Comparisons
Jan–Sep 2026 (includes a partial month) versus Q1 2026. An increase is not automatically good. When engagement falls while sessions rise, my assumption is paid.
Swap windows
Reset filters-36.5%
Sessions change
15,053 → 9,555
+2.6 pt
Engagement change
49.8% → 52.4%
-21.5%
Paid mix-column change
5,531 → 4,343
Columns
| Sessions | 15,053 | 9,555 | -5,498 | -36.5% | Less volume. I would check whether quality improved. |
| Users (monthly sum) | 12,989 | 8,506 | -4,483 | -34.5% | A sum of monthly rows, not unique people across the window. |
| Engagement rate | 49.8% | 52.4% | +2.6 pt | +5.2% | Quality improved. I would confirm the mix. |
| Direct sessions | 5,791 | 3,366 | -2,425 | -41.9% | This is the floor of the engine. |
| Paid sessions (mix column) | 5,531 | 4,343 | -1,188 | -21.5% | Paid receded; I would look at Organic Search time. |
| Organic Search column | 1,697 | 733 | -964 | -56.8% | This is the highest-quality scalable channel I can see in the full window. |
| Key events | 6,731 | 4,303 | -2,428 | -36.1% | This total mixes hiring and generic actions. I would not treat a rise as leads. |
What I noticed. Sessions moved -36.5% while engagement moved +2.6 points. Paid mix-column moved -21.5%.
How I am reading it. The later window is smaller and more engaged. That is closer to the July 2026 mix I would rather understand.
Where I would go next
| What I noticed | The numbers | How I am reading it | What I would do next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direction needs a quality test | -36.5% sessions, +2.6 pt engagement. | Volume and quality can disagree, so I would not call this growth from sessions alone. | I would carry both numbers into any budget conversation. |