Happy Birthday “Not Provided” – One Year Since Google Began Withholding Search Terms

A year ago (and a day), Google began encrypting searches for signed-in users, so that the terms they searched for were no longer passed to publishers, except for advertisers. The “single digit” withholding predicted by Google at launch has turned into more than 50% of terms being withheld, in some cases.

I explore how things have unfolded over the past year in the search marketing column on our MarTech sister-site today. It’s written for both those new to the concept of how terms began being withheld as well for search marketing vets who are regular Search Engine Land readers. Be sure to check it out:

• Dark Google: One Year Since Search Terms Went “Not Provided”