The Search Reports are nonsensical

Google needs to change the Search report

[Clark]

If you've installed the search box, ever notice how the reports make no sense? What is a page impression? For me, a page impression is each time I show the search box. They seem to only count an impression when someone makes a search. CTR is absurdly high. Well of course, the "click" is rare because I would more likely call it a click when someone actually tries to use the search box. But once they're searching, chances of a CTR are very high. So the CTR rate is worth very little. Effective CPM? Does anyone have a low CPM on their search report? I doubt it. Maybe if they changed the terms a bit. Like Searches instead of page impressions. Any ideas?

[ronin]

For me, a page impression is each time I show the search box.

I have the search box in the top right corner of about 100 pages. It wouldn't be helpful to me at all to know how many times the search box has been shown. I want to know how many times people have actually used it and the number of those times that those people clicked on a PPC link.

[jonknee]

From your server logs you already know how many times it was shown. That's not useful, and wouldn't be used in any further calculation (CTR for example).

[Clark]

I know what you're saying, but maybe if the terminology was changed?

[jonknee]

Think of it this way... It's ad impressions and ad clicks. The ad isn't the search box, it's the paid ads. So just like on the content ads, an impression is when an adwords ad is shown.