what is not considered a default medium in google analytics

What Is Not Considered a Default Medium in Google Analytics?

what is not considered a default medium in google analytics

In Google Analytics, mediums like SMS, offline events, in-app advertising, and influencer marketing are not automatically categorized as default mediums and may appear as "(not set)". Additionally, custom channels that you create yourself are also not default mediums, and you can define them as such.

Elaboration:
Non-default Mediums:
These are traffic sources that don't fall under the standard categories that Google Analytics automatically recognizes. Examples include: SMS Messaging: Traffic from SMS campaigns.
Offline Events: Traffic from physical events (e.g., conferences, workshops).
In-App Advertising: Traffic generated within a mobile app.
Influencer Marketing: Traffic driven by influencer promotions.
Custom Channels: Any traffic source that you define and track independently.
Why they are not default:
Without proper tracking and integration with Google Analytics, these sources will show as "(not set)" under the "Medium" dimension, making it difficult to analyze their effectiveness.

How to track non-default mediums:
You'll need to configure additional tracking and potentially create custom channels within Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to properly categorize and analyze them.

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  What’s Not a Default Medium in Google Analytics?

  
  

  Google Analytics 

  

  what is not considered a default medium in google analytics

  
  

is a powerful tool for tracking website traffic, user behavior, and marketing performance. One of its key features is the ability to categorize traffic sources by medium, which helps marketers understand where their visitors come from. However, not all traffic sources are classified under default mediums.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore:

What default mediums are in Google Analytics


Which mediums are not considered default


How to customize medium tracking for better insights


Common misconceptions about Google Analytics mediums

We’ll also touch on related topics like secondary dimensions in Google Analytics, Google advertising programs, and SEO optimization—including trending search queries like "XXXXL shirts 2024 - Google search", "Tirunelveli Google Map", and "Super Singer vote Google search".

Understanding Default Mediums in Google Analytics

Google Analytics automatically categorizes incoming traffic into predefined default mediums, such as:

Organic – Traffic from search engines (e.g., Google, Bing).


CPC (Cost-Per-Click) – Paid ads from Google Ads or other PPC campaigns.


Referral – Visitors coming from external websites.


Email – Traffic from email marketing campaigns.


(None) / Direct – Users who type your URL directly or use bookmarks.


Social – Visits from social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).

These are the standard classifications, but not all traffic sources fit neatly into these categories.

What Is NOT Considered a Default Medium in Google Analytics?

Several traffic sources do not fall under Google Analytics’ default mediums. These include:

1. Affiliate Marketing Links

If you use affiliate links (e.g., Amazon Associates, ShareASale), Google Analytics does not automatically classify them as a default medium. You must manually tag them using UTM parameters (e.g., ?utm_medium=affiliate).

2. SMS & Push Notifications

Traffic from SMS campaigns or mobile push notifications is not a default medium. Marketers should use UTM tags like ?utm_medium=sms or ?utm_medium=push.

3. QR Codes

Scanned QR codes leading to your website are not a default medium. To track them, append UTM parameters (e.g., ?utm_medium=qr_code).

4. Offline Campaigns (TV, Radio, Print Ads)

Google Analytics cannot automatically track offline sources. Use custom URLs with UTMs (e.g., ?utm_medium=tv_ad) to measure their impact.

5. Dark Social (Private Shares via WhatsApp, Messenger, Email Forwards)

When users share links privately, Google Analytics often misattributes them as Directtraffic. Tools like Bitly or UTM tagging help track dark social.

6. Custom Campaigns (Webinars, Podcasts, Influencer Marketing)

Unless tagged properly, these sources may appear as Referral or Direct. Always use utm_medium=webinar or utm_medium=podcast.

Why Proper Medium Tracking Matters for SEO & Paid Campaigns

Accurate medium classification helps in:

SEO Optimization: Identifying which channels (organic, social, email) drive the most conversions.


Google Ads Performance: Ensuring paid traffic (medium=cpc) is correctly tracked.


Content Strategy: Knowing if "XXXXL shirts 2024" searches lead to sales via organic or paid ads.

How to Set Up Custom Mediums Using UTM Parameters

To track non-default mediums, use Google’s Campaign URL Builder:

Example for "Super Singer vote Google search" campaign:
text

https://yourwebsite.com/vote?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=super_singer_vote


This ensures votes from Google Ads are categorized correctly.

Related Google Analytics Concepts

What Is a Secondary Dimension in Google Analytics?

A secondary dimension adds extra context to reports. For example:

Primary Dimension: Medium (Organic)


Secondary Dimension: Landing Page → Shows which pages rank for "Tirunelveli Google Map" searches.

Which of the Following Is Google’s Advertising Program? (MCQ Answer)

The correct answer is Google Ads (formerly AdWords). Other options might include:

Google Analytics (Analytics tool, not ads)


Google Search Console (SEO tool)


Google My Business (Local listings)

Why Is Indexceptional the Best Google Indexing Tool for Websites?

Indexceptional speeds up Google’s crawling and indexing process, helping new pages (like "Tambaram Google Map" listings) rank faster.

Conclusion: Optimize Your Medium Tracking for Better Insights

Understanding what is not considered a default medium in Google Analytics helps marketers avoid misattribution. By using UTM parameters, you can track:

Affiliate links


SMS & QR code traffic


Offline campaigns


Dark social shares

This ensures accurate reporting, better search engine optimisation (SEO), and improved ad performance.

For more insights on Google Analytics, Google Ads, or trending searches like "XXXXL shirts 2024", stay tuned to our blog!