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

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

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

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