Tag Archives: reporting

New features in AdWords Scripts

We are excited to announce two new features for AdWords scripts:

AdWords API v201502 reports

AdWords scripts now support AdWords API v201502 reports. The new version introduces two new reports: USER_AD_DISTANCE_PERFORMANCE_REPORT and LABEL_REPORT. We also introduced several new columns, renamed some columns to make them consistent with the AdWords UI, and removed some duplicate columns. See the AdWords API release notes for more details.

If you use API versioning in your reports, you’ll need to modify your code to use v201502 as shown: 

var report = AdWordsApp.report(query, {
    apiVersion: 'v201502'
});
If you don’t use API versioning, your scripts will now default to v201502 reports. If your scripts access one of the removed or renamed columns, you may need to fix that column name in your scripts.

JDBC

JDBC allows your scripts to connect to external databases through the JDBC service, a wrapper around the standard Java Database Connectivity technology. In Apps Script, the JDBC service supports Google Cloud SQL, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle databases. See our guide for more details.

If you have any questions about these features or AdWords scripts in general, you can post them on our developer forum.

Anash P. Oommen, AdWords Scripts Team

Support for v201409 Reports in AdWords Scripts

We are announcing support for AdWords API v201409 reports in AdWords scripts. The new version introduces PLACEHOLDER_REPORT, a new report type that allows for retrieval of extension stats.

If you use API versioning in your reports, then you need to modify your code to use v201409 as shown below. If you don’t use API versioning, no code changes are required. 

var report = AdWordsApp.report(query, {
   apiVersion: 'v201409'
});
If you have any questions about this feature or AdWords Scripts in general, you can post them on our developer forum.

Anash P. Oommen, AdWords Scripts Team

New to the AdWords API: excluding headers and summary data from reports

Do you save your AdWords API reports to a database? Do you have code that detects and skips header and summary rows? If the answer to these questions is "why yes, I do!", then you'll be happy to hear that in AdWords API v201409 you can modify your report requests so that the returned results will not include these rows.

Excluding the report header

Prior to v201409, the output of each AdWords report included a header that gave the name of the report and the date range in your predicates:

"KEYWORDS_PERFORMANCE_REPORT (Sep 21, 2014-Sep 27, 2014)"

If you do not want this row in your report results, include the new skipReportHeader HTTP header with a value of true.

Excluding the report summary

Similar to the header, each AdWords report for versions prior to v201409 returned a summary row with totals in its final row of output:

Total, --, --,44700

If you don't want this row in your report results, include the new skipReportSummary HTTP header with a value of true.

Note: If you do not include these headers or specify a value of false for both headers, your report results will include the header and summary rows, just as they did for prior versions of the AdWords API.

For more details, check out our updated Reporting Basics guide. Still have questions? Feel free to visit us on the AdWords API Forum or our Google+ page.

- Josh Radcliff, AdWords API Team

Announcing report download limits for the AdWords API

Starting October 8th, 2014, if you're using the AdWords API without a Standard Access developer token, you will be limited to 1,000 report downloads per day. Previously, there were no daily operational limits applied to report downloads for the Basic Access level. The new limit is being introduced to ensure consistency and high-quality AdWords API platforms for advertisers.

If your developer token already has the Standard Access level, then this limit will not be applied.

If your developer token has the Basic Access level and you currently download more than 1,000 reports per day, then you'll be impacted. To minimize the impact:

  1. The AdWords API Compliance Team has already temporarily upgraded your developer token to Standard Access level.
  2. The AdWords API compliance team contacted you on September 24th, 2014 asking you to apply for permanent Standard Access prior to the temporary Standard Access level expiration on October 24th, 2014.

Important: The AdWords API compliance team will contact you using the developer contact email on file in your MCC's API Center. It's important to ensure the email is up-to-date.

If you currently have Basic Access, but at a later time feel you will need more than 1,000 report downloads per day, feel free to apply for Standard access.

- , AdWords API Team

AdWords API: Changes to how we report mobile click-to-call data

Starting the week of September 29, 2014, we’re changing the way we report mobile click-to-call data in AdWords API reports.

Currently, when you download a CAMPAIGN_PERFORMANCE_REPORT or ADGROUP_PERFORMANCE_REPORT with ClickType segmentation, mobile click-to-call data is reported as two separate click types:
  • A row with ClickType = CALL contains all the stats related to clicks, like Clicks, Impressions, Cost, etc.
  • A row with ClickType = MOBILE_CALL_TRACKING contains all the corresponding stats related to phone calls, like NumOfflineInteractions, NumOfflineImpressions etc, OfflineInteractionCost, etc.
Based on your feedback, we will combine these two click types into a single click type starting the week of September 29, 2014. The combined data will now show up on a single row: ClickType = CALL. As a result, you’ll no longer receive data for ClickType = MOBILE_CALL_TRACKING. This change will impact existing mobile click-to-call data, including historical performance.

If your applications use these report types to process mobile click-to-call data, make sure they account for this new data format. If you have questions or comments, let us know on our developer forum. You can also follow our Google+ page for updates about the AdWords API.

Anash P. Oommen, AdWords API Team

New labels features in AdWords API v201406

Many developers in the AdWords API community have mentioned that being able to create, modify, assign, and report on labels through the API would be extremely helpful. Well, we're excited to report that the v201406 release of the AdWords API includes all of these requested features!

Summary of label services and features End-to-end example
So how do these new features work together? Check out our labels guide to get you on the road to AdWords label expertise!

Next steps
If you've never used labels in your account or need a refresher course, check out the Help Center labels guide. Once you're ready to dive in, try out the label examples in your client library of choice.

Still have questions? Feel free to visit us on the AdWords API Forum or our Google+ page.

- Josh Radcliff, AdWords API Team

DS features in May

In May, we added the following features to DoubleClick Search (DS):

  • Public launch of Shopping campaigns in DS
    You can create and manage AdWords Shopping campaigns in DS, a feature that we initially rolled out in beta in March. Shopping campaigns are a new campaign type for AdWords Product Listing Ads that streamline how you manage and bid on your products, report on the performance of your ads, and find opportunities to grow your traffic from Google. Learn more.

  • Specify and report on sitelinks for ad groups
    Sitelinks are an ad extension available in AdWords engine accounts. They appear beneath the text of your ads (and in addition to the main landing page), link to specific pages on your website, and help customers find what they're looking for on your site with just one click. By default, all ads inherit sitelinks from the campaign, but now you can add different sitelinks for each ad group or prevent an ad group from displaying sitelinks. Learn more.

  • Include custom dimensions and metrics in DS reports
    If you use Floodlight activities to track conversions, you can add details to your DS reports that are customized to your business needs, such as the genre of a movie that a user purchases, the zip code to which an item is shipped, shipping costs, and so on. Learn more.

  • Upgrade to the new AdWords “Search Network with Display Select” campaigns
    AdWords will soon be replacing “Search & Display Networks” campaigns with a new campaign type, “Search Network with Display Select”, that offers 35% better Google Display Network performance than your current “Search & Display Networks” campaigns. You can upgrade your “Search only" and “Search & Display Networks" campaigns one at a time from AdWords, or use DS bulksheets to upgrade multiple campaigns with a single upload. Learn more.

We also made the following feature updates:

  • Executive reporting: Filter data sources in charts
    By default, charts display metrics from all data sources that are in a report. If you want a chart to display metrics only from specific campaigns, devices, or even keywords of a particular match type, you can add a filter to the chart. The chart will contain data only for items that match the filter.

  • Support for the AdWords "Rotate indefinitely" and "Conversion optimize" settings
    DS now supports the “Rotate indefinitely” and “Conversion optimize” settings for AdWords campaigns in addition to the “Rotate evenly” and “Optimize for clicks” settings that were available previously. Learn more.

Watch the recorded webinar for May features to see these updates in action.

Posted by the DoubleClick Search team

DS features in April

In April, we added the following features to DoubleClick Search:

  • Bid strategies that can recommend and optimize mobile bid adjustments
    Bid strategies that target conversions or revenue can now optimize AdWords mobile bid adjustments based on the bid strategy’s goal. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can set your bid strategy to recommend mobile bid adjustments. Learn more.

  • Use keyword parameters in ads
    You can customize your Google AdWords and Bing Ads ads by using dynamic text parameters in DoubleClick Search (DS). A customized ad is more likely to appeal to potential customers because it's more relevant to their search queries. Ad parameters also allow updates to ads without having to go through the engine’s validation and approval process. This feature works with both manual campaigns and inventory campaigns. Learn more.

We also made the following feature updates:

  • Bid strategies for PLA campaigns
    To optimize bidding on Product Listing Ads, you can now apply a return-on-investment (ROI) bid strategy to product targets, an ad group with product targets, or an entire campaign. You can even use the same bid strategy to manage bidding for both keywords and product targets and let DS determine the ideal bids for reaching your ROI goals. Learn more.


  • Use formula columns that contain Google Analytics goals in bid strategies
    If you need greater control over how conversions are combined and weighted in your bid strategy, you can create a formula column that defines your own key performance indicators (KPIs), and then add a bid strategy that optimizes to the formula column. Now, formula columns that include data from Google Analytics conversion or revenue columns can be used in a bid strategy.


  • New reporting resource in the DS API
    DS has added a new resource type to its API that contains the list of all columns an advertiser has created, such as Floodlight columns, Google Analytics columns, or formula columns. Once you retrieve the list of columns, you can request reports for the metrics that the columns contain. Learn more about working with saved columns from the DS API.

  • Saved views include segmentation selection
    When you save a report view that is segmented, DS now saves the segmentation selection as well. This only applies to new views that you create going forward. Existing views cannot save the segmentation selection.

  • Fresh, new look
    We’ve added more space and softer colors to make DoubleClick Search easier on the eyes. This is the same look in many of the other Google products you know and love.

We also want to let you know about a change in product functionality:

  • Fewer AdWords search queries available in the search query report
    Google now removes the search query from the referrer on ad clicks that originate from SSL searches on Google.com. Learn more about this change. The search query report in DS won’t be able to display search queries for these clicks. Instead, you’ll see Other queries. Learn more about how encrypted searches affect the DS search query report.

    The AdWords search terms report lets you see search queries that generated ad clicks along with key performance data. And the Search Queries report available in Google Webmaster Tools provides aggregate information about the top 2000 queries, each day, that generated organic clicks.

Posted by the DoubleClick Search team

The Search Agency saves times and discovers insights at scale with executive reporting from DoubleClick Search

The search marketing landscape can change quickly and marketers need tools that can adapt just as fast - to understand immediate opportunities, and react if necessary. Late last year, we announced executive reporting from DoubleClick Search to give marketers the ability to see their campaign performance quickly, across their entire business or in any specific view. Today, we’d like to highlight how a top digital agency has found success with our tools to increase efficiency and get a better handle on their business.



With hundreds of clients around the globe, The Search Agency’s leaders were finding it increasingly hard to keep an eye on the health of their business. Keen to quickly understand the performance while eliminating time-consuming monthly and quarterly reporting tasks, they adopted executive reporting from DoubleClick Search to help oversee company’s interests.

The team needed a way to get the big picture—fast. They also had to have details such as monthly and quarterly reports of all the agency’s business, aggregated for industries or individual clients, with in-depth costs by month, quarter or device.

“That kind of detail is essential for day-to-day work, but also for quick KPIs,” says Wiratunga. “If I’m walking into a board room with my department leads about a certain client or if I get called into a meeting with 15 minutes to prep, I need a way to see—on the fly—exactly what’s happening with an account and all of its issues.” 

After implementing executive reporting, Wiratunga was able to save multiple hours each month and quarter by eliminating repetitive reporting tasks for his team, and focusing them instead on more strategic work. He was also able to prepare for client escalations on short notice as needed. To get the full scoop on The Search Agency’s success, read the full customer story here.

The Search Agency saves times and discovers insights at scale with executive reporting from DoubleClick Search

The search marketing landscape can change quickly and marketers need tools that can adapt just as fast - to understand immediate opportunities, and react if necessary. Late last year, we announced executive reporting from DoubleClick Search to give marketers the ability to see their campaign performance quickly, across their entire business or in any specific view. Today, we’d like to highlight how a top digital agency has found success with our tools to increase efficiency and get a better handle on their business.



With hundreds of clients around the globe, The Search Agency’s leaders were finding it increasingly hard to keep an eye on the health of their business. Keen to quickly understand the performance while eliminating time-consuming monthly and quarterly reporting tasks, they adopted executive reporting from DoubleClick Search to help oversee company’s interests.

The team needed a way to get the big picture—fast. They also had to have details such as monthly and quarterly reports of all the agency’s business, aggregated for industries or individual clients, with in-depth costs by month, quarter or device.

“That kind of detail is essential for day-to-day work, but also for quick KPIs,” says Wiratunga. “If I’m walking into a board room with my department leads about a certain client or if I get called into a meeting with 15 minutes to prep, I need a way to see—on the fly—exactly what’s happening with an account and all of its issues.” 

After implementing executive reporting, Wiratunga was able to save multiple hours each month and quarter by eliminating repetitive reporting tasks for his team, and focusing them instead on more strategic work. He was also able to prepare for client escalations on short notice as needed. To get the full scoop on The Search Agency’s success, read the full customer story here.