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Stats counting with domain redirect?

by JonathanBoettcher
8 replies
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?
#counting #domain #redirect #stats
  • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
    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>
    Signature

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    • Profile picture of the author Michael K
      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
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      • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
        Originally Posted by Michael K View Post


        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.
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        • Profile picture of the author Michael K
          Originally Posted by BlueSquares View Post

          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
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          • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
            Originally Posted by Michael K View Post

            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.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
    Sweet, thanks BlueSquares!

    Ever have any problems with html redirects vs php?
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    • Profile picture of the author msakallah
      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
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    • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
      Originally Posted by JonathanBoettcher View Post

      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.
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