Intermediate tracking sites

Discussion in 'Google AdWords' started by Jon12345, Dec 15, 2006.

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  1. #1
    I have noticed that some Adwords advertisers have this set up:

    Adwords > tracking site > actual site

    ...where the tracking site just logs the stats and then they are immediately redirected to the actual site.

    Questions:

    1. Why would they do this and not just track from the actual site?

    2. Is this against Google TOS since you are not directing them to the landing page but instead going via an intermediate page?

    3. Would this affect your quality score?

    4. Do the other search engines, like MSN, Yahoo etc allow this intermediate tracking site?

    Thanks,

    Jon
     
    Jon12345, Dec 15, 2006 IP
  2. nikia

    nikia Peon

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    #2
    They're obviously affiliates capturing information for their own marketing needs. The actual site is the vendor's site which they don't have access too.

    However, if the vendor knows what tracking software the affiliate is using, the vendor can easily steal the keywords and any other important metrics simply by putting the code in their website.

    That's why I never send visitors directly from adwords to the vendor's website. Slap up a landing page because it will protect your keywords from the vendors.

    I even know what keywords drive a sale to the vendor's website without asking the vendor to put any code.

    2. In your case, yes, it is violating google's tos. Your URL must match your landing page or they will not let the ad run.
     
    nikia, Dec 16, 2006 IP
  3. JamieJelly

    JamieJelly Guest

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    #3
    some people use third party bid management/tracking tools such as bid buddy.

    yes you are allowed, no it doesnt affect quality score and yes other engines allow it too.
     
    JamieJelly, Dec 17, 2006 IP
  4. ohadgliksman

    ohadgliksman Peon

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    #4
    The greater advantages of using an intermediate is in capturing the full search queries and then implementing them back in the keyword list for the campaign.
    I found that this can seriously increase quality score.

    Has anyone experienced this as well?
     
    ohadgliksman, Dec 17, 2006 IP
  5. JamieJelly

    JamieJelly Guest

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    #5
    you can capture the full search string without using a redirection by extracting the query from the refer string.

    however tools such as bidbuddy provide very useful information such as roi tracking.
     
    JamieJelly, Dec 17, 2006 IP
  6. jof

    jof Peon

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    #6
    How can one do this? I wouldn't mind trying this out.
     
    jof, Dec 17, 2006 IP
  7. JamieJelly

    JamieJelly Guest

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    #7
    in php the referrer string is contained in the $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERRER'] variable... from there it is easy enough to extract it
     
    JamieJelly, Dec 18, 2006 IP
  8. coolmaste

    coolmaste Peon

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    #8
    any one tryed it
     
    coolmaste, Dec 18, 2006 IP
  9. jof

    jof Peon

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    #9
    Sorry for the n00b questions, but I'm not very knowledgeable in such things. How exactly do I do that. I want to be able to see which keywords people enter my blog with that correspond to sales on the sponser site. I have no ability to edit their "thankyou" page etc.
     
    jof, Dec 18, 2006 IP