Table of Contents
- Gclid Video Tutorial
- What is Gclid?
- How to Enable Gclid in your Google Ads Account
- Examples of Gclid
- Why You Should Enable Auto-Tagging and Link Your Accounts
Google Click ID, commonly referred to as Gclid, is a tracking parameter used in Google Ads. It enables advertisers to track conversions and optimize their ad campaigns effectively. In this article, we will explore what Gclid is, how it works, and the benefits of using it for your advertising campaigns. We will also discuss how to enable Gclid in your Google Ads account and troubleshoot common issues associated with Gclid.
Gclid Video Tutorial
What is Gclid?
Gclid, also known as a “Google Click ID” or Google Click Identifier,” is a tracking identifier that is generated when someone searches one of your targeted keywords and clicks on your ad. So, every time your ad gets clicked through Google Ads, a Gclid will be added to the end of the link. We have included an example image to show you where the Gclid shows up in a URL.
How to Enable Gclid in your Google Ads Account
Setting up Auto-Tagging for Gclid
To enable Gclid in your Google Ads account, you need to set up auto-tagging. Auto-tagging automatically appends the Gclid parameter to the landing page URLs of your ads. To enable auto-tagging, go to your Google Ads account settings, navigate to the “Tracking” section, and turn on the auto-tagging option.
Linking Google Ads and Google Analytics for Gclid tracking
To track Gclid data more effectively, it is recommended to link your Google Ads and Google Analytics 4 accounts. By linking these accounts, you can access more detailed conversion data and gain deeper insights into the performance of your ad campaigns.
In Google Analytics, click on the “Admin” and you will see a screen with different options. Under “Product Links” you will see an option for “Google Ads Links” and that’s what you want to click.
You can click on the blue link button to create a link with Google Ads. You can sign-in using a Google account or use your existing Google account. You can also use the Google Ads account ID to link the accounts.
You want to make sure your Google Ads account is linked to your Google Analytics 4 account. When you click on the Google Ads links button, you should see your Google Ads account ID connected to your GA4 account.
Double Check That Link is Complete in Google Ads
Once you have completed the link in Google Analytics 4, access your Google Ads account and go to the Admin link and click on the ‘Linked accounts’ link.
When you go to the Linked accounts page, you want to find the Google Analytics (GA4) & Firebase link. If you haven’t set the link yet, you will have to click on the ‘Details’ link. Otherwise, select ‘Manage & link’ to make sure your accounts are connected.
You can see below that we have the linking complete. Now, when we enable auto-tagging in the next step, our campaigns will track properly into Google Analytics 4.
Examples of Gclid
For the first example, let’s say I am searching on Google for a dermatologist. I then see an advertisement that I click on. Here is the example of the Google search ad that I clicked.
Then, when I visit the landing page and look at the landing page URL, I highlighted the Gclid that tracks my click below.
For the second example, I clicked on a Display advertisement. This is a Google Display Ad for CallRail that is likely a Remarketing ad since I visited their website.
You can see the tracking in their URL and they have manual tracking along with a Google Click ID at the end of the landing page URL.
Why You Should Enable Auto-Tagging and Link Your Accounts
Gclid allows you to attribute conversions accurately to the specific ad clicks. This helps you understand which ads and keywords are driving the most conversions, allowing you to make data-driven decisions to optimize your campaigns and maximize your conversion rates.
Optimize Your Google Ads Campaigns Using Gclid Data
Gclid data provides valuable insights into the performance of your ad campaigns. By analyzing the Gclid data, you can identify underperforming keywords, ads, and landing pages. Use this information to optimize your campaigns, make necessary adjustments, and improve your overall advertising ROI.
Gclid Attribution in Multi-Channel Funnels
When analyzing conversions in multi-channel funnels, Gclid attribution becomes important. Gclid allows you to track the entire customer journey and determine the role of each channel in driving conversions. Make sure to properly analyze the conversion data to understand the contribution of different channels to your conversions.
Tracking Online Conversions with Gclid in Google Analytics
Once you have enabled auto-tagging and added the Gclid parameter to your URLs, you can start tracking conversions in Google Ads and Google Analytics. By linking your Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts, you can track conversions more accurately and gain insights into the performance of your ad campaigns.
Why Use Gclid?
In essence, Google Click ID passes information from your Google Ads account to your Google Analytics account automatically, without you having to create multiple, lengthy URLs. Enabling a Gclid will save you time and track the campaign specifics, including costs, cost-per-click, sessions, bounce rate, ad group targeting, keyword targeting, which ad was driving clicks, and conversion data. We have included some example images from a Google search that drives to a Surfside PPC ad campaign.
PPC Advertising Tracking
You can also generate your Gclid in Bing Ads by going to your account settings and enabling auto-tagging in Bing Ads, which will help you track your campaigns in Google Analytics. While the Gclid removes the need for the Google Campaign URL Builder when using Google Ads and Bing; we do recommend still using the builder tool for channels such as Pinterest Ads and Facebook Ads to track your campaigns.
