Channels

Ad Channels: an Overview

Google channels are a rich but complex topic. But it is worthwhile to get a basic grasp of this topic so that we can learn how to maximize our site's ad revenue.

What are Channels?

Very simply, channels help you to find out the performance of the ads running on your site(s). They help you discover which ads are doing well and which are not. Which ad format/placement/color is doing better? Which pages/groups of pages/sub-domains/domains are doing better?

It is via channels that you can produce various performance reports to find the answers to these questions. This information is important because experience has shown that by changing your ad ("shells") to what works, you can achieve significant improvement in your Google revenue stream.

Two Types of Channels

Google Channels

There are 2 types of channels:

  • Custom Channels and
  • URL Channels

    • They are different and serve different purposes.

    Differences between Custom Channels vs. URL Channels

    Google AdSense AdWords

    A reminder of Google AdSense sub-products.

    Custom Channel URL Channel
  • can be used for AdSense for Content and for AdSense for Search
  • you create different custom channels for AdSense for Content and for AdSense for Search
  • can be linked to specific ads (either Ad Units or Link Units
  • will affect the code you paste into your page(s).
    So if you change or link additional channels to an existing ad unit, you must replace the existing code with the new code.
  • used primarily to track performance of different ad formats/colors/placements
  • provides answers to the following:
    Q. which ad units (opt: on the home or other specified page) are better earners - leaderboard at top? rectangle in the middle of an article? skyscrapers in the right side? link unit under left navigation block?
    Q. do ads perform better with/without borders?
    Q. how does revenue compare against that from AdSense for Search boxes?
  • can be easily added/linked to a specific ad
  • can be easily deactivated/unlinked from a specific ad
  • can be renamed
  • can attach/link a maximum of 5 custom channels to a specific ad in AdSense for Content
  • Google allows each publisher to create a maximum of:
    * 200 custom channels for AdSense for Content and
    * 200 custom channels for AdSense for Search
  • custom channel that is linked to an AdSense for Content type ad can also be set to a target for ad placement for advertisers
    		•
  • not available for AdSense for Search
  • not linked to any specific ad ("shell") - so will not affect code you will paste in your page(s)
  • will begin tracking almost immediately
  • used primarily to track performance of single pages, groups of pages, sub-domains, domains
  • provides answers to the following types of questions:
    Q. which of my domains is earning the best?
    Q. which sections of my sites are better performers - articles? forums? blogs?
  • cannot be renamed. Can only be deactivated or removed. At the moment, URL channels (names) are the URLs being tracked - whether it be full or partial URLs
    		•

    Tips for Custom Channels

    • Create Custom Channels first: Once you have an overview of any of Google's AdSense products and Channels, it would be more sensible to create your custom channels before you set up your (next) AdSense ad.
    • Naming Convention: the more information about where and how a ad "shell" unit is being used, the easier it will be to identify and track performers. Google suggest the (optional) naming convention:
      Page+Location+AdFormat+ColorPalette
      For e.g.
      * HomeTopLeaderSeaside
      * HomeLeftNavLinksSeaside
    References

    Ad Placement

    Ad Placements

    Only 'custom channels' for AdSense for Content can be made into an ad placement. But why would you want to do that?

    Custom channels are mainly created for reporting and performance tracking purposes - to find out which ads format/placement/colors are doing well. However you can also create a custom channel and make it into an ad placement to improve your monetization.

    When you link a custom channel to an ad and make that channel into an ad placement, via how you name and describe that channel, advertisers can get a feel of what kinds of topical pages your ad "shell" will be appearing on, the size/format, and positioning of that ad "shell". With these information, interested advertisers can bid for that space at your site. So the clearer and more precise the naming of that custom channel is, the better the chances that advertisers will bid for space at your site.

    Making a custom channel an ad placement

    Log in > AdSense Setup > Channels > AdSense for Content[tab]> Custom channels
    • Then click the "edit settings" link next to the custom channel you would like to make into an ad placement.
    • Tick the checkbox next to "Show this channel to advertisers as ad placement".
    • Enter a description for your channel. Advertisers will see the channel name and description - so provide something accurate and informative.
    • Save channel.
    • Get code and paste into your page(s).
    If you custom channel covers multiple sites, advertisers will see this as multiple channel, by sites.
    If you later change your custom channel name, any existing bids will be lost,

    Channel Reports

    Channel Reports

    Channels are primarily created so that you can effectively track the performance of Google's AdSense ads on your site(s). Channels give you a wide ranging flexibility to discover what is working best, and where. URL channels can tell you which sections of your site(s) are doing well, which pages, which sub-domains, which domains. Custom channels can tell you which ad format, which color, which placement are doing the best.

    Generate Channel Reports

    Google Channel Report
    1. Log into your AdSense account.
    2. Click on the "Advanced Reports" tab.
    3. Select the Google product you are tracking: either AdSense for Content or AdSense for Search
    4. Then from the drop-down selection box, choose the date range you are interested in.
    5. AdSense Channel DataUnder "Show", click the radio box for "Channel Data". As soon as you do that, a box will appear beneath it showing you all your available URL and custom channels.
    6. Tick the check boxes against the channels you would like have a report on.
      You can use the "Find Channels" search box to easily find a group of channels; especially if you have used a consistent naming convention as suggested in Tips for Custom Channels.
    7. Decide how you want to group the channel data: next to "Group by", you can choose to group by "date, channel, or both".
      Date radio button for a day-by-day report.
      Channels radio button for an aggregated report (over your selected date range) for your selected channels. This is useful for comparison among different channels.
      Both radio button for a comprehensive comparison across channels on a day-by-day basis.
    8. When you are happy with your report parameters, click the "Display Report" button.

    Save Report Template

    If you are going to be generating the same report, using the same report parameters, then you can easily save the report using the "report template". To do this:

    1. After you have clicked the "Display Report" button and the report displays, review to ensure that it gives you the report view you are looking for.
    2. As soon as the report display, you will also see a new box "Save as Report Template". Just enter a report name that you can easily identify. Save.
      Save AdSense Channel Report

    Once it has been saved, you can access the report via:

    AdSense > Reports > Advanced Reports > drop-down menu
    or
    AdSense > Reports > Overview > Quick Reports

    Note: your saved report template can easily be deleted - On the Overview page, click the "Edit list".