Confused!? - Can't target URLs on Google content network?

[Danm]

Hi guys,

I used a tool to target URLS which contain my keyword and run adsense. I've checked the sites to be sure and they all run adsense.

I then created a new placement campaign > target customers > create ad > list URLs > and I then pasted all these URLs in to the placement URLs box.

I have pasted in over 323 in there and then clicked "Get available placements" but then google displays a red box on the right saying:

"323 of the URLs entered are not available for targeting.

Only the websites in Google's content network will be available for you to target. If the site that you'e entered is not available, it's possible that it belongs to our search network and is not a content site, or that it is not part of our network at all.

However, the AdWords system uses the sites or terms that you enter to generate a list of available Google content network sites that may be a good fit for your ads. These will be listed lower on that page."

If I target just the homepage of any of the sites it's ok, but I can't target specific URLs?

I even tried targeting a URL on my site which allows placement targeting but it still doesn't let me...?

I've read and herd that you can target URLs.

I'm confused... can someone shed some light.

Thanks

[buckworks]

Try targeting some of the problem URLs one at a time and see if the messages you get are more informative.

My suspicion would be that the URLs you're trying to target are too deep in the site's hierarchy. That's a problem I've encountered.

[Danm]

Still no luck.

I've even clicked on a site (one which Google suggests and lists) to show all its placements and then viewed an example page. For example example.com and then in the drop down I clicked one of the many places I could target, then viewed an example page which was example.com/sym/example_pain.htm.

I then took that exact URL and put it in the URL box and I still got a red box from Google.

I really do not get this...

Could anyone perhaps try this themselves and see if it works for them and let me know.

I have no idea why this isn't working!?

[edited by: buckworks at 4:02 am (utc) on April 23, 2009]
[edit reason] Please use "example.com" - it will never be owned [/edit]

[dserber]

Hi Danm,
I have done very similar testing as you and even talked with Ad reps extensively about this topic.

It IS possible to do what you are wanting, but you need to load the specific pages using either Adwords Editor or go under the "edit placements" tab in the online console.

I consider the "placement tool" pretty much useless since it won't let us target down to the page level.

Apparently, not all sites are available to advertise on down to the page level and there is really no tool that will allow you to know which ones do or don't. You just have to through a bunch up and see which ones get impressions.

Just try adding different sites with their pages and hopefully you'll start to uncover some that allow this.

Also, remember that placement targeted ads must go through a manual review so make sure that isn't the problem before writing off a site.

That's what has worked for me.

[farmboy]

If a page is not available for targeting today but the owner makes it available a week from now, will Google notify the advertiser?

FarmBoy

[netmeg]

No.

[webguy]

I have run into some of the same things you all have and have tried many of the same things too.

What HAS worked for me is to target the main url and then under keywords, enter the specific keywords that make sense for you. If you sell colored golf balls only and the site you are targeting reviews golf equipment, enter only specific keywords. Such as:

golf ball
golf balls
green golf ball
green golf balls
paisley golf ball
paisley golf balls
etc

You can also use negative keywords.

Hope this helps.

[Seb7]

I've had the same problem, and wondered if it was the ad type I was using. After adding all the ad types, it still refused, but the domain was previously accepted on a different campaign. confused.

@Farmboy. Where is it in adsense can you turn targeting on/off?

[pavlovapete]

I wondered about this last week
[webmasterworld.com...]

I think there is a 3 level hierarchy

1: Publisher does Adsense, site targeting off, Google decides where it goes

2: Publisher does Adsense, site/ placement targeting on, Advertyiser chooses the site, Google and decides where it goes

3: Publisher does Adsense, site/ placement targeting on, Advertiser decides where it goes

Is site targeting "on" by default?

Any guesses on the percentages using the above methods?

I am at a loss to understand the differences between site targeting and page targeting. I don't think the term "placement targeting" adequately explains the difference between site and page placements.

[dserber]

Here's another level hierarchy to throw into the fray.

I believe that site targeting is on by default. However, there is a reverse filter option within adsense accounts where only listed advertisers' urls are allowed to placement target on the site. Therefore, an adsense publisher doesn't have to keep blacklisting new advertisers wishing to advertise on their site, rather only add those that they want to be able to the list.

Placement targeting is Google's way of saying that adsense advertisers can clump together certain sections within their site and offer them to advertisers.

Site targeting would be just running your ads on the entire site.

Page targeting would be specifically targeting a certain page within a particular site.

I can testify that these three options are possible. Also, from my testing it is not possible to page target on all sites. In fact, you may have cases where you can site target or placement target but not be able to page target.