Track video interaction with third-party URLs
This feature is only available to networks with a dedicated Google account manager, and might not be enabled for your network. Contact your account manager for more information. If you do not have an account manager, your network is not eligible for this feature.
Third-party tracking URLs are used to measure ad metrics (not content metrics). They provide details about user interaction with creatives.
For video line items, advertiser-supplied tracking URLs are usually used for this purpose. If the advertiser is using VAST, it's recommended that the publisher book a VAST redirect which eliminates the need for third-party tracking URLs.
The table below shows the third-party tracking URLs that are available for creative sets. You can enter multiple URLs for each type of tracking, except for survey, custom click and click tracking, which only support one.
| Tracking URL | Description of tracked activity |
|---|---|
| Creative view | Number of times the first frame of the video initially plays for a user. Often used as a synonym for "impression". |
| Skip | Number of times a user skipped the creative (different than "Close"). |
| Start | Number of times the first frame of the video plays for a user (different than "Creative view"). |
| 1st quartile | Number of times the video plays to 25% of its length. |
| Midpoint | Number of times the video plays to 50% of its length. |
| 3rd quartile | Number of times the video plays to 75% of its length. |
| Complete | Number of times the video plays to the end. |
| Mute | Number of times a user mutes the video. |
| Unmute | Number of times a user un-mutes the video. If the un-mute control is the same as the mute control, the reporting should be able to differentiate between the two. |
| Pause | Number of times a user pauses the video. |
| Rewind | Number of times a user rewinds the video. |
| Resume | Number of times a user resumes the video. If the resume control is the same as the pause control, the reporting should be able to differentiate between the two. |
| Fullscreen | Number of times a user expands the video to full-screen size. |
| Expand * | Number of times a user expands a non-linear creative, such as an overlay. |
| Collapse * | Number of times a user collapses an ad, either to its original size or to a different size. For overlays, this tracks the number of times the user minimizes the ad without fully removing it from the player. |
| Accept invitation | Number of times a user expands the viewable area and launches another portion of an ad. |
| Close * | Number of times a user closes a video. |
| Click tracking | Number of clicks on the video. |
| Custom click | Number of times a user performs a custom click, such as clicking on a video hot spot. |
| Survey | URL that calls a survey to accompany an ad. For example, when a creative is served for an ad, a survey may also be served in a pop-up window. |
* Appears in the creative set interface in Ad Manager but it is not yet included in the VAST response.
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