How privacy-first analytics changed our SEO
- 1
Week 1-4: the dip we expected
Removing GA4 cost us behavioural retargeting data. Removing Meta Pixel cost us conversion-window attribution. As expected, the first month showed -8% sessions and a 12-position drop on the head term "wordpress qr code plugin".
- 2
Week 5-8: page-speed effect
Without the 14 third-party scripts (analytics, retargeting, A/B test, chat widget), CWV scores jumped: LCP from 2.8s to 1.1s on the home page. Sessions returned to baseline by week 6 and crossed it by week 8.
- 3
Week 9-12: AI-search citations
Without consent-banner JS gating, AI engines (Perplexity, ChatGPT) could finally crawl page text directly. Citation rate in their answer summaries went from 0 to 11 cites/week by week 12. We saw real referral traffic from these AI engines, which we never had before.
- 4
What we kept and what we dropped
Dropped: GA4, Meta Pixel, HubSpot tracking, Intercom widget. Kept: server-side first-party analytics (no PII, IP-hashed). The trade-off looks obvious in retrospect: we lost no real insight, we gained genuine page speed and AI-search visibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is QRCode Suite?
QRCode Suite is a standalone QR code platform: create a free account and generate branded, dynamic QR codes in the browser — no WordPress required. Connectors bring the same codes to WordPress and WooCommerce, where orders can be attributed to specific QR codes.
Does QRCode Suite work without WordPress?
Yes. QRCode Suite is a standalone SaaS — sign up, create QR codes, and track scans entirely on qrcode-suite.com. The WordPress plugin is an optional connector that brings your codes into wp-admin and adds WooCommerce order attribution.
Does QRCode Suite require a separate subscription?
The Free plan is available at no cost — no credit card required. Paid plans (Pro €9, Business €29, Agency €79 per month) unlock unlimited codes, redirect rules, and more. There is no separate per-scan fee.
What QR code types does QRCode Suite support?
QRCode Suite supports 22 QR code types: Static URL, Dynamic URL, Plain Text, Phone, Email, Location, Link Hub, SMS, WhatsApp, Wi-Fi, vCard, Social profile, PDF, File download, App download, Coupon, Calendar event, Lead capture form, Review collection, Wholesale inquiry, Loyalty reward, and Custom payload.
Can I change the destination of a QR code after printing it?
Yes. Dynamic QR codes use a short redirect URL. You can update the destination from your dashboard at any time without generating or reprinting the code.