This article gives a brief overview of the channels you can use in AdSense to segment your traffic sources. You can also see the full documentation on AdSense channel types: custom channels and URL channels.
Custom channels
Use custom channels for specific ad units. Custom channels allow you to see how one particular group of ad units are doing in relation to another.
Unlike the built-in reports (ad units, ad sizes, etc.), you can create these groupings yourself. Tracking various ad units with unique channels help you quickly isolate if there's a particular ad unit that needs attention.
Example breakdowns for custom channels
- Ad placement
- Above the fold
- Below the fold
- Inline with content
- Right of the content
- Ad size
- Traffic referral sources
- Google Search
- Social media networks
- Other search engines
- Site section
- Home page
- Blog
- Forums
URL channels
Place different portions of your AdSense traffic within a URL channel. Use URL channels to segment how your ads are doing on different parts of your sites.