AdSense JS Tracking is ok?

[littleprince]

I would love to track my AdSense using Analytics goals. Is the script for tracking this that's floating around the web safe to use? Does it seem to violate Googles TOS in anyway?

I'd like to check with you guys before I do it.

[jsjsjs]

Not ok.

[ArtistMike]

I would love to track my AdSense...

======================

There are free page trackers that give data on which ad was clicked, where the viewer came from, how long they were on the page, other data also.

[edited by: Jenstar at 2:09 pm (utc) on Nov. 25, 2005]
[edit reason] TOS [/edit]

[jsjsjs]

Be carefull. It is against the AdSense TOS.

[Jenstar]

Exactly what part of the terms do you think it violates? There is absolutely nothing wrong with using it that I can see.

[ncw164x]

>>Be carefull. It is against the AdSense TOS

since when?

of course you can track your adsense as long as you don't alter the adsense code you are not breaking any of the terms and conditions

with the java based adsense trackers you paste the tracking code underneath your adsense code, its that simple

[jsjsjs]

From AdSense TOS:

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[You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to:] (vii) "crawl", "spider", index or in any non-transitory manner store or cache information obtained from any Ads, Links, Search Results, or Referral Events, or any part, copy, or derivative thereto;
---------------

OK, english is not my native language and maybe I don't understand something correctly. Anyway, I remember threads on WWF about this issue and if I remember correctly the conclusion was not to use these scripts. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[DaveN]

jsjsjs ... have you got those threads anywhere?

DaveN

[littleprince]

Reading through TOS and legal documents is not my strong point either.

Maybe a question one of us should ask directly to G?

[oddsod]

LOL DaveN.

My recollection of those threads is that you can use third party js as long as you don't alter the code yourself.

[jomaxx]

ASA is aware of these tracking scripts and has said previously (but good luck finding it without a functioning site search) that they appear to be okay as long as...

1. They do not change the AdSense code in any way.

2. They do not change the behaviour of AdSense ad blocks in any way.

That third-party clause is interesting, but since Google is itself the third party saving the data, I don't think that would apply in any case.

[jsjsjs]

I choose not to risk.

[RonS]

Clearly if you store the data YOURSELF you are not a third party. If that is really part of the ToS, then Google is gunning for the third parties that are selling services you can do for yourself with the javascript.

Perhaps G doesn't want a large company across many industries and websites to be able to glean CTRs and search/keyword/advertiser associations. Can't imagine why that would be. Oh yeah, the third party isn't bound by AdSense restrictions on contacting advertisers.

Oh yeah, maybe here's another idea.... say Yahoo offered such a service, or purchased a little company that did.....

They are fine for personal use. I've been using one for a looooong time, and the output is very interesting.