Getting the search term from a serp or ppc?

[plasma800]

Ok, so I'm doing some noodling about how to better track visitors to my site.

Is there a way to clearly track the search term that was entered into the search engine that you were found under?

A site I watch a bit has this thing.. it's odd, you type in "whatever" (not really whatever, but you get the drift) and his PPC ad shows up.

You click his ad and at the top of his landing page IS the term you typed in exactly into Google or whatever. Further, his page has all of those terms highlighted.

This tells me that there has to be a way to get the actual search term out of the engine right?

I don't want to copy what he is doing, but I would like to better track what certain search terms turn into as far as a convertion or a purchase or a dead end.

Does anyone track the actual terms from an SE on a term by term basis or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[Web Footed Newbie]

Plasma800, welcome to WW!
Everyone I know tracks each search term and search phrase. You should have access to your log files. The log files will show the referring search engine and the search term or phrase. Web site analytic programs examine your log files and report how many times a search term or phrase was used and from which search engine. There are some basic and free web analytic programs, or you can download the full program on a trial basis.
I was new to all of this at one point, and I know I appreciated it when someone answered my basic question... so there is your answer. Good luck!
WFN

[plasma800]

Ive known that the log files have them, but the problem that I run into is that I cannot tie a particular search term to any spcific google ad or to any particular user action.

Maybe im over thinking this. All I know is I spend alot, but don't always sell alot. I figured maybe some of the keywords i use are attracting window shoppers or something.. I dunno.

I have Urchin on the server, a copy of clicktracks (the basic version) AND Webceo and I still have no clue as to whats going on (cept I spend more on google than I make most times.

I want to see the whole process. Person goes to engine, types in words?, clicks my ad, goes where in my site, and then does what?

[the_nerd]

in coldfusion the variable you are looking for is cgi.http_referer

in php it is HTTP_Referer or $_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]

What you need is a dynamic page that can read the referer when it's called and do something with this information (highlight keywords, etc)

[plasma800]

Any idea what the ASP version of this is?

[plumsauce]

Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER")

iis help, msdn, or iis sdk for further information

[plasma800]

I thought that the http_reffer only showed me what page they came from..

Will it also tell me what they actually typed into the search engine?

[larryn]

plasma,

The referrer should show the complete referring URL. Fortunately for us trackers, at most major search engines and portals that include the query string.

However, you'll have to do some work to fish it out of the other parameters in the URL.

For example at Google, the query "webmaster world tracking and logging" returns this URL:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=webmasterworld+tracking+and+logging&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

while at Yahoo, its this:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=webmasterword+tracking+and+logging&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&fr=FP-tab-web-t&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8

You get the idea...

Hope that points you in the right direction,

Larry

[Receptional]

Plasma:

and his PPC ad shows up

It is even easier than that on PPC, because the person setting up the ppc can add the keyword as a variabole to the landing page URL. So - he wants to advertise when a person types in "blue widgets" - his advert then links to the URL example.com?kw=blue+widgets

Infact, on the biggest PPC engines, you can add the search term as a variable even if you used a broad match on the advert.

[plasma800]

Thats what Im talking about!

On the broad matches, just knowing which "phrase" in your ppc campaign that click will be registered too is sometimes not enough..

I'm curious how to see what they typed when they clicked my ad.

[larryn]

Plasma,

In order to see what they typed into most search engines, you'll need to examine the referring URL for the query string as I mentioned in the earlier post. If you can't do that yourself, perhaps you should investigate a log analysis tool for your site. It will only be useful if your log is configured to capture the referrer information, which is not always the case depending upon your specific situation.

Larry

[plasma800]

Well I do use webceo and it shows me all of the terms that i was found under, butit does not tie them to anything particular. Im porbably asking too much

[larryn]

plasma,

I don't know webceo, but I don't think you are asking too much, but maybe more than they can offer with your current site. Good luck anyway,
Larry