Source-Oriented Channels

Could this defeat smart pricing?

[vincevincevince]

I've come up with this idea...

Different sources (Adwords, Google SERPS, Direct Links, Site Interlinks, Newsletter, etc.) all have their own different conversion rates in terms of Adsense.

If traffic from the newsletter converts at 10% and traffic from Google SERPS converts at 1% then it seems likely that the ads shown for newsletter traffic will be smartpriced down based on the poor performance from the SERPS.

My idea is to have different channels for different sources. If a click comes from the newsletter then a different channel should be used.

So far as I can tell, this will result in that particular channel not being smart-priced and the traffic being able to make a much better return for me as a publisher.

Does that make sense, or is there a flaw in my logic?

[panos]

is there a flaw in my logic?

If smart-pricing is applied to channels, then there is no flaw in your logic. :)

[jomaxx]

...In other words yes, there is a big flaw in your logic.

[vincevincevince]

As I understand it, smart pricing is applied at multiple levels... including channels (I recall people changing the channel to trigger a smartpricing reassessment) or has that now changed?

[jomaxx]

I believe that theory didn't stand the test of time.

How exactly smartpricing is broken down -- by page, site, or overall account -- is unclear. But nobody has demonstrated that it's possible to manipulate smart pricing's effect on your total earnings by means of channels. I mean, why would Google allow such an enormous loophole to exist?