How do i automatically track cost of my Native ads campaigns? (3)
How do i automatically track cost of my Native ads campaigns?
Revcontent, outbrain and many other native ads platforms don't send cost automatically to my tracking software (the way it is with push/pop ad networks).
I have to manually track/update cost. But it becomes difficult when i do widget level bidding(bid separately for each widget).
I also have a optimizer native ads account. Is cost updated automatically in optimizer account?
Is there any way to track cost automatically in tracking software?
Originally Posted by Rhino
Here's some random thoughts that might be helpful...
I have HEARD of people trying to keep perfect track of traffic costs in their tracker, but this seems like a nightmare to me... so I have never done it...
I personally use the Outbrain and Taboola dashboards for all my tracking stuff, and only use the actual tracker (
Finally, when I use Revcontent I like to use TheOptimizer (its also great for Taboola and Outbrain too, just to note) and in this case I track everything inside TheOptimizer...
TheOptimizer takes data from both the traffic source and the tracker, so you can get a perfect representation of the data, you just have to look at the right columns...
So for instance, I ignore "Tracker Cost" because that's not accurate, and instead "Traffic Source Cost" is the real actual cost.
Similarly, if your postbacks don't always work, you want to go by "Tracker Conversions" rather than "Traffic Source Conversions", since the tracker is presumably more accurate in that regard.
So yeah... Taboola and Outbrain I pass conversion data to the traffic source and track everything in their dashboards... and with Revcontent I don't pass conversion data (since I can never get it to work anyway) and I track everything in TheOptimizer...
If you use TheOptimizer for a given traffic source I'd probably just track everything in it, since that's where you're going to be setting your rules and black/white lists anyway...
Anyway though there's probably dudes way smarter than me though who have additional tricks, but that's my simple way of doing it
For RevContent, Outbrain and Taboola you will need access to the API, probably for most other native traffic sources as well. With some it is easier to get than with others. I believe you can get your key right in the RevContent dashboard. For Taboola you have to ask, and they may or may not give it to you depending upon your spend. Obviously if you have a rep, they'll give access right away. As to Outbrain, you'll have to reach out and see, I never used their API to comment.
Without that API access, TheOptimizer won't be able to grab costs for you. Also, TheOptimizer does allow you to create campaigns and creatives from within it's dashboard, at least for some sources. But again, you're going to need that API access.
To add to what @jack_l said, TheOptimizer allows you to set rules based upon Tracker and Traffic Source stats. Be very cautious of Tracker stats for anything except LP Clicks, Conversions and Revenue. As I'm sure you've noticed, many sources send lots and lots and lots of bot visits every day to check the lander. Taboola is one that really stands out. For instance, if you are setting rules based upon Tracker Clicks, those bot visits will completely distort the numbers.
Taboola kind of gets you coming and going when you are looking at cutting based upon visits without conversion. If you measure by Traffic Source Clicks, well their reporting is delayed. So you could get a flood of traffic before it reports to TheOptimizer and it is able to react, thus you need rules that consider Tracker Clicks in the short-term. However, all the bot visits will mess up the Tracker Clicks when looking at a span of days. For that, you would be better off looking at Traffic Source Clicks.
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