POST Based Search Engine

If your site sends users’ search information to your web server via the HTTP request and not the URL, then you are using a POST based search engine. Since the search is not sent via the URL, the search term and query parameters do not appear in the URL like the previous two methods.

Google recommends two methods to set up Google Analytic search tracking if you are using the POST method.

Method 1: Convert your POST based search engine to a GET based search engine.

The POST method is not the ideal method for internal site searches. Using the GET based search engine is better for website optimization. So, the recommended approach is to convert your POST based search engine to a GET based search engine. Afterward, review the ‘GET Based Search Engine’ section in this article to set up Google Analytics search tracking.

Method 2: Whenever a search is performed, send virtual pageviews.

If you cannot convert the POST based search engine, you can select to have virtual pageviews sent whenever a search is performed. Code would need to be written to identify and extract the search term then append the query parameter to it before the pageview is sent to Google Analytics. By doing this, the search query parameter and search term are appended to the URL.

Once you have it set up, you can configure your site search settings in Google Analytics reporting view. In this case, you would turn ‘Site Search Tracking’ on and enter your query parameter.