Tracking direct downloads
What if your campaign sends visitors directly to a file that does not accept the GATC JavaScript page tags? For example, email marketing directing visitors a PDF, EXE, ZIP, DOC, XLS or PPT download - or any other file type that is not a website landing page. Without a GATC in place, Google Analytics will not detect a visitor . However, you can address this challenge by creating an intermediate landing page to capture the campaign variables before forwarding the visitor on to the actual file download. That is the purpose of this page.
To test, click a link below: (new session tracking starts a new visit when campaign changes):
- /forwarder.php?file=download1.pdf&utm_source=sales&utm_campaign=book&utm_medium=email
- /forwarder.php?file=download2.pdf&utm_source=sales&utm_campaign=book&utm_medium=cpc
- /forwarder.php?file=download3.pdf&utm_source=sales&utm_campaign=book&utm_medium=organic
Result
download1.pdf should be logged by GA with source = sales, campaign = book, medium = email
Disclaimer: All scripts presented in this book or on the web site www.advanced-web-metrics.com have been tested and validated by the author and are believed to be correct as of the date of publication or posting. The Google Analytics software on which they depend is subject to change, however; and therefore no warranty is expressed or implied that they will work as described in the future. Always check the most current Google Analytics documentation.