I’m still in utter shock over what happened between Google Analytics and me last week. On Thursday, March 13, I was looking over my analytics information which any blogger knows can be completely maddening. I was swinging a crossed leg, smacking my gum, thinking nothing of this moment in time. Oh, the irony…
I had an old website attached to my account that I wanted to delete. My intent was to delete the old account, so that information from a defunct website was no longer displaying. I wanted my blog, Zealous Mom, as the only account.
Sounds simple, right?
That’s what I thought.
How very wrong I was…
Beside my old website was a button that read, “Delete this Account”, so I nonchalantly clicked it, the entire time thinking it was taking off my old website. In an instant, my entire Google Analytics account was deleted.
Everything.
I was staring at a screen that said. “Sign Up for a Google Analytics Account Today.” What!? I already have an account. You know, the one that just vanished into thin air?
Why do we get a warning message with Gmail when we haven’t attached something if the email includes the word “attach”, yet we don’t get some sort of warning sign if we are about to delete our entire Google Analytics account!
I decided then to call Google Support and get on some Google Analytics forums. There had to be a solution. There had to be a way to recover my data. This is the message I kept seeing.
“Please note that once you’ve deleted your account, that’s it: the account is gone, and we are not be able to retrieve any historical data or reinstate your reports.”
I felt like crying. I adore Google. I have such solid faith in them. They have never disappointed me. Until now…
So I squared my shoulders, created a new account, took some of the blame, and as I looked at that flat line going across the screen with 0 unique visitors, my heart literally broke.
Blogger friends, if ever you want to make a change to your Google Analytics account, please consult someone with half a techy brain first. That person would obviously not be me.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Oh man that stinks. I have done things like that in the past, too, and all you can do is move on – as hard as it may seem right now.
House of Faucis says
I wish I understood Google analytics enough to panic if I accidentally canceled mine.. I know it means a lot so I’m sorry that happened.
Jessica says
That’s horrible! I remember when I first started my blog I was completely confused about GA. I had to do a lot of research and now I back up everything.
Liz (@blueviolet) says
OH man, with things that big, there should be a “are you sure you want to do this?” prompt before actually doing it. I’m so sorry that happened!
Rachée Fagg (@sayitrahshay) says
Boo! Dislike! So, so,sorry to read this! When I switched from Blogger to WordPress I hadn’t set up GA for a few days. My numbers dived but when I finally set it up again there was a nice ego boosting jump.
Alison L. Hayes says
I am just starting my website and I have not signed up for Google Analytics yet…. but I will remember your advice. thanks so much!
susannabarbee says
You are welcome! Happy to be helpful. I, too, will never make that mistake again.
April @ My Real Food Family says
Oh no! So sorry that happened to you! I’ll definitely make sure to never delete anything from Google analytics.
Rachael says
Oh my gosh, that is awful. Thanks for warning us.
Tiffany (Fabulous Mom Blog) says
It really sucks have to start at square one with GA, or any thing that tracks stats. So sorry. Sounds like you learned a valuable lesson.
Tracey Tabone says
I got a pit in my stomach just reading this! Poor thing 🙁
Virginia Higgins says
Oh my, I would just cry! I have my husband help me with more technical stuff, just so I can blame him if it goes south. So sorry!
sippycupmom says
Oh no! I am so sorry! It sounds like something I would do. I once deleted all of my bookmarks off of Chrome thinking that I was doing something else. I was heartbroken from that!
Shell says
Oh yikes! I think I’d cry! There should be some sort of warning that pops up before that’s final!
karenssunnysoirees says
Oh wow! This is good to know. I am not that savvy with Google Analytics. So sorry this happened to you!
Lisa-The Domestic Life Stylist says
Wow! Thanks for sharing your story. You are helping a lot of blogger in the process so that they don’t make the same mistake.
brett says
my sympathies. that could easily happen to any of us!
Krissy Higgins (@Krissy_r) says
Oh no! You poor thing!! That sounds like something I would do, since I have a tendency to rush into doing things without consulting my tech brainy friends. I’m so sorry – but it’ll be OK! Back at it!
Beth@Frugalfroggie says
I am sure we have done something like that. Luckily, you didn’t lose your history you just can’t see if. So the traffic still happened and people still visited your website. Very frustrating to lose all of your data.
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
ugh, I am so sorry! I recently had my code go buggy… I had nearly 3 months of bad stats, and only fixed it right before a post went viral.
Jenni Polly Eaves says
Ohh, I can’t even imagine!!! I sooo hate that for you. You would think that they could reinstate the reports. It seems like they couldn’t actually vanish into thin air?!
Stefani Tolson says
I am so sorry this happened to you. I also have some old accounts in there but I haven’t been brave enough to delete them.
Krystal says
This story makes me sad. It also reminds me that I need to update Google Analytics on my new site. Wah!
Kim says
oh no! It’s so sad for this to happen when you work so hard to get where you were!
Marissa says
Oh geez! You would think they would make the process a little more difficult than ‘click here to delete’ and boom that’s it… I hope your blog makes a fast recovery!
Toni says
Oh no!! that would break my heart too. i never mess with anything techy, I would have probably done the same thing.
Chrysa Duran (@ThriftyJinxy) says
Oh, no!! That is so terrible. It is so scary that there are things that can so easily be done with bad consequences! Hope your traffic skyrockets so you don’t even need that old data!
Jaime says
I’m so so sorry (still!) that this happened! I’m definitely going to be more cautious now. 🙁
Lisa says
Oh no what a terrible feeling! I’ve just started getting into google analytics and will make sure I’m cautious!
Lolo says
That would be so scary! I would freak out!!
Felicia says
Oh sweet girl! The good news is that it is just the data, not the actual content. What I’m trying to say is that you actually have visitors and you know you do and companies know you do. Give it 30 days and all is well!
susannabarbee says
Great advice! Thank you.
Kecia says
Oh no, total punch in the {blogging} gut! I’ve had a similar sickening feeling when I deleted a fully written post a time or two. Thankfully, WordPress auto saves now…
susannabarbee says
Yes! Thank you, auto save. That would be awful as well!
A Mom's Take says
I’m so sorry!! I’m just exactly like you, I check my stats all the time to compare and see how to improve. I’d be heartbroken too if I lost my account. 🙁
Pauline Cabrera says
That’s really horrible. Things similar to this happen to me as well. It really stinks when things like this happen.
zoebsimplelifestrategies says
You poor thing! I hate it when these kind of technical problems arise. Be kind to yourself though – anyone could have made this mistake and before long you’ll have a whole new set of statistics to analyse. Look at the bright side – think of all the extra time you;ll gain from not having to check your stats! 🙂
TripleZmom (@triplezmom) says
Oh, that totally stinks! I am so sorry. Now attaching post-it above my computer: “Do not delete anything on Google Analytics!”
Karen Hartzell says
They should have multiple warnings! Multiple! Are you sure? Are you really sure? Are you really, really sure? They should make you jump through hoops to delete something that important. I’m very sad for you, but know that this is a minor setback. Keep moving forward! XO
Ashley M says
I think I would have cried too. I agree with the MULTIPLE warnings.
Yusra N says
I would have easily done something like that. I’m surprised google deleted your whiole account without extra warning. Thanks for sharing this info, and I hope you get back on track in no time. Xx
Christina Shirley says
I just switched from blogspot to my own domain. I tried adding the .com address and hopefully it’ll catch up. I think I did it right. Not really sure though. It says I’ve had 0 visitors since I switched, so…
Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest says
Oh my goodness, I’m sooooo sorry that happened! That must have been heartbreaking. I’d probably had a heart attack if I accidentally deleted my account.
Dina Demarest (@dinade) says
Oh no! Well in a month you’ll have data again. So sorry.
becka says
Oh no! I’m so sorry that happened to you! I did that with comments and lost all my comments.. it’s just heartbreaking!!
Terin Garrett says
Oh, I’m so sorry that happened to you!! 🙁 I would freak too!!
Rosey says
Oh that’s rotten! I wonder why there isn’t the warning too?? It’s so so so hard to get in touch w/someone there to help too.
Jennifer Bullock (@MommyBKnowsBest) says
Oh wow that stinks!!! I wish I could tell you stats aren’t anything and they don’t matter, but I know it’s easier said than done. Luckily your traffic for this month will be back up before you know it. Hang in there.
Eliz@MirthandMotivation says
Take heart, it has happened to many of us… All will be well.
godansker says
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t even imagine the pain involved with that! Ack!
Morgan says
I am sorry that happened to you, and also so grateful for the warning! I retweeted this so hopefully you can get some new readers to bump up the chart on your new google analytics chart! (Though my following is pitiful) Good luck building your unique visitor count back up!
susannabarbee says
Thank you, Morgan! And thanks for sharing the post.