Google AdWords reporting has come along way since I first started in 2004. Back then you had the report basics that allowed you to see clicks, impressions, cost per click and a handful of other metrics. Now, you can measure pretty much anything under the sun like reach and frequency, demographic performance, landing page performance as well as segregate by your different ad placements within the content network? just to name a few (trust me the list could go on almost forever).

Then Google introduced Ad Scheduling; which allows the advertiser to set the time of day they would like to advertise. You can even set custom bids within ad prices by time of day. So if you want to bid 120% of your default cost per click bid of $1.00 on Tuesday's from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. you can. This is a great option, if Google gave you a little more transparency within their hourly reports.

Google - Please Show Me Conversions by Hour

Don't get me wrong, I love that you show me impressions, clicks, CTR, CPC, CPM, cost and impression share metrics by the hour, but can we take this a couple steps further? If you are going to give Advertisers the option of Ad Scheduling; then show me how I am converting each hour. If you give me the option of bidding 120% during a certain hourly time period, then let me know if bidding more during this time period actually pays off. If you do this I promise to throw more money at the hours that do convert the best!

So please Google, just a little more transparency please.

Labels: PPC Advertising