Webmaster Tools shows 0 visits, Analytics shows 1000s?

[IMM]

Webmaster Tools  reported a "Big traffic change for top URL" for one of our sites about three and a half weeks ago. WT traffic is 0 since that date. However, our analytics data shows no significant decline in traffic.

The WT alert was received on Nov. 16. There was a significant dip in GA visits Nov. 22 but it recovered and I'm seeing no other indication that this is a penalty. What could be going on?

[Dr-Pete]

I take those GWT numbers with a grain of salt, but 0 is certainly odd. If you segment you're GA numbers, is anything strange going on? Have you lost traffic for a particular URL, for example, or seen a shift in your origin countries?

In most cases, I'd trust the GA numbers much more than the GWT numbers, and this could just be a fluke, but I'd segment your GA data as much as possible. See if there's a story behind the total.

[IMM]

Sorry about that-- the Webmaster tools I've been referencing are Google.

It might be that I'm not fully understanding what your pointing out but here's what I'm seeing for Nov. 16- Present:

GA:

Traffic Sources> Sources> All Traffic 815,700 visits

Traffic Sources> Search > Organic 149,000

Traffic Sources> Search> Organic > 115,000

WT:

Queries: 29

Impressions: 170 (mostly on Nov. 16, a few on Nov. 17)

Clicks <10

As you can see, Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics are not matching up. I'm also concerned they will not match up on their own as its been nearly a month now.

[gmk1567]

Normally there won't be any major discrepancy.

Check "All Traffic" under "Traffic Sources" link available on the left navigation of GA. Also want to know which webmaster tools you are referring - Bing or Google.

[IMM]

Hi gmkrish,

Thanks for your response. The GA source for Google has been reporting visits consistent with historical data during the time in which Webmaster Tools has been reporting 0 visits.Any ideas as to what might be the cause of the discrepancy would be greatly appreciated!

[gmk1567]

Webmaster tools reports Organic only traffic from Google or Bing based on which webmaster tools you use.

There are different areas under GA reports. Check GA traffic sources to drill down the nature of visits.