The ROI Revolution Blog

Site Architecture & Google Analytics

July 8, 2009

Typically when someone decides to use Google Analytics on their website they grab the code and paste it on the site without thinking too much about what they're doing. Many of those who are new (and even some not so new) to Google Analytics don't understand how site structure will affect Google Analytics. If you are thinking about installing Google Analytics or if things aren't quite working like you expected, consider mapping out your site architecture to see where you can simplify things before you get in too deep.

Domains:
If you can help it, one domain will make the Google Analytics setup and tracking much easier. By increasing the number of domains, you will complicate the tracking process. Because Google Analytics uses first party cookies, each time your visitor travels to another domain, you have to pass along all the information about who they are and where they came from. Doing this again and again could potentially result in a loss of data and your referral information might not make it to the final destination. That means that if you are running paid advertising campaigns you won't be able to attribute the sale or conversion to its correct source, which might make it look like you're losing money when actually your paid campaigns are very profitable. By simplifying the number of domains on your site you will not only save yourself some headaches with the Google Analytics Tracking Code, but typically it will make for a much better user experience since the user will know where they are at all times.

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Posted by Caitlin Cook, Analytics and Optimization Specialist at 3:19 PM

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Latest Urchin Version 6.6 Ready and Available for Download!

June 29, 2009

Urchin has done it again! Version 6.6 is available for purchase, as an update to your already purchased license and for trial.

Version 6.6 introduces some really great improvements to the software including:

A deeper integration with Google AdWords, including Budget Alerts, a Keyword Generation Tool, direct links to AdWords (so you don't have to switch between programs), an Urchin Tag Manager, AdWords Optimizer, and a Copy Campaign Tool!

New Reporting:

Time On Site Report under Content Optimization, Content Performance, Engagement Metrics
An entirely new reporting section called Advertiser View and Section (If you're upgrading from an older version of Urchin, you'll need to reprocess your data to populate these reports.)
Click here for a complete list of Urchin 6 Reports

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Posted by Kathy Scott, Product Marketing Manager at 2:15 PM

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AdWords Conversions: The One vs. Many-Per-Click Breakdown

June 25, 2009

There's a lot of confusion regarding Google's recent change to conversion metrics with the AdWords conversion tracker. Previously a "1" in the "Conversion" column would tell you there was at least one conversion that happened within 30 days of that date. You were happy with this limited knowledge.

Messy and/or complex data was disguised as clean & simple data. The "1" was all you knew. If the user clicked an ad and purchased something, you'd see a "1." If the user bookmarked the page with the conversion tracking script and went back to it a week later, you'd still see a "1." If another purchase was made two weeks later, you'd still see a "1." Simple, right?

In early April, Google exposed some of the potential mess to be more in line with the way conversions and transactions are tabulated in DoubleClick and other online ad platforms. They changed the name of "Conversions" to "Conversions (1-per-click)" and added a new metric called "Conversions (many-per-click)". While the 1-per-click conversion spot can only be filled once, the many-per-click conversions are incremented whenever any of your conversion scripts run within 30 days after a click.

Under the new system, consider the following scenarios and what conversions would be tracked for each:

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Posted by Chris Crompton, PPC Specialist at 11:41 AM

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Filed under: Pay-Per-Click , Tracking

Calling Out All AdWords Newbies---Read AdWords Step by Step: A Guide to Building Successful AdWords Campaigns.

June 24, 2009

If you are new to advertising with Google AdWords and want some additional help setting up your campaigns, but cannot yet afford agency services, read Step by Step---a help guide to getting started with AdWords .

This workbook is a simple, easy-to-understand, 35-page guide that maps out the process of setting up your very own AdWords campaign from start to finish.

The book lays out in 3 fast chapters the processes of organizing your account, picking the right keywords, and writing targeted ads---all essential components to a successful AdWords campaign.

Each chapter is then broken down into simple steps that any beginner would be able to understand, along with a section of key terms and a helpful worksheet at the end to guide you through the setup process of your account.

First, let's start with the section on Organizing Your Account. This section really focuses on helping you, the advertiser, organize your campaign around your personal business goals, concentrating on one goal per campaign. After all, how could you hone in on a specific cost per conversion or certain ROI level for a campaign, if it had more than one goal?

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Posted by Katherine Anderson, PPC Specialist at 5:22 PM

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Tie It All Together: Linking Google Analytics Goals With AdWords

June 19, 2009

Isn't it annoying when you have to click back and forth between your Google AdWords account and your Google Analytics account to see which campaigns, ad groups, and keywords are bringing the most profit bearing conversions for you? Well I have good news... You don't have put up with that headache any longer!

We've seen it in our client accounts for some time now, but Google has just announced that it is now possible to import your goals and transactions from Google Analytics into your AdWords account.

To be able to do this, you must first have your Google AdWords account linked with your Google Analytics account. Once that is set up, you just have to make a few clicks, and you're done.

In the new user interface, you can find conversion tracking under the tools tab.

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Posted by Erin Skinner, PPC Specialist at 8:05 AM

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Filed under: Pay-Per-Click

Have You Used Google's New Wonder Wheel?

June 10, 2009

A few weeks ago our agency received an update that Google released a new tool called Wonder Wheel. I could not help but conjure up all these funny images related to wheel of fortune. After a training session with our Google team, I realized that even with a funny name, this was a very powerful keyword tool.

Here's how to find Google's new Wonder Wheel:

When a searcher types a query into Google a new Show Options link now appears

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Posted by Page Christenbury, PPC Specialist at 10:37 AM

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Filed under: Pay-Per-Click

Power Using the New AdWords Interface, Part 2: Integrated Placement Performance Reports

June 8, 2009

Where are your ads showing up?

A few weeks ago, I posted an article outlining the benefits of the new integrated search query reporting feature built into the updated AdWords user interface.

I covered in depth how the Search Query Report (SQR) could be used to capitalize on new keyword opportunities, previously hidden in the depths of the report center.

I also covered how the new interface's integrated SQR makes finding money-hemorrhaging search queries you're matching on easier than ever to identify and exclude from your account.

Today, I'll be covering the other advertising power tool provided to advertisers in the new interface, the Integrated Placement Performance Report (PPR).

The SQR is only half of the equation for successful micromanagement of your AdWords account since it is only used on the search network.

While most advertisers start their AdWords campaigns on the search network, many continue to neglect the content network. The AdWords content network can be the biggest and most profitable source of traffic for many accounts. As such, using the Placement Performance Report has given us the ability to see which content network websites (placements) our ads are showing on, as well as how they are performing.

While we've had the ability to run PPRs in the AdWords report center for some time now, like the Search Query Report, Google has recognized its usefulness and integrated it into the interface for easier use.

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Posted by Mike O'Rourke, PPC Specialist at 5:45 PM

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Filed under: Improving Conversion , Pay-Per-Click , Reports , Web Marketing

Google AdWords Updates Editor to Version 7.5.1

June 4, 2009

On Monday, Inside AdWords, Google's official blog for everything AdWords related, announced the release of a new version of AdWords Editor.

With this new version there are a couple of very helpful updates that increase efficiency when working on your account.

Additionally, the desktop-based keyword tool within Editor has been enhanced by creating a more robust capability in order to increase your presence on both Google's search and content networks.

There are three main upgrades that come with updating Editor to version 7.5.1:

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Posted by Matt Fritz, PPC Specialist at 7:21 PM

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Filed under: Pay-Per-Click

AdWords Increases Transparency of Search Query Performance Reports

June 3, 2009

If you manage an AdWords account, you're most likely familiar with the Search Query Performance Report, which allows you to view the exact search queries users have typed when they clicked your ad.

Being able to see these actual queries for your broad and phrase match keywords gives you the opportunity to add the queries that perform well as keywords to increase granularity, and find queries that are not converting and add them as negatives to cut the fat.

The only catch was that some queries with very low volume were pooled together in a line item called, "other unique queries." The main issue was that although the queries contained in this grouping had low volume, some advertisers saw that collectively, "other unique queries" accounted for a significant portion of overall traffic.

Needless to say, it's a bit frustrating to run a report for the sole purpose of gaining insight towards what users are typing when they click your ads, only to find that a decent percentage of the data is still hidden behind the curtain.

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Posted by Matt Siesing, PPC Specialist at 6:47 AM

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Filed under: Pay-Per-Click

Last Chance To Attend Miami Google™ Analytics Seminars For Success!

May 31, 2009

One last post before our June 10-11, 2009 seminars in Miami, to remind you that there is still time to take advantage of Seminars for Success, where we share our Google Analytics knowledge with you in person!

Which Google Analytics seminar day is for you?

The Introduction and User Training, on Wednesday, June 10th, is for you if you generate and interpret the reports in Analytics and would like some in depth user training so you can better understand how to really leverage Google Analytics as a powerful website and online marketing reporting tool.

The Advanced Technical Implementation Training, on Thursday, June 11th, is for you if you are the webmaster for your website, are comfortable working with html and javascript, and you either need the technical set up of Analytics explained/shown to you or you have an analytics account, but are not satisfied with the results from a technical setup viewpoint.

There will be plenty of time for Q&A so you can get all your questions answered in a dedicated learning environment.

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Posted by Kathy Scott, Product Marketing Manager at 8:14 AM

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