AdSense launches URL channels for tracking stats

work on a site, directory or page basis

[Jenstar]

Once you login to your account: [google.com...]

URL channels work like this:

Entering www.example.com will track all pages on that domain

Entering www.example.com/widgets will track all pages in that directory (ie. www.example.com/widgets/pageone.html and www.example.com/widgets/pagetwo.html would be tracked).

Entering www.example.com/index.html would just track that specific page.

The control panel for this isn't the most user friendly one in the world, but I think people will over look it for this feature ;)

You now get up to 60 content channels (up from 50).

Also, the main index page for AdSense at [google.com...] has also been redesigned.

<added>And five new languages have been added to AdSense search, although I am not sure which ones, since the list of languages is the same as it was a week or so ago.</added>

[edited by: Jenstar at 7:22 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2004]

[Macro]

Nope, not seeing it in the UK. When I manually type in the URL above it takes me to the usual Adsense channel screen. Nada different. Can't find any mention anywhere about being able to create a channel using a URL.

But, yes, am seeing the new home page.

How did Zygoot get to this before you? [webmasterworld.com] <grin>

[edited by: Macro at 7:28 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2004]

[Zygoot]

Something I would like to see is a new feature allowing you to see your 10 (or more) best performing pages. That would be a lot more useful.

[Jenstar]

>> How did Zygoot get to this before you? <grin>

Cause I was still typing my long post ;) I could have been first with a short one, hehe.

[Macro]

Ah, OK, we'll forgive you ;)

And, the new feature has now reached our shores as well.

[Powdork]

I thought somethingwas up when I visited the homepage and the font looked a bit larger. I thought I had messes with my screen resolution. Gotta go check out the new feature.

[dazzlindonna]

ok, i'm confused - it says something about using the new url channels without updating your code - but doesn't the code include the channel code? so...let's say i am currently using channels to indicate each site (essentially like url channels). if i were to use the new url channels instead, would i then delete my current channels? and if i do, wouldn't that mean i would need to copy the code all over again, as it now doesn't include the old channels code? wow, that is a simple question that sounds more complex typed out than it should.

[Powdork]

when I click on the url channels link it takes me to the regular channels page. It even still says we only get 50.

[Macro]

donna,

old method: create a channel name, generate the code, insert it into your site.

new channel feature: create a new channel using a URL instead of a channel name. That's it. No generating the code or inserting it in your site/page.

[olias]

The way I see it is that I will now use the new url channels to monitor earnings per site or per part of site, which I think was what most of us wanted from the channels concept in the first place.

The old custom channels I will use to track how ad sizes, ad colors or positions affect earnings or any other specific thing.

[Jenstar]

How to tell if you are getting the updated version or the older version:

Click on "Ad Settings" then "Channels" - the page will start with "Use this page to create up to 60 active channel names for AdSense for content."

- OR -

When you login, you will see "New! Track your pages without updating your ad code using URL Channels. Plus, 5 new languages for AdSense for search." at the top of the reports page.

It seems to be on a rolling update across publishers, similar to the last update they did. I think it took a few hours for everyone to see the changes. I am just glad I was one of the first ones this time ;)

[Jenstar]

The custom channels can also be used to track multiple ad units on a single page.

[Prash_seo]

Hi,

I can see the -> New! Track your pages without....
...however, when I click on the link >URL Channels<, it still shows me the OLD Channel Support page.

I guess, those pages are still coming for another data center?

India here..

regards,

Prash.

[Prash_seo]

Jenstar,

Thx for that info, ok...seeing 60 channels now.

regards,

Prash.

[suidas]

Some questions:

1. Are URL channels retroactive? Will it tell me how particular URLs did before I activated the URL channels?

2. If my ads have regular channels in them, and then I add URL channels at the site control, which of the two takes precedence, or is there double-tracking?

3. Is there double-tracking? I mostly use channels to see how different areas of my site are doing. When I experiment and change the channels to track location on the page or ad size I lose the info necessary for long-term site-area analysis. I am right that URL tracking should allow me to track both, and thereby not lose information? That seems to be the jist of it, but the reports interface suggests URL channels are exclusive of other channels. There doesn't seem to be anything to prevent double-counting.

[alpski]

This is really cool.

Well done adsense! Go google.

[Jenstar]

I just got confirmation from AdSense, the five new AdSense for Search languages are:

Traditional Chinese
Russian
Czech
Slovak
Hungarian

[Visi]

Finally a way to track without editing 4000 pages:)

[AZEvil]

Very nice new features. I just wish that they could update the channel data more often than 2 days after the clicks have accumulated. It looks like this change will not be retroactive based on this comment on the AdSense FAQ's:

The new URL channel will begin tracking data almost immediately.

[hbirnbaum]

Lame that you can only create 60...

[Vegas21]

I still have Donna's question as well: What does a publisher do that ALREADY has an AdSense channel up on a site but wants to switch to the new URL channels?

Do we first need to take the channel specific code off our pages and then activate a URL channel?

Or, can we create and activate a URL channel and then just go ahead and leave up the old custom channel code on the site. That would be easiest for me as then I could leave my code as is and then just delete my old custom channel in the AdSense admin area.

Anybody know what to do in a situation like this where you would like to replace a custom channel with a new URL channel?

[Jenstar]

I am pretty sure you can leave old style channels up, even if you are running the new URL channels. It wouldn't make sense to disable one or the other, just because it was covered by another channel.

[dauction]

If I am readinmg this correctly 1 channel could track multiple pages? www.example.com channel tracks all the pages under example.com is that correct?
so if example.com has 500 pages you can now view the results for all 500 pages using URL channel

[ncw164x]

Yes that's correct and you do not have to alter your existing adsense code but you will have to wait for two days to see any stats

[esllou]

it's quite neat that we can now use the url channels to track "location across my website", e.g:

example.com/lyrics
example.com/shopping/dvd
example.com/shopping/books
example.com/christmas-shopping-page.shtml

and use the standard channels to track "look and feel" factors, e.g:

blue skyscrapers
mid-text box
black background leaderboard

and even better that we don't have to alter the code for the new stuff today. I am pleased although I so wish the two day delay would get halved at least.

[AdSenseAdvisor]

Are URL channels retroactive? Will it tell me how particular URLs did before I activated the URL channels?

No. URL channels are not retroactive.

If my ads have regular channels in them, and then I add URL channels at the site control, which of the two takes precedence, or is there double-tracking?

URL channels and regular channels are independent of each other. If you have a URL channel for a site as well as custom channels for different pages, they will be tracked individually. This should also answer the 3rd question from your post- don't worry, no information will be lost. Think of URL channels as a completely separate feature from the current channels you have in your accounts.

Do we first need to take the channel specific code off our pages and then activate a URL channel?
Or, can we create and activate a URL channel and then just go ahead and leave up the old custom channel code on the site?

It isn't necessary to remove custom channels from your current ad code in order to activate URL channels because, as mentioned above, the two are independent of each other. You're perfectly welcome to do the latter. :)

Hope that clears up any confusion. Meanwhile, keep the feedback coming. I'm watching over this thread closely, so the team will definitely hear your comments.

ASA

[Visit Thailand]

This is very interesting and useful, I wonder whether G will make it compulsory to fill the domain channels in for each domain we place the code on to avoid anybody using our codes on sites we know nothing about.

Added in: BTW - Thanks again Jenstar!

[edited by: Visit_Thailand at 2:01 am (utc) on Dec. 7, 2004]

[dazzlindonna]

Thanks Vegas21, for rewording my question. For some reason, I just couldn't seem to make it understandable in written form. Glad to see that we can just leave the code as is, and add the urls. I really didn't want to start changing code again.

[howl]

We also can't delete a channel, and the url chaneel even can't be modified.

[dvduval]

what about www.domain.com versus domain.com?
Will they all be tracked in one channel, or do I need a separate for each?