What is the easiest and most useful way of split testing a website with AdWords?
I want to keep my domain the same in both ads, as I guess I will have to setup another directory for my second "test" site. So I will have this:
www.mysite.com (Current Version)
www.mysite.com/1 or whatever (Test Version)
So what would be the best way of doing this?
Thanks,
C.K.
This is time consuming but is recommended since you have more control over where you want to channelize your traffic.
Setup two identical campaigns (same CPC, same ad copy, same keywords, same adgroups). One campaign should take the visitor to your old site while the other should take the visitor to the test site.
This is time consuming but is recommended since you have more control over where you want to channelize your traffic.
If I've understood everything correctly so far, you could actually do the same thing by simply creating a second ad in the same Ad Group. The ad could be identical (following vibgyor79's instructions) except that it would have a different display/destination URL.
If you were to uncheck the 'Automatically optimize ad serving for my ads' option in 'Edit Campaign Settings', then the ads would rotate evenly.
vibgyor79, I think this would achieve what you were after, right?
AWA
To achieve this, you can add more identical ads. For example, you want 25% go to the test site and the rest for the old site. In this case, four identical ads will be employed. One with the test site landing page and the remaining three with the old site landing address.
With Google conversion tracking code installed on the two sites, it is best to create two different campaigns to get an idea about the conversion rates of the old site and the new test site.
I had the feeling that I was missing something, vibgyor79, and it turned out to be really obvious!
AWA
If I've understood everything correctly so far, you could actually do the same thing by simply creating a second ad in the same Ad Group. The ad could be identical (following vibgyor79's instructions) except that it would have a different display/destination URL.
What if I want to keep the Display URL the same, but change the Destination URL?
It wouldn't be a complete test if the URL was different on one of them, as a different display URL can affect CTR.
C.K.
What if I want to keep the Display URL the same, but change the Destination URL?It wouldn't be a complete test if the URL was different on one of them, as a different display URL can affect CTR.
AdWords policy has it that, to be approvable, the display and destination URLs must be in the same domain. So long as that is the case, you should be good to go.
BTW, the idea behind the policy is to make sure we are sending our users to where they expect to be sent, having seen the display URL in the ad. To do otherwise is not a great user experience, and doesn't exactly lead to long term trust.
AWA
Thanks AWA for clarifying that. The policy makes perfect sense too.
All the Best,
C.K.
Let's say I am promoting an affiliate program with a destination URL http*//www.affnetworkname.com/?sid=122.
When you click on the affiliate link, let's assume that the page redirects to http*//www.merchantdomainname.com
In the above scenario, what should be the display URL? affnetworkname.com or merchantdomainname.com?
I am asking this question because even the AdWords editors are not sure what the display URL should be for affiliate sites. When I use merchantdomainname.com, I get an "innacurate display URL" email. When I use affetworkname.com, guess what, I get the "innacurate display URL" email again!
Do you have a proper policy in place for these cases?
I have a question regarding the policy -
Vibgyor79, things can get a little tricky when it comes to redirects - and they are handled on a case by case basis. However, at the bottom line, the intention of the policy is to make sure users are sent to where they expect to be sent.
So in the example that you've given, assuming no other nuances, if the user clicks on the ad and lands on http*//www.merchantdomainname.com, then I'd suggest using a display URL in that domain.
Because the policy can be tricky to implement, and because there is actual human judgment involved, there is certainly the possibility that an error can be made. If you ever feel that that a mistake has been made, then by all means reply to the disapproval email, and 'make your case'.
If you have this problem often with the same ad(s), then you might want to request that a manager take a look at your particular case, and that a note be added to the account covering the decision. This might add a bit of time to the overall process, but should help with smooth approvals in the future.
AWA
Thanks. Makes sense.
