8 replies
Anyone know how to track open rates of a PDF? I am not talking about how many downloads (like with GA) , but opens.

Like with a image that is loaded from a webpage that is in the PDF?

I swear I heard it can be done but not sure how to.
#open #pdf #rates #track
  • Profile picture of the author Brad Gosse
    I would like to know how this is done too. From what I am to understand you can't fire a pixel or hosted image from a PDF.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brian_Mahaffey
    thanks for the info...but...the first paid link on that page is a broken link, the second solution looks OK but a little tedious.

    I think It was firing a pixel from a image is what I remember as well. Believe reese mentioned in traffic secrets, which I have but he does not mention how to do it.

    Anyone know how to do this fire pixel to track PDF opens?

    Thanks in advance!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author ArticlePrince
    I'm probably misunderstanding, but for what you're talking about I think a lot of firewalls would block it anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author mr2monster
    Aside from the obvious problem of preventing your clients from being able to view their report when they don't have an internet connection you could:


    Sell them an html file that wraps the .pdf in an iframe and hook that html file up to google analytics and then encrypt the code so it's tough to find the actual .pdf file.


    Essentially you'd be hosting the .pdf on your server and it would call every time someone opened that html document.


    When they click to open the .html file, it will open up in their browser and send tracking info to GA.. Not sure how much data you'd get out of it though.


    Just a random thought.
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  • Profile picture of the author mr2monster
    keep in mind that no matter what solution you might come up with, you're not going to get ANY data if the user isn't connected to the internet.

    And requiring the user to connect to the internet to get your product might be a downside to the end user.


    And... if a theif wants your stuff, they'll get it. So, there's not a whole lot of point in making paying customers jump through a bunch of hoops.
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  • Profile picture of the author hittjw
    Originally Posted by Brian_Mahaffey View Post

    Anyone know how to track open rates of a PDF?
    The best way to measure open rates is to use a bounce back offer in the PDF itself. Like a certificate that gives them a discount on something, you'll track the use of the certificate.

    This gives you the number of people who are worth tracking because they have money to spend. If there's not responding, then they aren't opening the PDF. If you need numbers for comparison, then track response against number of PDF requests.

    Sincerely,

    Justin
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    • Profile picture of the author seebrown
      Since this was first posted there are now a number of tools available that can track PDF opens

      I'm partial to Orangedox | Brand Tools for Dropbox which lets you track right down to which pages were viewed and for how long
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