Right now we are only tracking the initial free signup, but this isn't good enough. I know we can add more conversion tracking code to the "thank you" page when people upgrade, but how would the stats work at that point?
If someone creates a free account, and then goes on to upgrade later, I assume the AdWords system will count that as 2 conversions, and thus the main Conv. Rate stat will become innacurate.
Obviously the most important thing we want to track is ROI. If we go ahead and do this, will we be able to run reports that will show each type of conversion on a per-keyword basis so we can determine an accurate ROI for each keyword?
Having to run reports and analyze Excel spreadsheets, and then go back into the account and adjust bids, etc. that way seems like it might get a little messy.
Are we better off just stopping the tracking of the free signups, which are really worthless to us, and tracking only the paid upgrades which is what we really care about?
This would sure simplify things, I just keep thinking I'm missing something and that might not be a good idea.
Right now we know which keywords are generating the most signups, but I'm guessing these aren't the same keywords that are returning the highest ROI. I'm positive there are lots of keywords that are generating lots of free signups with few upgrades, and vice versa...
When the user makes the choice of free or paid use that info to add the correct tracking script to the thank you page dynamically.
Or you can have two thank you pages that have the right scripts on them already in which case you would just show the appropriate thank you page based on free or paid option being chosen.
JAG
That wouldn't work for our site. The way it works is that everyone creates an account at our site. That is the first conversion we are tracking now. Then users decide if they want to just use that free account or if they want to upgrade (some do it right away, and some do it later).
For another client who sells training courses, and also runs an organization that charges a membership fee, we use sale for a course reservation, and signup for a membership application.
Sure would be nice if there was a way you could specify which columns appear in the onscreen stats. I'm tempted to stop tracking the free signup conversions and only tracking the sale conversions just so I can easily view the Cost/Conv. onscreen...
You'll want to add a second transaction type, like Sales, to the Thank You page for the paid sign up. One thing to keep in mind is that the conversion tracking cookie only lasts 30 days, so if users convert after that window, they won't be tracked.
AWA2
