When using Google Display Ads, is the referrer hidden from your server

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When using Google Display Ads, is the referrer hidden from your server

FranticFish

12:04 pm on May 31, 2016 (gmt 0)

I've been trying Google Display Ads for a few sites, and wondered if anyone could tell me whether the referring domain (i.e. the site with your Google ad on that was clicked) is something that is shown or hidden?

I know it's in Analytics, but would it be in the server logs for the site the ads point to? If so, can anyone tell me what a typical entry might look like?

bakedjake

2:58 pm on May 31, 2016 (gmt 0)

If you're just using analytics/adwords integration, no, they don't appear in your server logs.

But if you use traditional utm tagging they'll appear in your server logs.

RhinoFish

3:01 am on Jun 1, 2016 (gmt 0)

The click happens on an Ad Server, so your logs won't show the domain the ad was on, but the Ad Server's domain.
Referring site (placement) info is decoded into Analytics and listed on AdWords as well, best to use the info found there.
If you must dig thru non-G logs and data, Google's Display Ads will come in through several Ad Server domains, primarily XXX.doubleclick.net and XXX.googlesyndication.com.

More: [support.google.com...]

FranticFish

8:49 am on Jun 1, 2016 (gmt 0)

Thanks both of you for your replies.