The MyBlogLog Blog The source for all things MyBlogLog.

Yahoo Publisher Network clicks tracked, and ….

It's been a busy few days here. We're now tracking Yahoo Publisher Network ad clicks in addition to Google Adsense clicks. We're rushing a bit both because our users have been requesting this feature forevah, plus I'm a panelist this evening at Dave and Jeff's SDForum Search SIG covering Search Analytics.

Three things to note:

• We're going to add other ad networks as we can, including MSN, AdBrite, BlogAds, et al. Please let us know what other ad networks are important to you in the comments to this post.
• The system is far from perfect at this early stage. We will be testing the numerical precision of the system for a few weeks and will keep everyone apprised of news. The variation for the important parameters is already <10% but we want to know exactly what's going on.
• It is critical to note that we are counting a very different number than is reported to AdSense publishers by Google. Google (and we assume Yahoo), using the method they find best, reports to publishers how many valid clicks were made on their ads, i.e. how many clicks the publisher is getting paid for. We are simply reporting the total number of clicks made on the ads without regard to the clicks' validity as we have no way to determine what is a valid click versus an invalid click. That's why our count of clicks to googlesyndication.com will be somewhat higher than what Google reports.

Google AdSense Click Reporting Update

We're part of the way there. The column headers on the reporting page now allow sites using our reporting to separate their off-site clicks by Ads and Content. It's similar to the way Referrers can be sorted by Search and Content. Click on the thumbnail for an example. I just took a slice of our Stats Page to avoid spreading AdSense-related data around in possible violation of Google's TOS.

MyBlogLog Tracks Google AdSense Clicks

This post is just a teaser, but we hate leaving people in the dark. We know that Google AdSense clicks are suddenly appearing in everyone's top-click lists. It's also immediately clear that the click numbers we record are very different than what Google is reporting to you as AdSense publishers. We can't yet be sure but, the difference appears to be the ways that Google is filtering out clickfraud.

We've wanted to be able to track these clicks for a long time, but our ability in making it happen even took us a little by surprise. We'll be filtering the AdSense clicks out of everyone's top-5 lists shortly and restricting AdSense (and other ad network data) to everyone's stats reporting pages. Please watch this space over the next 36 hours for news on a better-defined ad-click tracking service offering and what it means for all AdSense publishers.

Draft Privacy Policy

We've been working on a privacy policy, though not quickly enough. Before we place it where it belongs, I wanted to post it here to make sure we get the feedback we need. The text is largely taken from Flickr's pre-Yahoo acquisition policy, though I inserted some text from the Tacoda policy where it seemed appropriate and removed mentions of advertising as we have no current plans in that area.
=================

MyBlogLog Privacy Policy

What This Privacy Policy Covers
* This privacy policy pertains to the use of the MyBlogLog web site at http://mybloglog.com/
* This privacy policy covers how MyBlogLog treats personal information that MyBlogLog collects and receives. Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable like your name, address, email address, or phone number.
* Children under 13 are not permitted to use the MyBlogLog service, and so this privacy policy makes no provision for children's use of the site.

General Information
* MyBlogLog collects personal information when you register with MyBlogLog to use MyBlogLog services or to post content on MyBlogLog.
* When you register we ask for your email address and certain optional information such as your name, birth date, birthplace, gender, biographical information, ICQ/AIM/Yahoo/MSN user name, and personal interests.
* If you would like to obtain a paid ("Pro") account, we will ask for your billing address, phone number, and credit card or other payment information.
* MyBlogLog automatically receives and records information on our server logs from your browser, including your IP address, cookie, and the page you request.
* MyBlogLog uses information for the following general purposes: products and services provision, billing, identification and authentication, services improvement, contact, research, and anonymous reporting.

IP Addresses
IP Addresses are automatically reported by your browser each time you view a web page. Your IP address is stored in our user registration databases when you register with MyBlogLog. IP addresses may be used for various purposes, including:
* To diagnose or service technology problems reported by our users or engineers that are associated with the IP addresses controlled by a specific web company or ISP.
* To estimate the total number of users visiting MyBlogLog from specific geographical regions.
* To make sure that people are not voting for themselves or friends during contests or promotions.

Cookies
Nearly all websites, including those using MyBlogLog products and services, use a feature of your browser to set a "cookie" on your computer. Cookies are small packets of data stored on your computer. The site placing the packet on your computer can then recognize the computer when you revisit the site, or another site in the network. The site's computer may the cookie to provide services such as auto log on and relevant ad delivery, and to better understand how you are interacting with the site. These cookies effectively enable sites to better customize the site to your needs and interests, so that it can be as valuable to you as possible.

You are always free to decline cookies, but by doing so you may not be able to use certain features on the websites or take full advantage of all the website offerings and targeted advertising. You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, erase cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the ''Help'' menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.)

Alternatively, you may click here to opt-out of data collection from MyBlogLog services. Be advised that if you change computers or browsers, or use multiple computers or browsers, you will need to repeat this process for each computer and each browser.

Web Beacons
MyBlogLog uses web beacons (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_beacon.html) understand what users are clicking on across the blogs and other web sites in its network. The information collected through these web beacons is used to find out more about our users, for more accurate reporting, improve the effectiveness of our marketing, and to make MyBlogLog better. MyBlogLog sets a cookie along with its web beacons, see above.

Information Sharing and Disclosure
* When you post a message, your MyBlogLog ID or alias that you are posting under is visible to other users.
* If you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return. MyBlogLog does not rent or sell your personal information.
* Generally, MyBlogLog does not share personal information about you with other people or nonaffiliated companies without your consent except to provide products or services you've requested and in the following circumstances:
o MyBlogLog may be required to disclose personally identifiable information under special circumstances, such as to comply with subpoenas, warrants, court orders or legal process or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims;
* It may be necessary to share information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding suspected or actual illegal activities, including without limitation, fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of MyBlogLog's terms of use, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. We will transfer information about you if MyBlogLog is acquired by or merged with another company. In this event, MyBlogLog will notify you by email or by putting a prominent notice on the MyBlogLog web site before information about you is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy. MyBlogLog may share demographic information with business partners, such as "53% of users who regularly user MyBlogLog chat are between 18 and 24" or the like. No personally identifiable information will ever be used without your permission (i.e. we will ask you for a quote or testimonial)

Editing and Deleting Account Information. Security.
* You can change your MyBlogLog Account Information at any time.
* We may send you certain communications relating to the MyBlogLog service, such as service announcements and administrative messages, that are considered part of your MyBlogLog account.
* You can delete your MyBlogLog account at any time from your account page; however, please note that your identification, billing and contact information may remain in MyBlogLog's records for some period.
* We limit access to personal information about you to employees who we believe reasonably need to come into contact with that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs.
* Your MyBlogLog Account Information is password-protected.

Changes to this Privacy Policy
MyBlogLog reserves the right to modify this privacy statement at any time, so please review it frequently. If there are any significant changes to how we handle personal information we will send a notice to the primary email address specified in your MyBlogLog account or by placing a prominent notice on our site.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, please contact privacy@MyBlogLog.com and give us a chance to resolve your issue. If we do not respond quickly or satisfactorily, hound us publicly until we come to our senses.

Effective Date: September 5, 2006.

Draft Privacy Policy

We've been working on a privacy policy, though not quickly enough. Before we place it where it belongs, I wanted to post it here to make sure we get the feedback we need. The text is largely taken from Flickr's pre-Yahoo acquisition policy, though I inserted some text from the Tacoda policy where it seemed appropriate and removed mentions of advertising as we have no current plans in that area.
=================

MyBlogLog Privacy Policy

What This Privacy Policy Covers
* This privacy policy pertains to the use of the MyBlogLog web site at http://mybloglog.com/
* This privacy policy covers how MyBlogLog treats personal information that MyBlogLog collects and receives. Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable like your name, address, email address, or phone number.
* Children under 13 are not permitted to use the MyBlogLog service, and so this privacy policy makes no provision for children's use of the site.

General Information
* MyBlogLog collects personal information when you register with MyBlogLog to use MyBlogLog services or to post content on MyBlogLog.
* When you register we ask for your email address and certain optional information such as your name, birth date, birthplace, gender, biographical information, ICQ/AIM/Yahoo/MSN user name, and personal interests.
* If you would like to obtain a paid ("Pro") account, we will ask for your billing address, phone number, and credit card or other payment information.
* MyBlogLog automatically receives and records information on our server logs from your browser, including your IP address, cookie, and the page you request.
* MyBlogLog uses information for the following general purposes: products and services provision, billing, identification and authentication, services improvement, contact, research, and anonymous reporting.

IP Addresses
IP Addresses are automatically reported by your browser each time you view a web page. Your IP address is stored in our user registration databases when you register with MyBlogLog. IP addresses may be used for various purposes, including:
* To diagnose or service technology problems reported by our users or engineers that are associated with the IP addresses controlled by a specific web company or ISP.
* To estimate the total number of users visiting MyBlogLog from specific geographical regions.
* To make sure that people are not voting for themselves or friends during contests or promotions.

Cookies
Nearly all websites, including those using MyBlogLog products and services, use a feature of your browser to set a "cookie" on your computer. Cookies are small packets of data stored on your computer. The site placing the packet on your computer can then recognize the computer when you revisit the site, or another site in the network. The site's computer may the cookie to provide services such as auto log on and relevant ad delivery, and to better understand how you are interacting with the site. These cookies effectively enable sites to better customize the site to your needs and interests, so that it can be as valuable to you as possible.

You are always free to decline cookies, but by doing so you may not be able to use certain features on the websites or take full advantage of all the website offerings and targeted advertising. You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, erase cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the ''Help'' menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.)

Alternatively, you may click here to opt-out of data collection from MyBlogLog services. Be advised that if you change computers or browsers, or use multiple computers or browsers, you will need to repeat this process for each computer and each browser.

Web Beacons
MyBlogLog uses web beacons (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_beacon.html) understand what users are clicking on across the blogs and other web sites in its network. The information collected through these web beacons is used to find out more about our users, for more accurate reporting, improve the effectiveness of our marketing, and to make MyBlogLog better. MyBlogLog sets a cookie along with its web beacons, see above.

Information Sharing and Disclosure
* When you post a message, your MyBlogLog ID or alias that you are posting under is visible to other users.
* If you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return. MyBlogLog does not rent or sell your personal information.
* Generally, MyBlogLog does not share personal information about you with other people or nonaffiliated companies without your consent except to provide products or services you've requested and in the following circumstances:
o MyBlogLog may be required to disclose personally identifiable information under special circumstances, such as to comply with subpoenas, warrants, court orders or legal process or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims;
* It may be necessary to share information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding suspected or actual illegal activities, including without limitation, fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of MyBlogLog's terms of use, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. We will transfer information about you if MyBlogLog is acquired by or merged with another company. In this event, MyBlogLog will notify you by email or by putting a prominent notice on the MyBlogLog web site before information about you is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy. MyBlogLog may share demographic information with business partners, such as "53% of users who regularly user MyBlogLog chat are between 18 and 24" or the like. No personally identifiable information will ever be used without your permission (i.e. we will ask you for a quote or testimonial)

Editing and Deleting Account Information. Security.
* You can change your MyBlogLog Account Information at any time.
* We may send you certain communications relating to the MyBlogLog service, such as service announcements and administrative messages, that are considered part of your MyBlogLog account.
* You can delete your MyBlogLog account at any time from your account page; however, please note that your identification, billing and contact information may remain in MyBlogLog's records for some period.
* We limit access to personal information about you to employees who we believe reasonably need to come into contact with that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs.
* Your MyBlogLog Account Information is password-protected.

Changes to this Privacy Policy
MyBlogLog reserves the right to modify this privacy statement at any time, so please review it frequently. If there are any significant changes to how we handle personal information we will send a notice to the primary email address specified in your MyBlogLog account or by placing a prominent notice on our site.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, please contact privacy@MyBlogLog.com and give us a chance to resolve your issue. If we do not respond quickly or satisfactorily, hound us publicly until we come to our senses.

Effective Date: September 5, 2006.