Google Encrypts ALL Search Data - RIP Keyword Data

Google has nailed the keyword data coffin shut by encrypting all searches whether users are logged in or not. The slow death to search traffic referrer data began just under two years ago when Google began encrypting the searches for users that were logged into their Google profiles. Traffic from an encrypted search shows up in your Google Analytic stats as not provided, with all searches now becoming encrypted, the complete picture for free keyword data from Google is gone.

Google has stated that they're protecting their users' privacy, however, did you notice the inclusion of the word free above? That's because Google will still invade their users' privacy to provide solid keyword data to their paid advertisers. Google AdWords users can still see what keywords resulted in traffic, adding quite a bit of extra incentive for reluctant webmasters to pay to play. Publishers can also still see stats within Google Webmaster Tools. Unfortunately, publishers can only view the top 2000 searches for any one day, within the last 90 days, making long-term traffic comparison difficult. Google has stated they intend to increase that 90 day window to one year, and we hope that happens sooner rather than later. On the other hand, you can still access referrer data on Bing, who is doing its best to make users feel welcome.