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Setting Up Google Ad Reporting in Stack

Google Ad reporting in Stack offers live insights and analysis for your digital ad campaigns. Follow these steps to ensure your Google Ad Reporting is set up correctly.

Steps to Set Up Google Ad Reporting​

Step 1: Choose the Correct Google Ad Account​

To start, ensure you select the right Google Ad Account within the Integrations section of Stack. The connected Google account should have maximum permissions, such as administrator or Google Ad account manager access.

Step 2: Select the MCC Account ID and Client Account ID​

  • MCC Account ID: This stands for My Client Center, also known as Google Ads Manager Account, which manages multiple Google Ad accounts. You can find the MCC ID in the top right corner of your Google Ads dashboard.
  • Client Account ID: Locate this by clicking on the help section in your Google Ads account.

Step 3: Add the UTM Template to Your Google Ad Account​

Adding a UTM tracking template helps track the performance of your ads. It's recommended to add the UTM template at the Account Settings level. Here’s a template you can use:

{lpurl}?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium={adname}&utm_campaign={campaignname}&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_keyword={keyword}&utm_matchtype={matchtype}&campaign_id={campaignid}&ad_group_id={adgroupid}&ad_id={creative}

How It Works:

  • Tracking templates must include a ValueTrack parameter like {lpurl} to insert your final URL. Without it, your landing page URL might not function correctly.
  • To add multiple ValueTrack parameters, connect them with an ampersand (&), such as {lpurl}?matchtype={matchtype}&device={device}.

Example:

  • Final URL: http://example.com
  • Tracking Template: {lpurl}?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium={adname}&utm_campaign={campaignname}&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_keyword={keyword}&utm_matchtype={matchtype}&campaign_id={campaignid}&ad_group_id={adgroupid}&ad_id={creative}
  • Landing Page URL After Click: {lpurl}?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=black_friday&utm_campaign=blackday10&utm_content=marketingbanner&utm_keyword=getdiscounteddeal&utm_matchtype=e&campaign_id=12345&ad_group_id=2394984903&ad_id=93844980940&gclid=84843ewhfb834nedhj4u49

To implement this, navigate to your Google Ads Account > Account Settings > Tracking and paste the tracking template URL into the "Tracking template" field.

Note:

  • After adding the tracking template, run a test to ensure your landing pages are correctly found. Rectify any errors for active campaigns.
  • Previously, UTM Source was set as Google (utm_source=google), but this has been deprecated due to ad blockers stripping UTM parameters.

Step 4: Adding Script for Precautionary Measures​

For additional tracking reliability, consider adding a precautionary script. This script acts as a fail-safe if the UTM template does not capture attribution data. It tracks clicks on specific links and sends the data to Google Analytics. Ensure the URL in the script matches your website's tracking page.

Important Considerations​

  1. Unique Naming: Ensure campaign names, ads, and ad sets are unique.
  2. Name Consistency: Avoid changing names during the campaign's lifetime. If necessary, create a new campaign or ad set to prevent data issues.
  3. Data Integrity: Changing campaign names without creating new campaigns can cause CRM data to reference the original campaign, affecting your reporting.
  4. Objectives Dropdown: Use the Objectives dropdown in the top left to define the campaign's goals when creating it.

By following these steps, you can effectively set up and manage Google Ad Reporting within Stack, ensuring accurate and insightful campaign analysis.