Google Optimize troubleshooting

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JD Piland
JD Piland ✭
Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic
in Blackbaud Luminate Online® & Blackbaud TeamRaiser® Discussions
Hello there,


I've been searching for topics on Google Optimize and not really finding any.


The question I have right now is: Has anyone been able to get Optimize to work in LO? We are having the hardest time with it, so I'm hoping it's not a lost cause.


The error we see most often is "Analytics configuration mismatch" and no matter what we try we can't get it to work. I've looked at it, developers and IT have looked at it. We're still at a loss.


Thanks in advance!
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  • Daryl Bunker
    Daryl Bunker ✭
    Eighth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Name Dropper Photogenic
    We've gotten it to "work" but I'm not 100% convinced that it's really working...


    For example, we recently did a 50/50 test where we had slightly different copy on 2 donation forms. It's supposed to split the forms evenly, and I realize it would be pretty rare to have a true 50/50 split, but it wasn't even close according to the results tab inside of Optimize. It was closer to like a 65/35 or something.


    That being said, we can create experiments and get the verification codes. Do you use just Google Analytics or do you have Google Tag Manager? We have ours setup through GTM.
  • Reid Dossinger
    Reid Dossinger ✭
    Seventh Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    We've been able to get it to work in the sense that it passes validation in Optimize, but I haven't done enough tests to say that it's working. It appears to work from the preview in Optimize, but we also had a problem with an email signup form that we did an experiment on, and while I'm almost positive that the problem was unrelated to Optimize, it's still made me a little nervous about moving forward with other experiments.


    But again, all of our drafts preview just fine and the diagnostics come back as properly installed.
  • Sara Hoffman
    Sara Hoffman ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 2 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi JD - 

    Google Optimize should be giving you more information about what aspect is mismatched. Typically, the issue is "allowLinker" which is a part of cross-domain tracking. 

    Do you have a custom secure domain or are you using secure2/3 url?


    You can see GTM and Optimize code across http://cbf.org as an example.
  • JD Piland
    JD Piland ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic

    Sara Hoffman:

    Hi JD - 

    Google Optimize should be giving you more information about what aspect is mismatched. Typically, the issue is "allowLinker" which is a part of cross-domain tracking. 

    Do you have a custom secure domain or are you using secure2/3 url?


    You can see GTM and Optimize code across http://cbf.org as an example.



    We have a custom domain: support.bestfriends.org....


    Google does present error notifications, but no matter what we try or how we address the notification, another one pops up.

  • JD Piland
    JD Piland ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    Hello again, folks.


    We finally got Optimize up and running. Big thanks to Sara Hoffman‍. Like, a really big thanks!


    I do have additional a follow-up or two.


    I am trying to create a Redirect test, and when I add the Redirect Destination, the Final URL retains portions of the Original URL. So, I end up with two "XXXX.donation=form1" in my final URL. Anyone else experience this? Or have a solution to that?


    Thanks again!

    J.D.
  • JD Piland
    JD Piland ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    If anyone has any ideas on my previous comment, I'd be grateful. Thanks!

    I do have additional a follow-up or two.


    I am trying to create a Redirect test, and when I add the Redirect Destination, the Final URL retains portions of the Original URL. So, I end up with two "XXXX.donation=form1" in my final URL. Anyone else experience this? Or have a solution to that?

    Example of the resulting URL: ../site/Donation2?3070.donation=form1&df_id=3070&mfc_pref=T&2463.donation=form1


     
  • Sara Hoffman
    Sara Hoffman ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 2 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sorry for the delay, I got lost in a documentation tizzy. Here's what I have previously noted in VWO and it can be true in Google Optimize as well. It has to do with the weird way that the query string for Donations2 is architected and "2463.donation=form1" isn't a normal way to use the query string.

    URLs

    "Match Pattern" is WAY different than "Match RegEx"

    Donations2 URLs will end up with an extra parameter. Make sure you use RegEx instead of pattern matching.

    EX: "&11950.donation=form1" Is appended in Campaign XYZ for variant 2 "Test: with $2,000 button

    Here is what VWO Support has to say about it: In a split URL campaign in VWO, the query parameters from the control URL are carried to the variation URL, by default. Since the query parameter "11950.donation=form1" is not present in the variation 2 URL, that is why it is carry forward from the control URL for variation V2. Thus, all those query parameters that are not present in the variation URLs are automatically carry forward from the control URL.

    Below is a screenshot from a test we ran in LO, highlighted are the forms involved in the test
    9337fa6189bfeb1dfde0aa69618e03be-huge-lo

     

  • JD Piland
    JD Piland ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic

    Sara Hoffman:

    Sorry for the delay, I got lost in a documentation tizzy. Here's what I have previously noted in VWO and it can be true in Google Optimize as well. It has to do with the weird way that the query string for Donations2 is architected and "2463.donation=form1" isn't a normal way to use the query string.

    URLs

    "Match Pattern" is WAY different than "Match RegEx"

    Donations2 URLs will end up with an extra parameter. Make sure you use RegEx instead of pattern matching.

    EX: "&11950.donation=form1" Is appended in Campaign XYZ for variant 2 "Test: with $2,000 button

    Here is what VWO Support has to say about it: In a split URL campaign in VWO, the query parameters from the control URL are carried to the variation URL, by default. Since the query parameter "11950.donation=form1" is not present in the variation 2 URL, that is why it is carry forward from the control URL for variation V2. Thus, all those query parameters that are not present in the variation URLs are automatically carry forward from the control URL.

    Below is a screenshot from a test we ran in LO, highlighted are the forms involved in the test
    9337fa6189bfeb1dfde0aa69618e03be-huge-lo

     

     



    Thanks, Sarah! I wasn't necessarily asking you to reply, but I'll take it. ?


    So, the two "form1" parameters are there and there's nothing we can do about it, other than making sure to use RegEx? I was mostly concerned whether the correct form would be used for the Redirect test.


    FWIW, here's what I am seeing when creating the test. Perhaps I am thinking of the Redirect test in a different way than is intended by Optimize...?

    9461ed270b2337e90577105b93f7272c-huge-sc

     

  • Sara Hoffman
    Sara Hoffman ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 2 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yes, from what you've got set up, that'll work fine. The key will be how you target the control version.


    Here's the Optimize side of the GA URLs screenshot:
    50c901708bb23049e2efa64e578886bb-huge-lo

     
  • JD Piland
    JD Piland ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    You're the best. Thank you again!

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