Curious, I cranked up the CPM budget for the ad, and caught it being displayed on the targeted site. Clicked on it expecting to arrive at my own site address. All that happened was that the publisher's page refreshed, leaving me exactly where I was before I clicked. No new window. No sign of my site.
I'm trying to figure out if this is a glitch of some sort, some stupid thing I missed, or even fraud. I've written ADwords with the particulars, but does this make any sense to anyone?
The only code on the publisher page that is even remotely different is a short snippet like as follows (I altered a variable name or two).
<body onload="if(document.mg1.q.value == '') document.mg1.q.focus(); else document.sf.keyword.focus();">
Is there any way this code could have caused not arriving when I clicked on my ad on their site?
Any hints?
I've written ADwords with the particulars, but does this make any sense to anyone?
If that is really happening then it seems to be serious abuse of the system and I have no doubt Adwords will be delighted to find out about it and stop it.
Yes, this thread did catch our attention - so I asked the support folks to forward the email to me if they could identify it based on the info in the original post.
The short story: the email found its way to me a short time ago, and a first look at things tells me there is no cause for alarm.
rbacal, you should get a reply to your email tomorrow that will set your mind at ease.
AWA
The short story: the email found its way to me a short time ago, and a first look at things tells me there is no cause for alarm.rbacal, you should get a reply to your email tomorrow that will set your mind at ease.
Thanks, muchly. I figured it might take some time to get a response, so figured I'd hang in there to see. Weird situation, really, and I simply didn't/don't know if I was making some interpretive mistake or there was something untoward going on. I'm sooooooo confused!
Look forward to the resolution of the mystery, Sherlock.
AWA, good to know you've got your eye on the ball!
rbacal - if it's not sensitive or potentially damaging information, I'm sure many of us will be interested in the general cause of the problem when you find it out.
It's all sorted out. I want to thank google adwordsadvisor and adwords staff. The only sensitive information connected with the resolution, is that on occasions, I am a complete idiot.
I misunderstand how to setup up the ads, and so when I thought I was targeting a page on the publisher's site, I was actually having people who clicked on the ad basically just reload the publisher's page.
It's a whole lot embarrassing. But won't be the first or last time I do something dumb (smack - how many times do I wonder why OUR customers don't read).
So, obviously completely me.
It's all sorted out. I want to thank google adwordsadvisor and adwords staff. The only sensitive information connected with the resolution, is that on occasions, I am a complete idiot.I misunderstand how to setup up the ads, and so when I thought I was targeting a page on the publisher's site, I was actually having people who clicked on the ad basically just reload the publisher's page.
It's a whole lot embarrassing. But won't be the first or last time I do something dumb (smack - how many times do I wonder why OUR customers don't read).
So, obviously completely me.
Don't feel so bad, I'm thankful that you posted the results of what happened, it certainly made me second guess myself on whether i did mine right... You took one for the team, so thank you and let us left our glasses to you and point out that you are not the only one.
Thanks. It's kind of funny, really. Heck, I've spoken to large groups, and once I did so with a large wet spot covering my whole crotch area (long story--a lot of rain, underwear that was wet, light colored summer pants...a long bicycle ride to the gig .. yada)
Now what I should really do is get on my whiny baby mask and demand that google reimburse me for the clicks I paid for but never arrived, because I misconfigured the ads to be aimed to the wrong place. I'm starting to like the idea of making other people legally responsible because I occasionally locate my head in my posterior. It's dark in there, but heck, if there's money to be made.
I'll sue. I will, I will, and get that damned 2.38 cents back.
Well, not. But IF I lived in the U.S., there'd probably be some lawyer that would take it on.
Anyway, thanks again to the google adwords folks. I now understand why my ROI was so poor <grin> for all my site targeted campaigns.
I want to thank google adwordsadvisor and adwords staff
A pleasure - and glad things are resolved.
BTW, rbacal, you have my complete admiration for owning up to an error in a public forum. That takes real courage to do. ;)
Thanks for that.
AWA
BTW, rbacal, you have my complete admiration for owning up to an error in a public forum. That takes real courage to do. ;)
Thanks. But you refrained from giggling at me in public, although who knows what any of us do in private.
Don't ya just get tempted now and again, though?
