How to aggregate data that was segmented by clicktype

[Zweitze]

Hello,

We have our own database which is synchronized from AdWords reports. We retrieve the data with many segments, including date, device, networktype and also clicktype. For most uses of the data we have to aggregate the data. Usually this means that we add: if we want to get the number of clicks in a month, we add the clicks of every day in that month.
The one exception is impressions in the segment clicktype: if we want to know the total impressions, and only have the impressions for each clicktype, then we do NOT add all impressions for each clicktype: we only use the impressions from the clicktype record "Headline".

Well that worked three years ago, apparently this is no longer true. We noticed that clicktype "Phone calls" should also be added, so to get the sum, we should add the impressions of clicktype records "Headline" and "Phone calls", and ignore the rest.

My question: Is that rule correct? Or, what is the current rule?

Note: Some in this forum suggest that we should leave out segment clicktype to get the aggregated value. But we already use 20 (!!) different AdWords reports for a single account, and if we add reports without this segment the number goes up to 25 (or 30, I have to look into that). Therefore I prefer to implement the right aggregation rules...

Thanks in advance.

[Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)]

Hi,

The other forum suggestions are correct: if you want a reliable count of impressions then you should run a report without the ClickType column.  As mentioned in the reporting documentation on the ClickType column:

Since ads can serve with multiple click types displayed, impressions may be double counted and the totals may not be accurate.

Using headline and phone calls may work for some cases, but could lead to double-counted impressions in others.  For example, if you have a Call Extension you can set up "Show the following links" with either:

• Both my website and the phone number
• Just the phone number

If you choose the first option, then your report by ClickType may include an impression under both Headline and Phone Call.  If you choose the second option then the impression may only appear under Phone Call.  Even if you work around this particular use case, we can't guarantee that other use cases will work or that this approach will work with future enhancements/changes to AdWords.  The safest and most reliable approach for getting Impressions is to run a report without ClickType.

You mentioned that you run ~20 reports per account.  Perhaps you already have a report in that list that includes Impressions but does not include ClickType?

Thanks,

Josh, AdWords API Team

[Zweitze]

Well I was afraid of that.
Thanks for the confirmation!



Op vrijdag 6 december 2013 17:49:01 UTC+1 schreef Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team):