Stats counting with domain redirect?

JonathanBoettcher · 09-25-2009, 12:34 PM

Anyone have any bright ideas on how to track stats (just basic hits) that are going through a domain redirect?

I want to do some "cork board" advertising, but I'd like to know what sort of impact it is having even if no sales get made.

I'd thought of sending people to domain.com then directing that through another site of mine that has a gocodes type plugin installed where I can count hits... then sending them on to the offer... but that is long and tedious with potential for problems along the way.

Any way to do this with Google Analytics or another tool?

Jesus Perez · 09-25-2009, 02:54 PM

Use a Redirect with a 2-3 second delay. This will allow time for the stats to load.

See sample HTML below:

Code:

<html>
<head>
<title>Taking You to the blog post...</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" content="2;URL=http:/ rdestinationurl.com">
<style type="text/css">
<!--
.un {  text-decoration: underline}
-->
</style>
</head>

<body bgcolor="#333333" text="#000000">
<div align="center"> 
  <table width="700" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="15">
    <tr>
      <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> 
        <div align="center">
          <p align="center"><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Hold 
            on tight...</font></i></p>
          <p align="center"><b><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Taking 
            you now to:</font></i></b></p>
          <p align="center"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="5" color="#000099">Get 
            4000+ One-Way Links...</font></b></p>
          <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">-------------------------------------------</font></p>
          <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If 
            nothing happens in the next 5 seconds, <a href="http:/ rdestinationurl.com">click 
            here</a> &gt;&gt;</font></p>
          <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
          </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <table width="700" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="9">
    <tr> 
      <td> 
        <div align="center"> 
          <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#CCCCCC"><b>YourSite.com 
            - Copyright &copy; 2008 All Rights Reserved</b></font></p>
        </div>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</div>
<!--insert stats code here -->
</body>
</html>

JonathanBoettcher · 09-25-2009, 03:02 PM

Sweet, thanks BlueSquares!

Ever have any problems with html redirects vs php?

msakallah · 09-25-2009, 03:22 PM

I personally use StatCounter.com's. I have used them with HTML and PHP redirects and their stats worked great for me.

Give them a try

Jesus Perez · 09-25-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonathanBoettcher

Sweet, thanks BlueSquares!

Ever have any problems with html redirects vs php?

For tracking, I prefer the HTML. But it technically shouldn't matter as long as the page loads with enough time to load the tracking code.

Michael K · 09-30-2009, 11:41 AM

I have a similar question.

I was planning to use a simple php to redirect to my affiliate sales page. For example, in the bio-box on a GoArticle, I have the anchor text linked to ww-w.mydomain.info/myredirect.php. On myredirect.php page (of course, it's not really named that), I have this simple script:

<?php
header( 'Location: htt-p://ww-w.yoursite.com/new_page.html' ) ;
?>

Naturally, I replace the link with my hoplink. Works fine.

I want to add a Google Analytics code to the php page, but I'm not sure if it will capture any data before the php script takes over. I was thinking it might if I put the GA before the php, but i don't know if that will work or even if it will screw up the php script. I've read that you shouldn't have anything else on the redirect page except for your php script.

Any ideas?

Also, if I choose to use your html redirect instead should I replace rdestinationurl on line 5 with my hoplink, and  at the bottom with my GA code?

Sorry if this is kinda long and rambly, but that seems to be my style these days.

Thanks,
Michael

Jesus Perez · 09-30-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael K

I want to add a Google Analytics code to the php page, but I'm not sure if it will capture any data before the php script takes over.

It won't capture. The PHP redirects too quickly. I've tested this myself. There needs to be a 2-3 second delay. 5 is probably better with a link to click.

Stick to HTML. It works.

Michael K · 09-30-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSquares

It won't capture. The PHP redirects too quickly. I've tested this myself. There needs to be a 2-3 second delay. 5 is probably better with a link to click.

Stick to HTML. It works.

Thanks, BlueSquares. That's what I thought. Did I get the replacements correct in your html page? Also, do you recommend using the old or new GA code?

Thanks again,
Michael

Jesus Perez · 09-30-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael K

Thanks, BlueSquares. That's what I thought. Did I get the replacements correct in your html page? Also, do you recommend using the old or new GA code?

Thanks again,
Michael

Replacements were perfect. The "2" besides the dest url is the amount of time the page will wait. In this case it's 2 seconds.

The GA code goes at the bottom. I'm not sure which is faster...old or new. Test for yourself and see. The faster one wins.

Last thing to keep in mind, if you're submitting to EZA, I recommend making the redirect instant ("0") at first. Once the article is approved, add in the delay. I'm not sure if they will reject an article based on a time-delay redirected dest url...but considering the wait time these days...it's not worth the risk.

09-25-2009, 12:34 PM	#1
JonathanBoettcher Compulsive Clicker War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Abbotsford, BC Posts: 548 Thanks: 16 Thanked 53 Times in 31 Posts Social Networking	Stats counting with domain redirect? Anyone have any bright ideas on how to track stats (just basic hits) that are going through a domain redirect? I want to do some "cork board" advertising, but I'd like to know what sort of impact it is having even if no sales get made. I'd thought of sending people to domain.com then directing that through another site of mine that has a gocodes type plugin installed where I can count hits... then sending them on to the offer... but that is long and tedious with potential for problems along the way. Any way to do this with Google Analytics or another tool?
	Discover My Effective Backlinking Strategies...

09-25-2009, 02:54 PM	#2
Jesus Perez Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,056 Blog Entries: 8 Thanks: 347 Thanked 975 Times in 487 Posts Social Networking	Re: Stats counting with domain redirect? Use a Redirect with a 2-3 second delay. This will allow time for the stats to load. See sample HTML below: Code: <html> <head> <title>Taking You to the blog post...</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" content="2;URL=http:/ rdestinationurl.com"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- .un { text-decoration: underline} --> </style> </head> <body bgcolor="#333333" text="#000000"> <div align="center"> <table width="700" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="15"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <div align="center"> <p align="center"><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Hold on tight...</font></i></p> <p align="center"><b><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Taking you now to:</font></i></b></p> <p align="center"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="5" color="#000099">Get 4000+ One-Way Links...</font></b></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">-------------------------------------------</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If nothing happens in the next 5 seconds, <a href="http:/ rdestinationurl.com">click here</a> >></font></p> <p align="center"> </p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="700" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="9"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <p align="center"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#CCCCCC"><b>YourSite.com - Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved</b></font></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <!--insert stats code here --> </body> </html>
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09-25-2009, 03:02 PM	#3
JonathanBoettcher Compulsive Clicker War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Abbotsford, BC Posts: 548 Thanks: 16 Thanked 53 Times in 31 Posts Social Networking	Re: Stats counting with domain redirect? Sweet, thanks BlueSquares! Ever have any problems with html redirects vs php?
	Discover My Effective Backlinking Strategies...

09-25-2009, 03:22 PM	#4
msakallah Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Stats counting with domain redirect? I personally use StatCounter.com's. I have used them with HTML and PHP redirects and their stats worked great for me. Give them a try

09-30-2009, 11:41 AM	#6
Michael K Warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Stats counting with domain redirect? I have a similar question. I was planning to use a simple php to redirect to my affiliate sales page. For example, in the bio-box on a GoArticle, I have the anchor text linked to ww-w.mydomain.info/myredirect.php. On myredirect.php page (of course, it's not really named that), I have this simple script: <?php header( 'Location: htt-p://ww-w.yoursite.com/new_page.html' ) ; ?> Naturally, I replace the link with my hoplink. Works fine. I want to add a Google Analytics code to the php page, but I'm not sure if it will capture any data before the php script takes over. I was thinking it might if I put the GA before the php, but i don't know if that will work or even if it will screw up the php script. I've read that you shouldn't have anything else on the redirect page except for your php script. Any ideas? Also, if I choose to use your html redirect instead should I replace rdestinationurl on line 5 with my hoplink, and <!--insert stats code here --> at the bottom with my GA code? Sorry if this is kinda long and rambly, but that seems to be my style these days. Thanks, Michael
	Michael