Google's recent introduction of Search Console recommendations has brought renewed attention to the platform's data limitations. A notable example in the new recommendations suggests users bulk export their data, stating that "Search Console only shows 35% of your performance data."
This limitation isn't new; Google has long anonymized a significant portion of Search Console data for privacy reasons. However, John Mueller of Google clarified that the extent of data limitation varies by site. He stated, "Most sites see all / most of their data," suggesting larger sites might be more affected.
To address this limitation, Google is actively recommending the use of BigQuery exports. This solution allows users to access a much larger dataset, potentially revealing the full scope of their search performance data that remains hidden in the standard Search Console interface.
The bulk export recommendation only appears when Google detects a significant discrepancy between shown and total data. Mueller noted that using the API or tools like Search Analytics for Sheets can provide access to more data than the standard interface.
Given these limitations, regularly exporting data from Search Console may be beneficial for a more comprehensive view of site performance. The percentage of hidden data can vary significantly between sites, with Mueller emphasizing, "It really depends on the site - it's not a fixed percentage."
This update serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the limitations of analytics tools and the potential need for more comprehensive data collection methods in SEO and web analytics strategies. Whether or not users see this specific recommendation, it may be worthwhile to export data and compare it to the visible data in Search Console to better understand the extent of data limitations for individual sites.
