a site flip. Seems daunting so I'm just trying to figure out as much as I can.