adCenter Content Ads Beta Changing URLs

[GuyFromChicago]

Basically my destination urls are being changed - adCenter is adding characters to them which is causing issues with my analytics package. "Issues" meaning I can't track anything...

Basically anytime adCenter sees a "&" in my url it adds "amp;" to the url.

So if the url I entered was;

www.t-e-s-t.com/productID1&Section4.html

adCenter is changing it to;

www.t-e-s-t.com/productID1&Section4.html

Anyone else run into this?

http://www.ppcdiscussions.com/2006/1...-changing.html

[T0PS3O]

Yes, I get it with +es.

I create the tracked URLs for G.A. and a space becomes a +. In AdWords I have a campaign Blue Widgets so in AdCenter I type utm_campaign=Blue+Widgets and they convert it to ascii so in my reports I have two separate campaigns, one with a + and one with a space so it becomes a pain to compare performance.

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by T0PS3O

Yes, I get it with +es.

I create the tracked URLs for G.A. and a space becomes a +. In AdWords I have a campaign Blue Widgets so in AdCenter I type utm_campaign=Blue+Widgets and they convert it to ascii so in my reports I have two separate campaigns, one with a + and one with a space so it becomes a pain to compare performance.

Crap, sounds like I may be SOL. My problem is when the amp; is inserted the click is no longer treated as paid search by my analytics package...it's treated as organic search. In some cases the addition of the amp;actually breaks the url so instead of bringing people to the product detail for product A it brings them to catagory A.

[T0PS3O]

Core should be able to fix it if MS won't.

[codeber]

its best practice not to use & in your page urls.
I'm not 100% they would pass w3c validation.

And may cause unexpected programs like this one.

[T0PS3O]

Originally Posted by codeber

its best practice not to use & in your page urls.
I'm not 100% they would pass w3c validation.

That's like saying it's best practice to drive with square wheels.

Having URLs without & is virtually impossible for proper systems. MSN not being able to deal with it is definitely not the webmaster's fault.

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by codeber

its best practice not to use & in your page urls.

I'm not quite sure who's "best practice" that is. Regardless, that's not really a viable option for me at this point.

[amstrad]

when adcenter will be open open to all people ?

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by T0PS3O

Core should be able to fix it if MS won't.

I've been working with the adCenter group since yesterday on the issue. We're making some headway and when I find out the details (when it will be fixed, and any back end reprocussions) I'll post an update here.

[GuyFromChicago]

Update: The adCenter team has resolved the issue and provided an easy way for me to fix all of the existing campaigns that were impacted.