The Mobile Search Analytics Report: Our Custom Report For Mobile Search Tracking In Google Analytics
Sigh. To think that there was once a time that Custom Reports in Google Analytics didn't exist seems hard to fathom today. We leverage Google Analytics custom reports on a daily basis .. and you should too. Earlier this year Google released Solutions Gallery, their recommended list of dashboards, reports and advanced segments. If you are heavy on Analytics and haven't seen this, stop reading, open a new tab, and check it out. However, one of the items that we found missing was on mobile search.
To help our SEO clients, we've created a master report that can show everything we need to know about users who came from a mobile search. Here's a look at what we call The Mobile Search Report and the tabs included to help you analyze your mobile search traffic:
NOTE: This mobile search report only takes mobile & tablet traffic into account, we've excluded desktop views. You'll see overall visits in most of the report tabs so that users can compare organic search visits to overall visits.
OS Mobile Overview Tab
This first tab is simple - it shows users the most popular operating systems driving search, the device brand and the phone name. To see more details on what devices your mobile search users are on, simply click on the OS name. Since not every site leverages e-commerce, we've only included "Goal Completions." Additional goals or eCommerce can be added with a bit more customization.
ALL Mobile Keyword Data Tab
This is the go-to tab for viewing mobile keywords that drive traffic to the site. See all the keywords driving traffic as well as goal data, avg visit duration, pages/visit and visits. Want to know more about the keyword? Click on the keyword in question and see which pages users are arriving on.
OS Mobile Keyword Data Tab
If you want to find out any slight search usage differences between operating systems -- this is your tab. Click on the iOS to see the main keywords that drive traffic for each system. This tab is great for users who are trying to find out if there are small subtleties between different operating systems (auto-complete, auto-correct, etc).
ALL Mobile Search Content Tab
This tab shows the main landing pages for all mobile search content. The "visits" column lets users see just how much mobile search traffic compares to overall mobile visits. Clicking on each will take users to an operating system screen to see what system visitors are using.
Search Engine Overview Tab
We've placed this tab last because, in all honesty, it's mainly Google. Each of the search engines can be clicked on to show the keyword that reeled your visitors in.
Download The Mobile Search Report
The Mobile Search Report can be quickly downloaded to help you start tracking your mobile search traffic more effectively. Simply add to one of your Google Analytics profiles:
... and you are ready to roll. Feel free to customize this to match your site's goals as we've made this version high level to work for all sites.
Also, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Google+ for more search engine and analytics goodness.
Meet the Author
Greg Finn
Greg is the Head of Performance and Innovation for Cypress North's digital marketing team and one of the founders of our agency. In 2010, he and Matt Mombrea started Cypress North in Buffalo. Greg oversaw the opening of our second office in 2022, located in his hometown of Rochester.
As Head of Performance and Innovation, Greg co-manages our digital marketing department and works closely with our team to ensure all our clients achieve the best possible results. He is always looking for ways to test new digital marketing techniques and technology, and oversees all teaching and training efforts to ensure our agency stays ahead of the curve.
Greg is also a co-host of our weekly Marketing O'Clock podcast, where he and the team provide updates, insights, and hot takes on the latest SEO, PPC, and social media marketing news. In addition to weekly news shows, Greg hosts our Marketing O'Torial digital marketing tutorials and often co-hosts bonus Marketing O'Talk episodes that bring together panels of digital marketing experts.
With nearly two decades of experience, Greg is a known and trusted voice in the digital marketing community. He’s a contributor for Search Engine Land, a member of the Search Marketing Expo (SMX) programming team, and has been a featured speaker at some of the largest search engine conferences, including SMX, eSummit, and Pubcon.
When he’s not working or staying updated on the latest trends, Greg enjoys watching his kids play sports and coaching their soccer team. He’s been named the runner-up “Greg of the Year” on Marketing O’Clock’s annual Clockscars Awards four years in a row. While the coveted award has evaded him for many years, Keanu Reeves has not. Greg once saw him at Gabriel's Gate tavern in Buffalo (and noted he was very tall.)
Related Resources
13 Digital Marketing Predictions for 2025
Top Industry Voices Share Their 2025 Digital Marketing Trend Predictions As digital marketers, we know a new year brings new goals, new opportunities for growth, and new challenges. But a new year also brings plenty of change. Whether it’s advancements […]
B2B Marketing With the Rise of Gen Z: Navigating the Digital Native Workforce
Explore the unique challenges & opportunities of marketing to Gen Z in the B2B space. Discover how these digital natives are reshaping the professional world & what it means for marketing strategies. Stay ahead in the era of Gen Z with expert insights.
5 Steps to Conduct a Successful Social Media Audit
Are your social media platforms in need of a refresh? Follow these 5 steps to audit and optimize your platforms for success.
5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of the LinkedIn Ads Campaign Manager
Read these 5 ways you can leverage the insights in the LinkedIn Ads Campaign Manager to manage and optimize your LinkedIn ads.
23 Of The Best Resources For Starting A Digital Marketing Career
The best social media communities, podcasts, newsletters, and certifications for new digital marketers I didn’t know anything about digital marketing when I started as an intern at Cypress North earlier this year. Acronyms like SEO, CPA, and ROAS meant nothing […]
Pinterest as a Search Engine: An Advertisers’ Guide to Keyword Targeting in Pinterest Ads
Pinterest – the land of dream wedding dresses, instant pot recipes, room inspo, and… SERPs? Pinterest is so much more than a social media platform. Yes, the platform allows users to like, share, and discover new content based on their […]
How to Transform Your Static Images into Animated Video Ads With Facebook’s Video Creation Kit
As the digital space continues to evolve, video has become more dominant than ever before. Attention spans are shorter, people expect to be entertained, and messaging must be communicated in a fascinating way. For businesses with limited time and budget, […]
Best Digital Marketing Podcasts
Whether you're focused on SEO, PPC, social media, content, or affiliate marketing, podcasts are a great way to stay competitive in the dynamic digital marketing landscape. Finding a reliable program to consume from your car, desk, or treadmill allows you […]
Precisely Target Your Ideal B2B LinkedIn Audience With One Powerful Tool
LinkedIn is an incredible tool for B2B marketers due to its unique targeting; namely professional information like job titles and company industries. I’m sure you’ve spent precious time crafting your audiences, but targeting is just the beginning. Arguably, audience exclusions […]
Facebook Ads Budget Optimization: Everything You Need To Know
Facebook has major news for advertisers. Come September 2019, account managers will no longer be able to set budgets at the Ad Set level in Facebook Ads. Instead, Facebook's Campaign Budget Optimization will become the default setting for all campaigns, […]
Deep Dive: Reddit Ads Update
With this Reddit Ads update, Reddit expressed interest in offering more options for marketers but did this update miss the mark? We're diving deep into what the update includes, how to navigate it, and how you should adjust your Reddit […]
Digital Marketing in 2019: What to Watch For
The Pros Rampant Responsive One of the biggest boons for advertisers in 2018 was the ability to optimize campaigns by moving away from standard banner sizes and utilizing responsive display ad formats. The proliferation of flexible ads such as Facebook […]
The Ultimate Guide To Facebook Dynamic Creative Ads
Let’s be honest, working with Facebook Ads Manager can be difficult. It’s a cumbersome tool, and it’s not user-friendly. But Marketers are in luck, thanks to Facebook’s new Dynamic Creative Ads. Dynamic Creative allows advertisers to create thousands of ad […]
How To (Properly) Share Access to Pages & Ad Accounts in Facebook Business Manager
Facebook's Business Manager has been a boon for advertisers and agencies across the world. With simple sharing, no transferring of ownership, easy transition from client to client and easy employee access, there's not a lot to complain about. The only […]
Why You Shouldn’t Use Facebook Groups To Build a Community
Never have Facebook Groups been more prevalent than they are today. It seems like every podcast you listen to and site you visit is pushing fans, listeners, and visitors to follow along in a Facebook Group. It’s true, Facebook Groups […]
Instagram for Business: Pros and Cons of Instagram's Changing Platform
The Marriage of Facebook and Instagram Instagram has had quite the last 4 years. When Facebook originally acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, not much initially changed for the platform. Nonetheless, it was clear that with Facebook's back-to-back purchase of […]
What to Do If You Accidentally Claimed a Facebook Page/Ad Account Instead of Requesting Access
Facebook Business Manager is a fantastic tool that makes managing clients a dream. Companies can quickly give or terminate access to employees in a single location. In order to perform this task however, access must be requested to an account. […]
13 Tips For Getting The Most From Facebook Live Posts
In a world of decimated brand reach, a new tool has risen that brings Facebook exposure back. Facebook Live has arrived and has been a boon for marketers looking to attract eyeballs to brand posts. While this new post type […]
Download or Disregard - Wishbone: A Guide to the "Hot" New App We Really Wish Would Go Away
App name: Wishbone Wishbones. Those slimy crescent shaped bones that you and your siblings would fight over to break in half and see whose side was larger (and more importantly, whose wish would come true). That is loosely the thinking behind […]
Interview: Tips & Tricks On How To Properly Market On Reddit
Most marketers believe that Reddit will never work for them. That's simply not true. I was recently asked some questions by David Kirkpatrick of MarketingSherpa alongside the great Brent Csutoras of Kairay Media. The interview covers the following Reddit-related topics: […]