Requirements
- Data should be updated before each import.
- One table or dataview is required per conversion event or audience list.
- Your MySQL server must either be publicly accessible, or you can allowlist using the IP ranges for us-central1, us-east1, or us-west1 from this list of ranges.
Set up MySQL as a data source
Apply a use case now
The following sections walk you through a single procedure to link a data source to a use case. Click on your use case to expand the steps. To link the data source only, and apply a use case later, see Apply a use case later.
Note: It’s recommended that you add an audience segment to a connection that you created. You can either set up an audience segment before you link a data source or you can create an audience segment in the final step of setting up a data source.
Open Tools > Data manager. Select the connection you just made from “Connected products” and under “Usage”, click + Add audience segment.
- In Google Ads, open Tools > Shared library > Audience manager .
Note: If you already created a segment and skipped adding a data source, click Tools > Data manager > + Connect Product, then go to step 3. - Click +Create remarketing list > +Customer list.
- Under Data source, select Connect a new data source.
- If you previously linked a data source from the Data manager screen that you want to use, select Select an existing source.
- Search and select MySQL from the list of data sources.
- Select Direct connection, then click Continue.
- Enter your MySQL credentials, then click Connect.
- Click Next.
- Select the data type, then click Next.
- Select the MySQL database and table that you want to use, then click Next. Learn how to format your data for Customer Match.
- To map fields, select the data source fields from the dropdown lists that match the destination fields.
- Optional: Apply transformations to your data.
- Click Next.
- Enter a name for this connection.
- Optional: Edit connection details.
- Click Finish.
- Enter a name for the segment, confirm policy compliance, then click Save and continue.
Tip: Upgrade from offline conversion import to enhanced conversions for leads for more accurate reporting, easier data import, and engaged-view and cross-device conversion attribution.
To set up enhanced conversions for leads, you can either use an existing offline conversion import conversion action or create a new conversion action.
Note: It’s recommended that you add a conversion action to a connection that you created. You can either set up a conversion action before you link a data source or you can create a conversion action in the final step of setting up a data source.
Open Tools > Data manager. Select the connection you just made from “Connected products” and under “Usage”, click + Add conversion action.
- In Google Ads, click Goals > Summary > + New conversion action.
- Click Import.
- Select CRMs, files, or other data sources.
- Select a tracking method.
- Under Data source, select Connect a new data source.
- If you previously linked a data source from the Data manager screen that you want to use, select Select an existing source.
- Search and select MySQL from the list of data sources.
- Select Direct connection.
- Read and accept the customer data policy, then click Continue
- Select a category from the conversion goal list, then click Set up.
- Enter your MySQL credentials, then click Connect.
- Click Next.
- Select the MySQL database and table that you want to use, then click Next.
- To map fields, select the data source fields from the dropdown lists that match the destination fields.
- Optional: Apply transformations to your data.
- Click Next.
- Enter a name for this connection.
- Optional: Edit connection details.
- Click Finish.
- Click Save and continue.
Apply a use case later
In this type of setup, you complete each part of the connection at different times. This can be useful when you are ready to link a data source, but you are not ready to set up your use case–for example, you aren’t ready to create a customer list.
Consider the following scenario:
- Step 1: Dana is an engineer who manages data for your company. Dana sets up the data source to be used for activation in Google Ads. The data source is ready to be associated with a use case.
- Step 2: Mahan is a media specialist who needs to measure audience activation. Mahan creates a customer list and then associates it to the data source that Dana has previously set up, to use that data for Customer Match.
Step 1. Initiate the connection to the data source
Set up a data source and create a connection to be associated with a use case later.
- In Google Ads, click Tools > Data manager > + Connect Product.
- Under Data source, search and select a data source from the list of products.
- If prompted, select Direct connection.
- Select your use case, read and accept the customer data policy, then click Continue. If you select Audiences, you are prompted to select the data type at this step.
- Enter your data source location and credentials*, then click Next.
- To map fields, select the data source fields from the dropdown lists that match the destination fields.
- Optional: Apply transformations to your data.
- Click Next.
- Enter a name for this connection.
- Optional: Edit connection details.
- Click Finish.
- Optional: Depending on the use case, you may add an audience segment or conversion action to your connection.
To do this, select a connection from one of your Connected products and under Usage, click + Add audience segment or + Add conversion action. Learn more about audience segments and how to Create a conversion.
* Use the same credentials and location details for this data source as described in the first part of this article.
Step 2. Complete the connection by applying a use case
- Open the destination you intend to use–for example, begin to create a new customer list or conversion action using the steps from the previous sections. Return to these steps before completing the data source step.
- Under Data source, select Select an existing source.
- Select the data source that was initiated in Step 1 from the list of data sources.
- Continue to follow the remaining steps for your use case in the first part of this article. Note that you will skip further data source-related steps, such as entering credentials, because you completed these previously.