Tracking ads has become a very important part of every successful internet marketing campaign running today. More and more people today are starting their very own online businesses to enable them to achieve their dream of working from home instead of punching a clock for someone else. The ability to track the ad clicks of your website visitors is one area that can help you build a successful online business and achieve that dream.

Ad tracking is a process that successful businesses use to get the best return on investment (ROI) for their advertising dollars. In the physical world, ad tracking is performed by a companies' sales and marketing department and is often been considered something of an art form that separates the successful marketers from the not so successful ones. However, in the online world of home based internet marketing businesses, the ad tracking tasks are not performed by an entire department but rather comes down to one stressed out overworked individual – YOU.

Two Primary Ways to Track Ad Clicks

1. Ad Tracking Software – The software is usually in the form of a script that requires to be installed onto your web hosts server, and then placing a few lines of code onto each of your website pages. Some software programs will allow you to create special codes for each of your different ads so that you can run them at the same time and compare results. (This is also known as testing and tracking.)

Advantages: There is only a one-time purchase fee, and you have total control over the program.

Disadvantages: You have to create all the reports. This alone can take minutes to hours depending upon the amount of features and automation provided by the software.

2. Ad Tracking Services – You pay a recurring fee (depending upon the program) and you are provided with a wide range of features and reports regarding your ad tracking. The service provides you with a bit of code that you install onto each page of your website.

Advantages: You just login to your online account and can view different reports for each of your ad tracking campaigns. Program updates and feature enhancements are taken care of by the service provider.

Disadvantages: Online services usually charge a recurring fee for their services. In order to use their services, view graphs, trends or charts you have to have a good reliable internet connection.

The Ad Tracking Information

Tracking ad clicks, regardless of whether an independent software program on your web host or an online service performs it will provide you with valuable information about your website visitors. The information provided can tell you where your website visitors came from which lets you know where your largest and smallest traffic sources are. Knowing where your website traffic comes from will help you to capitalize on the best sources and decide whether to work on the smaller ones and build them up or remove them and focus your energies to areas that will provide you with a better ROI.

Regardless of the type of ad tracking option you use, look around for a bit before focusing on any one type. The types of scripts and services available range from the free ones to the very expensive ones with lots of bells and whistles such as charts, graphs, emails and more. Many programs and services today provide free demos and accounts for you to get your feet wet. My recommendation is to start with some free scripts or services and learn to use their program features and capabilities. Then when you look to the paid programs and services, you will have a better understanding of how to effectively use an ad tracking program and what you want the program or service to do for you.