Fun With ClickWatch™
Some months ago, I wrote software that records each click
on a link, and logs the events as they happen.
I wanted to maximize the clicks on affiliate links without
taking away from a Google AdSense ad that was doing quite
well. The only way I could figure out to get the information
I needed was to measure which links people clicked on and to
compare each link's number of clicks.
Then I could make adjustments on our web pages as needed,
changing link text or locations or switching to different
affiliate programs. I would no longer be guessing or hoping
and working in the dark.
Ours is a programming house, so we already had lots of
statistics available about the pages of our web sites.
But we didn't have anything that measured clicks on all
links of individual web pages.
So I made some JavaScript to monitor the clicks. It turned
out to be fairly simple, just a block of code near the
bottom of the page. No existing links had to be changed.
The JavaScript sends information about each click to a CGI
program that logs the event. Then I use the CGI program to
generate statistics — with numbers for specifics and bar
graphs for visual comparison.
The logging of clicks happens immediately. The log file is
always up to date. The statistics are generated live, with
up-to-the-second information.
That's what I needed.
The result? One affiliate program is bringing in over twice
what AdSense ever did on that page. This on a page AdSense
has always done well.
It did cost a little, though. The number of AdSense clicks
went down, but less than 10%.
In my way of thinking, losing 10% in order to gain 200% is
a sane tradeoff.
The best position for the well-producing affiliate program
link turned out to be an in-context text link in the final
paragraphs of the highly personalized content that page
always provides. You can find the page, if you're curious,
by going to /numerology/ and then
giving yourself a numerology reading.
Sometimes it took a day or more to see a trend as a result
of a tweak on the page. But I didn't just stand idly by.
The rest of the pages on that web site got ClickWatch. Then
pages on our other web sites, too.
And we didn't keep it all to ourselves. Our Valued Customer
Club members received the opportunity to buy it, for less
than half the price it retails at.
(You know, VCC members really do get the best deals. If you
have ever purchased a Master Series CGI program or hired us
to do a custom program, see /vcc/ for
the application form.)
Last week, ClickWatch itself was tweaked.
It received several usability enhancements and a brand new
reporting category. It can now generate statistics of site
visitor time zones.
This can be fun to watch.
The same web site mentioned above was used for beta testing.
Time zones aren't country specific, but good guesses can be
made, especially when compared to spellings of names or to
IP, domain, or email addresses that might be available.
While beta testing, I generated statistics every hour or
more often during my work day.
On the beta testing web site, the India time zone
predominates in the very early mornings. Australia,
especially the Eastern third's time zone, also makes
a good showing.
Soon, the Eastern USA weighs in. Then there are other shifts
as morning progresses and transitions into afternoon.
When an entire day's statistics were available, the six
most-recorded time zones were:
-
Los Angeles (USA) time zone.
-
New York City (USA) time zone.
-
India time zone.
-
Chicago (USA) time zone.
-
Sydney (Australia) time zone.
-
Phoenix (USA) time zone.
Those statistics can have a significant bearing on future
choices of affiliate programs for that web site.
Okay, enough fun for one article :)
ClickWatch is now available for purchase to all who wish
to use it. See /clickwatch
One thing for sure. If I hadn't already had a healthy
respect for the value of accurate statistics, ClickWatch
would make me a believer.
Will Bontrager
©2005 Bontrager Connection, LLC
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