Google Analytics referrals

[FairinaCheng]

This isn't directly related to Etsy SEO but I'm too curious not to ask! I've been looking at my Google Analytics stats for Etsy and have found referrals from a number of jewellery/fashion related blogs and websites. However I haven't been able to find links or information linking from those sites to my Etsy shop. I've read up about "referral spam" but these sites do seem to be at least somewhat related to jewellery. Does anyone know why this might be happening?

[Former_Member]

Your GA will show you how people found Etsy but not necessarily your shop.

So if someone is on xxx jewellery site and comes to Etsy and eventually ends up in your shop, that will show as as referral from xxx jewellery site.

[Former_Member]

Oh thank you Fairina for asking the question and thank you Crochetgal for the response. I have been wondering the same thing, just not sure how to word it. I <3 Etsy forums.

[Former_Member]

That has cleared up a lot of my confusion too!

I naively thought that when you have referred from link it was direct to you; I didn't realise that it could be anyone/anything on Etsy and then eventually me.

[FairinaCheng]

That makes sense! Glad to be of service to the other curious people too!

[valleycreativedesign]

Oh! I have wondered this myself. Thank you for the clarification!