In Web analytics, including Google Analytics, traffic sources is a report that provides an overview of the different kinds of sources that send traffic to your Web site, for example direct traffic (clicks from bookmarks or visitors who know your URL) or Web search engines. The metrics you will find under the general topic of traffic sources in analytics programs are as follows:
- Direct Traffic: All those people showing up to your Web site by typing in the URL of your Web site or from a bookmark.
- Referring URLs: other Web sites sending traffic to you. These could be as a result of your banner ads or campaigns or blogs or affiliates who link to you.
- Search Engines: Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, others. This will include organic and paid traffic.
- Other: These include campaigns you have run, e-mail, direct marketing, etc.
See also Web analytics and basic metrics.
