What does "-" (hyphen) mean in your Top Referrer list?

If you're analysing your website’s referral traffic and notice a hyphen ("-") in the top referrer list, you might wonder what it means. This is a common occurrence in web analytics tools like Google Analytics or server logs, and it is not related to Cloudimage or any specific Scaleflex service.

Possible Reasons for "-" in Referrer Data

1. Direct Traffic – When users type your website’s URL directly into their browser, use a bookmark, or click on an untagged link in an email or document, there is no referrer information. This traffic is classified as direct and often appears with a "-" in the referrer list.

2. HTTPS to HTTP Traffic – If a user navigates from a secure (HTTPS) website to a non-secure (HTTP) page, browsers do not send referrer data due to security policies. This results in a blank or "-" referrer.

3. Privacy and Security Settings – Some users enable privacy settings or use browser extensions that block referrer information, making their visits appear with a "-" in the referrer report.

4. Links from Non-Web Sources – Traffic from mobile apps, chat applications, and software like Microsoft Word or PDFs often lacks referrer data. Since these sources do not pass traditional HTTP referrer information, analytics tools categorise them under "-".

How to Analyze and Handle "-" Referrers

To better understand where this traffic is coming from, consider:

• Tracking Parameters: Use UTM parameters in marketing links to ensure traffic from emails, social media, and ads is properly attributed.
• Analyzing Landing Pages: Check which pages users land on the most from "-" referrers—this can hint at potential sources like email campaigns or bookmarks.

While "-" in your referrer list can be frustrating, understanding its causes can help refine your tracking strategy and improve your website's traffic analysis.