This article covers how Channels work in TapClicks, when to build a Custom Channel instead of using a Predefined Channel, and the best practices to follow when setting up Data Views and Channel Metrics.
- Understanding Channels
- When to Use a Custom Channel
- The Four-Step Build Process
- Setting Up Data Views
- Setting Up Channel Metrics (Fields)
- Channel Scope
- Adding Data Sources to an Existing Channel
- Quick-Glance Checklist
Understanding Channels
A Channel combines multiple Data Sources (or Data Views) so you can blend metrics from those sources into a single, unified view. Channels control what metrics appear and how they are visualized in your Dashboards.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Predefined Channel | Pre-built groupings of Data Sources, ready to use out of the box. |
| Custom Channel | Built by you, selecting multiple Data Sources to create a new "combination" data source. |
Predefined Channel types
- Email Services
- Website/Landing Tracking Services
- SEO
- Social Services
- SEM/PPC Services
- Local Listing
- Lead Tracking Services
- Display Services
When to Use a Custom Channel
Custom Channels let you blend data across sources to generate unique insights that display as one single data source. This is useful when no Predefined Channel fits your data story.
The Four-Step Build Process
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Name your Channel. |
| 2 | Select Data Sources to group and blend together. |
| 3 | Set up Data Views. |
| 4 | Set up Channel Metrics. |
Setting Up Data Views
This section expands on the Set up Data Views step from the build process above.
Data Views are groups of dimensions and fields that make up a Data Source (for example, Campaigns, Ad Groups, Ads, and Creatives).
- Available Data Views depend on which Data Sources are in your Channel.
- You do not have to select a Data View from every source. Pick the ones relevant to your blend.
- Remember to click Add after selecting each Data View to associate it with the Channel. This step is easy to miss.
Best practices
| Note: Match like with like. If you add a Campaign Data View at the channel level, use Campaign Data Views from each individual source too. |
| Note: More Data Views make blending harder. The more Data Views you stack into a Channel, the less seamlessly the data merges. |
| Note: The blending rule — to merge data in a table or chart, at least one shared dimension must exist across all the Data Views you have added. No shared dimension means no clean blend. |
Setting Up Channel Metrics (Fields)
This section expands on the Set up Channel Metrics step from the build process above.
Channel fields are the individual fields that appear in your new Channel, built from the Data Views you selected. They can be:
- Created by TapClicks
- Chosen by you
- A combination of both
How to build a field
- Enter a Field Name.
- Choose a Data Type. This determines what can be combined in the next step.
- Use the Available Metrics dropdowns from each Data Source to pull in the metrics that should feed this field, then click Add to move them to the left side.
- Repeat for each field you want to create.
Example: Create an "Actions" field by combining the Google Analytics "Goal Starts" metric with the Google Ads "Interactions" metric.
Best practices
| Note: Apples to apples. Combine similar data types only. You cannot merge "Number" and "Text" types into one field. |
| Note: Never build % or "Cost Per" metrics as channel-level fields. These must be built as a channel-level calculation instead, or they will not calculate or merge correctly. |
Channel Scope
| Note: Channels are typically built as holistic, reusable views, not client-specific structures. If you build client-specific calculations into a Channel, it can affect how that Channel behaves anywhere else it is used, including other Dashboards, reports, and clients. Think broad and reusable first. |
Adding Data Sources to an Existing Channel
Adding a new Data Source to a Channel you have already built is not a single step. It needs to be added at three levels, or it will not fully connect.
- Add the Data Source(s) to the overall Channel.
- Add the Data Views for that Data Source to each channel-level Data View you want it to feed into.
- Update each Channel Metric (field) where this Data Source should apply.
| Note: Skipping any one of these levels means the new Data Source will be attached to the Channel but will not actually show up where you expect. It will either be missing from the blended Data Views or absent from the fields and metrics that should include it. |
Quick-Glance Checklist
- Named the Channel
- Selected Data Sources to blend
- Selected matching Data Views (like with like)
- Confirmed at least one shared dimension across Data Views
- Built fields using matching data types
- Kept % and "Cost Per" metrics out of channel-level fields (built as channel-level calculations instead)
- Checked whether calculations are holistic or client-specific
Need More Help?
If you have questions about building or troubleshooting a Channel, contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or reach out to customercare@tapclicks.com.