Also know that we track all keywords with keyword specific URLs in AdWords. AdWords give precedence to keyword specific URLs (and I LOVE that) meaning they override the ad copy URL.
Problem: With these new ads, the new landing page is only specified in the ad URL, which is being overridden by the keyword URL. I can't start a new campaign with new keyword URLs because it's duplication. The ads won't be rotated correctly.
What I need: A way to attach trackers in the keyword to append to the ad URL. That was hard to say. Let me explain.
Ad 1 URL: www.example.com
Ad 2 URL: www.example.com/lp
I want to set a tracker on all keywords in that campaign so that when someone searches "blue widgets" and gets Ad 2, they get www.example.com/lp/?source=bluewidgets. If they got Ad 1, it'd be www.example.com/?source=bluewidgets.
Basically what I'm looking for is a choice of changing the keyword destination URL if need be, but also have the option of appending a tracker on the end of the ad URL.
Ideas? Or is this just a wish?
You can use the {creative} parameter in your keyword URL to put the ID of the creative that was clicked. Is that what you are looking for?
Alternatively you could set a unique destination URL for each ad, and then use the {keyword} variable to insert information about the keyword clicked.
I hope that helps!
Jamie.
You should look at the Google Analytics URL Builder [google.com]
Even if you're not using GA, you could use this to collect the information, and then write something to extract it out of your logs.
I actually do this sort of thing in an Excel spreadsheet, so I can build URLs in bulk.
As for the {creative} thing, I've looked into that, but that's not what I'm trying to accomplish. I want to track which ad, but that ad has a different landing page than the others (b/c of the phone number).
I will try the keyword parameter in the ad URL though. Might be just what I'm looking for, but messes with the system already in place.
*sigh* turning out to be more work than I figured on. Thanks for the suggestions so far tho!
As you discovered, it doesn't matter what the Ad's URLs if there is a keyword-level URL.
In a less scientific way, you could rotate between two campaigns every hour (using the campaign scheduler). Campaign A would have option #1 URL and campaign B would have option #2 as the URL (in the keyword-level) - Everything else would be identical. You schedule campaign A to be on 5-6pm, then B 6-7pm, A 8-9pm etc. You can break it up anyway you want. 15/30 minute rotation may be better to reduce time of day effects.
Without a 3rd party tool, I'm not sure how you can do any better?
