What constitutes a click?

Have made a possible click - does it count?

[HarryM]

Yesterday I inadvertently clicked on an ad. The page started to load, but I hit stop before anything rendered. My own page was still displayed, but to be on the safe side I closed the browser down.

Would this constitute a 'click' in Google's terms? The URL was requested but none of the page rendered. The advertiser is (probably) hosted in China while my site is hosted in the UK. I am uncertain whether an Adsense click is recorded at the moment the click is made or if the target page is also involved.

On a practical level, what should I do anything about it? Email Adsense or keep a low profile and hope it gets overlooked?

[2oddSox]

I wouldn't worry about it HarryM. IMHO the worst that you've done by aborting the page view is to downgrade your SmartPricing (TM) ranking by a notch or two.

[HarryM]

Thanks 2oddSox,

I hadn't thought of the effect on CPM - oops! In fact yesterday 14th (the day after my mistake) my Impressions and CTR were average, but CPM was very low. Hopefully it's just a blip not a trend. Now I've got something else to worry about!

[2oddSox]

:) Don't take me too literally, Harry. I was just trying to allay your fears over the accidental click (with an attempt at humour along the way). I'm sure your CPM dip is completely unrelated.

But then again.... ;)

[HarryM]

Yes, I'm sure the CPM dip is unrelated, at least that's what my rational mind says. But running Adense tends to make my subconscious paranoid...

But looking on the bright side, now that the channel report is available, I at least know how much that click was worth. Not enough for a packet of cigarattes, but now I can definitely buy a box of matches.

[HughMungus]

When it happened to me, I emailed them, they told me to not do it again, etc. Honesty appears to be the best policy. I think they allow for inadvertent clicks.