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onlineguy
Joined: Feb 20, 2007
# Posts: 8
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Posted: 2007-Feb-26 14:23
Due to Google's recent changes, we really want to track our campaigns better. In the past, we never really used many tracking methods. We only used our Web stats package and some tracking URL's, which are very limited. This week we will be implementing a new tracking system.
We are now testing out Google Analytics and others. We really want to be able to find out what 'specific keyword' people used when they clicked on our Ad. For example, if we bid on the term, 'widget', we would like to know if the person who came to our Ad searched for 'big blue widget'.
Does anyone know of a package that can do this? It doesn’t look like Google Analytics will do this?
Thanks all!
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joey_skulls
Joined: Sep 15, 2006
# Posts: 133
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Posted: 2007-Feb-26 14:57
Try installing Googles tracking pixel.
You can find this under the Campaign Management Tab, and select Conversion Tracking.
It's very easy to install and to configure, and it will tell which keywords converted and your cost per conversion ratio and all.
Enjoy!
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onlineguy
Joined: Feb 20, 2007
# Posts: 8
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Posted: 2007-Feb-26 15:05
Thanks Joey. However, I am not sure if this will do what we need.
We want to track the "broad keyword" that people search for. For example, if we bid on the term, 'widget', we want to know if the person who clicked on our Ad searched for 'big blue widget' or 'small red widget'.
Thanks again!
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Mike-Levin.com
Joined: Sep 27, 2000
# Posts: 1988
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Posted: 2007-Feb-26 22:26
Best I can tell, Google is still passing all the referrer data on the hit.
Only Google syndication over the AdSense network appears to be wiping out such "upstream" data.
So, all the usual suspects (including HitTail and Google Analytics) should be able to report on broad match keywords used.
The only problem is typically separating the natural hits from the paid, and if you're using tracking URLs, that should not be a problem. All the data is there for you to know what's going on, but it can be a real chore to separate what's what.
The ideal in your case is to funnel your paid hits not merely through a tracking URL, but through a program that specifically records the Google paid hits in its own separate log. Someone versed in PHP and MySQL could probably throw this together for you (if it's not already freely available in opensource).
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onlineguy
Joined: Feb 20, 2007
# Posts: 8
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Posted: 2007-Feb-27 13:44
So far, Analytics only seems to show the kw that we are bidding on. For example, it shows us the information for 'widgets', but we know people are searching for other things like 'big blue widgets'.
Are we missing something with Analytics or can it do this?
Thanks in advance!
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flyingrose
Staff
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
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Posted: 2007-Feb-28 23:28
Mike, when you say "tracking" do you mean the default tracking Google's system uses or manually adding tracking specifically for Google Analytics?
To clarify for others, Mike is saying that you probably won't be able to see the actual searches on content ads. (Google Adsense is the network where content ads appear.)
Most adsense ads are generated to match content on a page so they wouldn't have search terms. I wonder if the Adsense function that allows a visitor to your site to search your site or all of Google returns the searches or not?
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joey_skulls
Joined: Sep 15, 2006
# Posts: 133
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Posted: 2007-Mar-01 14:49
The plot thickens! 
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flyingrose
Staff
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
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Posted: 2007-Mar-02 00:54
That is the deal with Google Adwords. It is so complex and there are so very many variables. Even those of us who have a pretty thorough understanding of what is happening cannot know every factor involved.
We figure them out one by one as we bump up against them and as they constantly change. Knowing what I know now I'm glad I'm not starting at the beginning.
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Mike-Levin.com
Joined: Sep 27, 2000
# Posts: 1988
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Posted: 2007-Mar-04 00:36
Bottom line: don't trust 3rd party tracking systems if they're from the same company that make money off of your ad budgets. Since about 1997, I've been programmng my own tracking systems (which indirectly led to HitTail). Even if you're using things like WebTrends, it doesn't hurt to run your own home-grown tracking system if you have that capability. I think of it as double-blind tracking, like accountants use to make sure data entry was accurate.
I'm aware that most people can't/don't have the ability to run home-made tracking software. So, maybe things like AwStats will suffice. Point is, unless you're looking at your exact referrers, people can spin any story for you that they want.
Also, the ad networks that you're dealing with can pass you as much or as little information as THEY want. In fact, their own tracking systems can have access to more information than anything you can write on your own. For example, I know of no way to separate broad-match clicks from non-broad-match clicks, aside from funneling the campaign clicks through separate home-made tracking/redirecting URLs.
If people are interested in such a "separating" feature being part of my latest endeavor, let me know. I don't know how much interest (or even understanding) of such a thing exists, aside from the clarification mission FlyingRose is on here at SEF!
How many here even understand what's being discussed, really?
(Should you even care if you're being rained on if you can't feel the rain?)
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flyingrose
Staff
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
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Posted: 2007-Mar-04 01:43
You heard it here first, folks. Mike is revealing truths that only the few have figured out. The more we accept gifts like conversion trackers and analytics the more we are in the position of a child to the corporation's "just trust me".
Social networking folksonomy sites like StumbleUpon may soon make it possible to determine which companies we can really trust and which design great services but then use them to take advantage of us while simultaneously picking our pockets. Only someone who really figures out how systems work AND understands all of the perfectly legitimate reasons that are not a sign of being taken advantage of can really know.
No one has the time to figure out more than one or maybe a handful, so the solution is to learn to recognize who is brilliant and has high integrity and find out what they think. If all the brilliant people share their findings and have readers who believe in them we can identify what people and companies can be trusted and which can't.
I would like to leave you with two thoughts that purists will consider off-topic and those with a higher perspective will realize are very much relevant to this discussion.
The first is that neither having nor making money is inherently evil. If we would make it a point to support companies who provide valuable services without getting greedy and stealing from us more ethical companies will exist.
It is totally reasonable for a person or company to become successful and wealthy by honestly providing valuable services the public is more than happy to pay for and NOT taking advantage because they can.
Instead of begrudging placing ads on Web sites, or posters with valuable contributions to make using affiliate program links, or inventors and visionaries charging for the value of their contributions, I for one believe if we generously support their efforts the world will be a much improved place for all.
And finally, for those who think anyone who doesn't trust authorities and corporations is a nutty conspiracy theorist, I encourage you to watch this video about What Caused California's Rolling Blackouts. Don't be naive enough to believe that is an isolated instance of a common business philosophy of making money. (Warning for those who live 'G' rated lives: this video does contain some non-G-rated words.)
[ Message was edited by: flyingrose 03/03/2007 06:29 pm ]
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flyingrose
Staff
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
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Posted: 2007-Mar-04 21:01
test
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