TysonAll that said, we can investigate again whether any new methods have become possible (such as this new parameterized URL) to have Google Checkout in particular send conversion tracking for AdWords without visiting a thank-you page

Please push this question to your top priority to-do list. This is extremely important for AdWords users.

Can't say I'm an expert on the subject but I'm working through the problem right now and it is making sense to me.



First off, if you don't have Google Analytics but have AdWords, then you are missing out. Go sign up for Google Analytics. When you enter in a web page, they give you code to place inside each of your pages. This code allows them to track who is looking at that page, how many times it is looked at and so on. Tons of useful info. And it ties in with AdWords very well.



Here is an example of the code that Google Analytics gives you:



<script type="text/javascript">

var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");

document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));

</script>

<script type="text/javascript">

try {

var pageTracker = gat.getTracker("UA-XXXXX-X");

pageTracker._trackPageview();

} catch(err) {}</script>





Ok, but according to E-Junkie (http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/help.tracking.htm) you need to use their modified version of the code:



<script type="text/javascript">

var gaJsHost=(("https:"==document.location.protocol)?"https://ssl.":"http://www.");

document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='"+gaJsHost+ "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));

</script>

<script type="text/javascript"> var ejGATracker = gat.getTracker("UA-XXXXX-X"); ejGATracker.setDomainName("none"); ejGATracker.setAllowLinker(true); ejGATracker._trackPageview(); </script>



NOTE: You need to replace the "UA-XXXXX-X" with the unique code for your web page profile.



Now you need to create a goal inside Analytics for that web site. This is really easy. Go to Analytics Settings and click "edit". This will take you to the web page "Profile Settings". Now click "edit" on the first of the four goals. Turn the goal to "active", leave match type as "head match", insert the following URL "https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/rp.php", give you goal a name and a value (the value can be anything, I used $20 for $100 average sale and 20% successful transactions).



That's it I think. Once I get some sales I'll have to report back.

Yes, that surely works. But it would be much much more comfortable to have precise conversion tracking directly in AdWords account, especially if it is possible to implement.

Tyson,



This page (http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/help.tracking.htm) could still use some clarification.



These two notes seem to conflict with each other (specifically for Google Checkout):



- Google Checkout sends Google E-commerce conversion tracking data even when the buyer does not choose to continue past Checkout to reach the thank-you page;



- Checkouts using regular PayPal standard, Google Checkout, or TrialPay require the buyer to manually click past Checkout to reach the thank-you page where sales conversion tracking for Google Analytics, AdWords or other third-party tracking could occur;



Also, why does the Goal need a link (https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/rp.php)? Does this mean the customer has to view the thank-you page in order for the purchase to map to that goal?



My previous post suggested creating a goal was necessary but I think it is optional. It is probably not that useful if the customer has to view the Thank-you page to map the sale to the goal (I would have to change the goal to $2 = $100 average sale * 20% successful transactions * 10% Thank-you page views).



Thanks

Wow, this is all greek to me...



I just want adwords conversion tracking to work. They make it sound so simple and fun to use. I'm blowing all this money on adwords and don't have a clue if it is working or not.



At least tell us this issue is being looked at. I mean the whole point of this e-commerce thing is to be able to track this kind of stuff. I'm really at a loss here.





I appreciate mkp007's comments. I'll have to look into analytics further. I'm now using them to track some basic traffic patterns, but not sure how it works from an e-commerce standpoint.



That said, ADWORDS is what needs to work from a return on investment standpoint... So very, very frustrating...

AdWords has its own snippet of code that gets added to your page. Here is an example:



<!-- Google Code for YOURPAGE Sale Track Conversion Page -->

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">

<!--

var google_conversion_id = "some numbers";

var google_conversion_language = "en_US";

var google_conversion_format = "1";

var google_conversion_color = "ffffff";

var google_conversion_label = "some numbers and letters";

//-->

</script>

<script language="JavaScript" src="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion.js">

</script>

<noscript>

<img height="1" width="1" border="0" src="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion/"same as conversion ID"/?label="same as conversion lable"&script=0"/>

</noscript>





So, there is probably good value in getting a unique E-Junkie's code for AdWords as was done for Analytics. Is this a easy problem to fix? If you compare the Google's Analytics code and the E-Junky Analytics code, the only difference is setting of variables:



Google's:

try {

var pageTracker = gat.getTracker("UA-XXXXX-X");

pageTracker._trackPageview();

} catch(err) {}





E-Junkie's:

var ejGATracker = gat.getTracker("UA-XXXXX-X");

ejGATracker._setDomainName("none");

ejGATracker._setAllowLinker(true);

ejGATracker._trackPageview();





I'm not sure if there is additional coding that is done. If not, perhaps it is this easy to modify the AdWords:



Google's:

var google_conversion_id = "some numbers";

var google_conversion_language = "en_US";

var google_conversion_format = "1";

var google_conversion_color = "ffffff";

var google_conversion_label = "some numbers and letters";



(var definition: http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=86277)



E-Junkie's:

???



Tyson, sure would like some feedback on this ASAP.



Sorry to Penny and Russ. Like I said, I'm just trying to work through this problem myself.



Some more info comparing Analytics to Adwords:



Google Analytics differs from AdWords Conversion Tracking, here is how:

https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=55535



Also, from this page:

http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en-ie&answer=66983#0.1.1step7



"Step 7 - Tag your advertising campaigns



Note to AdWords users: If you'll only be tracking AdWords campaigns, you may skip this step. Once you've linked your AdWords and Analytics accounts, AdWords keywords are automatically tagged with the required tracking variables."



and



"Generally speaking, you need to tag all of your paid keyword links, your banners and other ads, and the links inside your promotional email messages, except those in Google AdWords, which are automatically tagged. "



So, it seems that Analytics will allow you to see which key words are creating conversions. I'm not sure how the AdWords Conversion tracking will differ from Analytics in terms of information and the ability to tweak settings.

After further investigation it seems that the main problem with Google Checkout and Adwords Conversion Tracking is that Google Checkout does not automatically redirect the customer to the Thank You page. This Thank You page should have the AdWords Conversion Tracking code as described in my previous post.



Otherwise, the customer may never go to the Thank You page and the AdWords Conversion Tracking code may never be triggered.



I have been emailing the Google Checkout team to see if they can help with this situation. The best way they can help is to automatically redirect the customer to a Thank You page.



I will post a follow-up if I hear back from Google.



Mark

Ok, I got a response back from Google. Here it is:



Hello Mark,



Thank you for your patience while we consulted your issue to a specialist.



Google Checkout is different than some other checkout flows and payment

processors in that it does not automatically redirect buyers to a

thank-you page on the merchant's website after a transaction is complete.

Because of this, the steps for setting up AdWords Conversion tracking are

a bit different.



Here's the documentation explaining how the AdWords Conversion tracking

should be set up if you have a custom integration using the API

http://code.google.com/apis/checkout/developer/checkoutpixel_tracking.html#AWCT.



In regards to your recent question, currently, the tracking URL needs to

be included in the shopping cart post sent to Google Checkout. The

tracking pixel will then be requested on the receipt page. Customers will

not have to click on the continue shopping link to activate the tracking

pixel.



However, I see that you're using E-Junkie as your third party shopping

cart. So E-Junkie would be able to provide a way to specify the AdWords

conversion tracking URL, and then E-Junkie would need to include code like

the following in the shopping cart posts that are sent to Google Checkout:

...

<merchant-checkout-flow-support>

<parameterized-urls>

<parameterized-url



url="

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion/1063258683/?label=H03KCO3fXBC7lID7Aw&script=0"/>

</parameterized-urls>

...

</merchant-checkout-flow-support>

...



You may forward the information above to E-Junkie to ask them to consider

implementing this if it is not already available.



Please feel free to visit our Help Center at

http://checkout.google.com/support/sell if you have any additional

questions. Alternatively, you can visit

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/checkout-merchants?hl=en to reach

out to other Checkout merchants for troubleshooting tips.



Sincerely,



Shital

The Google Checkout Team

Hi E-Junkie Crew,



Has there been any improvements in this since 2008??? I am seriously considering looking for another shopping cart service if they can offer integrated Google Adwords tracking. As you know without this I am advertising in the dark.



Thanks,

James

We do support Adwords tracking now.



Just add this code before your VIEW CART button



function EJEJC_config() {

EJEJC_BEACON = "http://URL.From.Adwords.Tracking.Beacon";

}

Do i put that code before every view cart button on my page or just the first one? Can you explain how it works and solves the issues mention in this post.



Thanks.

That code needs to be on all the pages from where the users can checkout.



In case of Google Checkout, we'll pass it on as the "parameterized url", and in case of other payment methods, we'll display the tracking pixel on the thank you page using the URL you specify.

The code provided would work like any other Cart Customization code:

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/help.custom-cart.htm



I.e., insert these lines on every page just before the "// -->" line in the standard View Cart code you obtain from Seller Admin:



function EJEJC_config() {

EJEJC_BEACON = "http://URL.From.Adwords.Tracking.Beacon";

}



If you are already using function EJEJC_config(){} for other cart customizations you may have, just add the EJEJC_BEACON line between the { and } for that function; e.g.:



function EJEJC_config() {

EJEJC_INITCSS = false;

EJEJC_BEACON = "http://Put.AdWords.Tracking.Beacon.URL.Here";

EJEJC_POSTCALL=true;

}

function EJEJC_shown() {

Query("#tdPmnt").attr("innerHTML",

"Thanks for your business!");

}

Believe it or not, I'm still confused.



can you give me an example of what this URL should be:



http://Put.AdWords.Tracking.Beacon.URL.Here

E-junkieGuruYour AdWords conversion tracking code would have a Web beacon (aka "tracking pixel") tag like this:



<img height=1 width=1 border=0 src=" https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion/0062225003/?value=1&label=purchase&script=0 ">



...so in that example, this would be the AdWords Tracking Beacon URL:



https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion/0062225003/?value=1&label=purchase&script=0



Which would look like this in our cart customization code:



function EJEJC_config() {

EJEJC_BEACON = " https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion/0062225003/?value=1&label=purchase&script=0 ";

}



(Note the URL should actually be on one, long line, despite this forum soft-wrapping long lines.)

Hi E-junkieGuru, how do you pass multiple beacons to EJEJC_BEACON? I advertise on both adcenter and adwords and I'm sure others advertise on multiple networks as well.

I'll ask Development to confirm or correct me here, but I don't think it's possible to trigger multiple beacon URLs by this method; you can only trigger one beacon for all orders. If you need to trigger multiple conversion trackers for every order, you might consider this approach instead:

1http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/tips.tracking.conversions.htm1



Note that, depending on which payment processor(s) you use, that approach may only work reliably for download products, for the reasons explained here:

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/faq.tracking.conversions.htm

I think I understand this solution, but on my checkout pages I have buttons for "Add to Cart" and "View Cart". If a customer only clicks the "Add to Cart" button and then proceeds to checkout from there, would this still work?



I am thinking it would because both the "Add to Cart" and "View Cart" buttons have this code:



onClick="javascript:return EJEJC_lc(this);



Can you confirm?



Actually here is the pertinent code without any changes proposed here:



<a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?c=cart&i=ABCD1234&cl=99999&ejc=2" target="ejejc" class="ec_ejc_thkbx" onClick="javascript:return EJEJC_lc(this);"><img src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/ejadd_to_cart.gif" border="0" alt="Add to Cart"/></a>

<br />

<br />

<a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?c=cart&cl=99999&ejc=2" target="ejejc" class="ec_ejc_thkbx" onClick="javascript:return EJEJC_lc(this);"><img src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/ejview_cart.gif" border="0" alt="View Cart"/></a>

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">

<!--

function EJEJC_lc(th) { return false; }

// -->



What do you think?



Thanks!

Yes, as long as you have at least one complete block of your View Cart code from Seller Admin on every page that has any number of Add to Carts -- and you add the function EJEJC_config() ...etc. lines to your View Cart code on every page -- it won't matter which cart buttons the buyer clicks.



This is because the second half of the View Cart code (from the first <script ...etc.> to the last </script>) isn't really part of the View Cart button by itself. Those script lines are just loading our cart script with the page and activating/configuring various functions of the cart, so your page can use it. We put these script lines in the View Cart code because they only need to appear once on each page, so putting it in the Add to Cart code would be overkill if you put multiple Add to Carts on the same page.



The onClick="javascript:return EJEJC_lc(this); in the actual button portions of the code are triggering a function of our cart script that displays the cart "inside" your page when the button is clicked.



Here's an example of complete View Cart code including the custom parameter to trigger a beacon URL:



<a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?c=cart&cl=XXXXXX&ejc=2" target="ejejc" class="ec_ejc_thkbx" onClick="javascript:return EJEJC_lc(this);"><img src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/ejview_cart.gif" border="0" alt="View Cart"/></a>

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">

<!--

function EJEJC_lc(th) { return false; }

function EJEJC_config() {

EJEJC_BEACON = "http://Put.AdWords.Tracking.Beacon.URL.Here/";

}

// -->

</script>

<script src='http://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/box.js' type='text/javascript'></script>