Over the next few weeks, the default search behavior for users logged into Google will be to use a secure HTTP connection (https://) instead of a standard HTTP (http:// sans S) connection.

That’s all good and fine except one side effect is that analytics software on websites receiving the traffic won’t be able to see which search queries resulted in each visit. This has big implications on the ability to optimize site content.

The caveat, however, is what makes Google look bad: non-organic search referrals (that is, clicks from AdWords ads that advertisers have paid Google to display) will still include the search query. This has some people crying foul:

If Google really cared, the keyword data that site owners now no longer receive from organic queries would no longer be available for advertisers either. But that would hit their bottom line, because it makes it harder to show ROI from AdWords, so they won’t do that.

This issue didn’t seem to get much attention today, but I doubt we’ve heard the end of it.

Google cuts search queries from web analytics in the name of privacy

After its package redesign, sales of the Tropicana Pure Premium line plummeted 20% between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22, costing the brand tens of millions of dollars.

My favorite quote about the Tropicana packaging debacle is this non sequitur from a February article in the New York Times:

“Do any of these package-design people actually shop for orange juice?” the writer of one e-mail message asked rhetorically. “Because I do, and the new cartons stink.”

Design doesn’t matter