Tracking your Dynamic Search Ads work similar to the tracking with ValueTrack parameters, except that the Dynamic Search Ads landing page URL is dynamically generated. When you set up tracking, you can send potential customers to a specific landing page that has extra information in the URL, like the Dynamic ad target that triggered your ad or the type of device the person who clicked your ad was using.
For example, if your final URL is example.com and you wish to send people to example.com?tracking=123 the tracking template for your Dynamic Search Ad should include the ValueTrack parameters {lpurl}?tracking=123. The {lpurl} will be replaced by the dynamic landing page URL.
This article explains how to set up tracking for your Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs).
Optimize your campaign as you create it
As you create your campaign, you may receive notifications based on your setting selections. These notifications may alert you of issues that can result in decreased performance or that may be significant enough to prevent you from publishing your campaign.
The campaign construction navigation menu that appears as you construct your campaign provides a holistic view of your construction progress and will call attention to notifications that you may want to address. Move between steps in the navigation menu to easily review and resolve potential issues with your targeting, bidding, budget, or other campaign settings. Learn how to Set up your campaign for success.
Before you begin
- Create a tracking template. You can add a tracking template for your Dynamic Search Ads on the account, campaign, ad group, or Dynamic ad target level. Keep in mind that Google Ads will use the most specific one. For example, if you have a tracking template on the ad group level and on the Dynamic ad target level, the Dynamic ad target tracking template will be used.
- Use a ValueTrack parameter. In order to use tracking in your Dynamic ad groups, you will have to create a tracking template. You'll also need a ValueTrack parameter to populate your landing page. The ValueTrack parameter can return landing page addresses in a few different formats so check how your tracking software formats tracking URLs.
When you have the correct format, replace the landing page URL in your third-party tracking URL with the recommended ValueTrack parameter to create a tracking template.
Your example landing page URL: https://googlestore.com/shop.axd/search?category=phones
| Your landing page URL with its tracking details | Key features | Recommended ValueTrack parameter | Tracking template |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://googlestore.com/shop.axd/search?category=phones&device=m&tracking=xyz | Doesn’t encode landing page URL, ends with “tracking” string | {lpurl} | {lpurl}?device={device}&tracking=xyz |
| Third-party tracking URL | Key features | Recommended ValueTrack parameter | Tracking template |
|---|---|---|---|
| http://tracking.com/redir.php? url=https://googlestore.com/shop.axd/ search%3Fcategory%3Dphones | Encodes ?, =, ", #, \t, ', and [space] of landing page URL, ends with search query | {lpurl} | http://tracking.com/redir.php?url={lpurl} |
| http://tracking.com/redir.php? url=https%3A%2F%2F googlestore.com%2Fshop.axd %2Fsearch%3Fcategory%3Dphones | Encodes :, /, and ?, and = of landing page URL, ends with search query | {escapedlpurl} | http://tracking.com/redir.php?url={escapedlpurl} |
| http://tracking.com/213/73406795 | Landing page URL not included | None, this format isn’t supported. | n/a |
If you are using a third-party tracking software, you'll need to test if it's compatible with your Dynamic Search Ads in Google Ads. Dynamic Search Ads work with third-party software if you can view the landing page within the software's tracking URL.
| Example tracking URL | Compatible? |
|---|---|
| http://3rdpartytracker.com/?url=https://googlestore.com |
Compatible. You can view the landing page URL in the tracking URL. Your Google Ads tracking template would be http://3rdpartytracker.com/?url={lpurl} |
| http://3rdpartytracker.com/73406795 |
Not compatible. You can’t view the landing page URL in the tracking URL. You cannot create a tracking template containing {lpurl} |
If you don’t find the landing page URL within your software’s tracking URL, your software isn't compatible with Dynamic Search Ads.
Our system will check your tracking templates and landing page links to confirm that they lead people who click on your ad to the expected page. Google Ads will use the domain you've provided to generate and test your links. If your final landing pages don't load successfully, your ad may be disapproved.
Instructions
Before you begin, you may have to add the "Tracking template" column to your table using the following steps:
- In your Google Ads account, click the Campaigns icon
.
- Click the Audiences, keywords, and content drop down in the section menu.
- Click Dynamic ad targets.
- Click the column icon
above the statistics table.
- Click Attributes, and then select Tracking template.
- Click Apply.
above the statistics table.To set up tracking for your Dynamic ad target, follow these instructions:
- In your Google Ads account, click the Campaigns icon
- Click the Audiences, keywords, and content drop down in the section menu.
- Click Dynamic ad targets.
- Hover over any entry in the new “Tracking template” column, and click when the pencil appears.
- Enter
{lpurl}, a question mark, and then any ValueTrack parameters you want to use, separated by ampersands (&). For example, if you want to use the{targetid}parameter, your tracking template would be:{lpurl}?targetid={targetid} - Click Save.
