Adwords Tracking
Posted: November 24th, 2009 | Author: Matt Levenhagen | Filed under: Testing & Tracking, Tools of the Trade | Tags: adwords, tracking | 17 Comments »When you start reading about Adwords Tracking do your eyes start to glaze over? Your mind wanders?
For me tracking is one of the most important topics as a Search Marketer and I personally find it very interesting and know it to be one of the most impacting skills to learn as a PPC Marketer. The day I started paying more attention to it and applying it to all aspects of my business is the day I started to see real progress in the ‘profits’ department.
The trouble is there are so many things regarding Google Adwords tracking to learn. Google provides you a large set of data you can act on; you can never accuse them of holding back in that department. 
The trick is learning what to pay attention to, figuring out what’s most important, how to track everything, what tools to use and how to filter all those stats so you can apply them in beneficial ways to your campaigns.
A good friend of mine online I’ve known for a few years, Adriana Copaceanu, contacted me this last week and asked if I wouldn’t mind answering some questions for her readers on her new blog (My Online Business Journey) regarding Adwords Tracking. I said, “Sure!” I knew tracking was a big topic, but here was a chance for me to help others understand the big picture and boil tracking down so it’s easier to understand and tackle.
After answering the questions it essentially turned into a 5 page report! So Adriana decided it would be best to break them up into parts and topics for better discussions on her blog.
I’ll post a link to each part here so you have them in one place. To understand tracking I believe you also have to understand how each level works from campaign to keyword. So you’ll not only learn what tools I use and recommend to track various things, but also what I believe you should pay attention to, how to decide what tools to use or start with and the importance of each element.
Here’s our Series on Adwords Tracking:
Part 1:
What is the difference between campaign, ad group, text and keyword tracking?Part 2:
Google Adwords Tracking – Ad Group LevelPart 3:
Google Adwords Tracking – Text Ad LevelPart 4:
Google Adwords Tracking – Keyword LevelPart 5:
Is Google AdWords Tracking Important?Part 6:
Adwords Tracking Helps You Make More MoneyPart 7:
AdWords Tracking Made Easy
Great posts if you are interested in learning more about this topic and how to approach the myriad of tracking options and all the stats you have access to in your Adwords Account!
I hope this information helps! Good Luck!
-Matt Levenhagen
Thanks for doing this! I don’t know the first thing about adwords so this will be a really useful thing to read – I must admit that although my eyes don’t glaze over when I heard ‘Google Adwords’ my mind does start to fret and block incoming information.
I don’t have enough ideas about adwords. Actually, not even qualified to be get a beginner standing. I’ll be checking the other posts you’ve made for more ideas.
I’ve been using Adwords loosely for a few months now, because I honestly can’t bring myself to fully understand how it really works. Well, today that’s gonna change, starting with this post. Thanks!
I don’t have enough ideas about adwords. Actually, not even qualified to be get a beginner standing
Nice post, keep it up plz
What is the different betwen adsense and adowrds?
Hi Baju,
Adsense.. these are ads that are placed on websites by website publishers.. So if you have a website, you can place Adsense Units (ads) that will serve ‘relevant’ ads to the content on the page (which helps with CTR if it’s related to the content). Google crawls each page to serve the most relevant ads possible.
Adwords.. these are the advertisers that show up in your Adsense Units. Not only do Adwords Advertisers place ads on the Google Search Engines results pages, but they can also place ads on relevant web pages around the net (Adsense Ads). They are able to target sites, exclude sites.. and control where they are placed on the Adsense network via choosing keywords.
So in a nutshell, Adsense Units on websites display ads from Adwords Advertisers.
Hope that helps!
-Matt Levenhagen
I think I’ve run out of things to learn about Adwords. Everything is starting to repeat for me. Adwords is not at complicated as SEO marketers would make it out to be. It’s not rocket science. It’s not even chemistry 101.
Manhattan, lol.. I’ve been coaching people to advertise with Adwords since 2005; trust me, you’re way off base.
Beyond learning what all the features do and how to use all the tools to build and launch campaigns (editors, analytics, ppc management tools, the interface)…
An individual also has to learn how to apply the features available; what to worry about and what to ignore. There are different ways to drive traffic.. Different ways to serve that traffic on the web.
How to use and analyze data to improve campaigns, increase profits and decrease costs.
And in this business it doesn’t just stop in the interface.. each new person that takes on PPC has to learn how to do proper keyword research, build targeted campaigns and drive traffic to well optimized landing pages that convert. Different markets and types of affiliate programs require different strategies depending on their competitiveness and other factors.
They have to learn how to test, split-test and improve their landing pages over time. What the best methods and layouts are on those sites.. how to build a funnel and pre-sell and write good copy.
Rocket Science? No.. a learning curve? Yes. That’s why someone new needs a good program or coach to help guide you through it all.
…and a great community and individuals walking their talk to guide them through the ever changing environment.. including changes in the algos, affiliate programs, rules and regulations.
There is more to this game than just throwing up some campaigns..
I do thank you for your comment though and great success with your business! And thanks for the opportunity to instruct.
-Matt
Adwords and Adsense pays you the right amount money you will get. I have been using Adwords for a year now and it works well.
It is really hard to understand what google is thinking so I am excited to read through your article and see what tips and information I can gain from it. Thanks!
Frankly speaking adwords use to go above my head but after reading this post i understood a lot.. thanks for the post
Quality post, this really is. We’ve been looking for some articles to explain to clients about the tracking on PPC and it’s difficulties and this is absolutely perfect. We’ll forward the link to them all the get clued up, thanks!
Thanks so much for all the useful information… I agree, it may not be rocket science, but it certainly is a learning curve! I appreciate you taking the time to write these articles as well as taking the time to follow up on comments and continue to instruct… it’s all very helpful.
You’re welcome Nora.
Good Luck with Your Endeavors!
-Matt
I’ve been trying to find some more in depth information about AdWords. These are some great links. Thanks!
I practice organic SEO only.. & im a big zero in Adword…. This post really helped me…
Thankx..