# Google Ads Conversion API Quick Start Guide

{% hint style="info" %}
The Google Ads Conversion API requires setting up new Conversion Actions within Google Ads. If you want to re-use your existing Google Ads configuration, take a look at the [Google Ads Proxy Destination](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/integrations/destinations/direct-response-ads/google-ads).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
For [Insights](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/admin-panel/insights): You must enable the Google Ads API in your Google Cloud account before Freshpaint can pull spend and campaign data. If you don't have a Google Cloud account set up, you'll need to create one and enable the API. Contact your Google Ads administrator or IT team if you need assistance.
{% endhint %}

Optimize your Google Ads spend by attributing ad clicks to conversion and other key behaviors.

## Destination Info

* Supports [Track](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/developer/freshpaint-sdk-reference#track) calls
* Supports [HIPAA mode](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/hipaa-mode)
* Refer to this destination as **Google Ads Conversion API** in the [Integrations object](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/reference/developer/freshpaint-sdk-reference#using-the-integrations-object)
* Connection Modes:

<table><thead><tr><th width="200.33333333333331" align="right"> </th><th data-type="checkbox">Client-side</th><th data-type="checkbox">Server-side</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td align="right">Web</td><td>false</td><td>true</td></tr><tr><td align="right">Mobile</td><td>false</td><td>true</td></tr><tr><td align="right">Server</td><td>false</td><td>true</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Getting Started

### What You'll Need

1. Your Google Ads Customer ID
2. [Conversion Actions](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/12216226?hl=en) configured in your Google Ads account
3. Conversion Events configured in your Freshpaint account

### To set up Google Ads Conversions API with Freshpaint, first follow these steps:

1. Find your customer-id in your [Google Ads account](https://ads.google.com/aw/overview). The Customer ID will be shown when logged into your Google Ads account above you email address. It should look similar to 123-123-1234.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2Fvw2KxeT6HyHJNNYcYEGY%2Fgoogle-ads-account-id.png?alt=media\&token=91f82d14-3980-4d45-8a9a-349f1bda351d)
2. Go to the [Google Ads Conversion API configuration page](https://app.freshpaint.io/destinations/apps/google-ads-conversion-api) in Freshpaint.
3. Configure the Customer ID within Freshpaint.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2F9uqpsj3uOMRGlcLabajW%2Fgoogle-ads-conversion-config.png?alt=media\&token=5f129ef4-a81b-4be0-b73e-e1f15f92f700)
4. Use the `Connect with Google Ads` button to grant Freshpaint access to your Google Ads account.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2Fuw2fYXMZba3ZEn3oalWH%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%204.11.23%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=68e88ed4-abb1-43c2-8e29-52b6a0b26646)
5. Select `User Account` and then click `Connect with Google CM360` as the method to connect Freshpaint to Google Ads
6. Select the user you want Freshpaint to use when sending events to Google Ads. This user requires `Admin` access level within Google Ads.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2F6MfsCfjhO7uWEBmOxh0r%2Fgoogle-ads-sso-user-prompt.png?alt=media\&token=9540c533-5c29-4f86-9dee-ac5bb2a57871)
7. Grant access to Freshpaint by selecting `Continue`.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FDz7aBXwbo2l1WwgmHG93%2Fgoogle-ads-sso-warning-prompt.png?alt=media\&token=9ad18962-11d7-406b-8608-431221754613)
8. The [Google Ads Conversion API configuration page](https://app.freshpaint.io/destinations/apps/google-ads-conversion-api) should now show the Access Permission as connected.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FlLXONDcKSCT3LsmhVkr3%2Fgoogle-ads-sso-complete.png?alt=media\&token=e94cdc8c-afab-40d9-b748-86badce45482)

### Next, you'll need to setup Conversion Actions in Google Ads

When using the conversion API to send conversions to Google Ads, you will need to create new `import` conversion actions.

1. In your Google Ads account go to `Goals > Summary`. Scroll down and click on the `+ Create Conversion Action` button to create a new conversion action.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FVn1T1R3JHwCNiEK6kiIf%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%204.01.41%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3daf85c0-23e3-46c7-8ea8-a0474321c766" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

2. Select `Import`\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FOWj1L0cexeKIoAMITQ30%2Fgoogls-ads-new-conversion.png?alt=media\&token=fbef9119-506d-4997-9a01-9ad2e1afa76e)
3. Select `CRMs, files, or other data sources` and `Track conversions from clicks`, and then `Continue` to the next page.\
   ![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FPfzW1IfJUHiB6XQYrTEI%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.26.14%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=ff8631d6-6754-45fe-8e63-2c2a4ab740e6)
4. In the `Data source` section, select `Skip this step and set up a data source later`.![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FIJ2ZcXTMPwzeFXa7x9ff%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.27.43%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=5c47c962-9aac-4235-ab8b-38a3ce9e8e78)&#x20;
5. Configure your conversion action within Google Ads. This configuration is the same as any other action in Google Ads. Choose any conversion goal that makes sense for your organization.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2F1d5jwYZhYjnujDBcVhn4%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.31.35%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d4fca6ee-724c-4f15-8634-e06ef67408c5" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

7. Click `Add` and then `Save and continue`.&#x20;
8. On the next page, scroll down, skip the section on setting up data sources, and click `Done` .&#x20;

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FQDoPNLXMFeolhk9tqhEw%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=61f52b6a-f172-4830-853e-4893d4130ea9" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Finally, link your Freshpaint Event to your Google Ads Action

1. In your Freshpaint account, click on `Transformations` in the sidebar navigation.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FtYP1UfDSl2u3Jfp2gutm%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.42.48%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5d7dc327-0a28-44b3-ace3-9707d07ca747" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

2. Click on the `Create new` button to create a new transformation.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FleIszT5P065JxItFyqjL%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.44.45%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=403f317a-ea9b-4d59-ba8c-43d98a6d6d0d" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

3. Select `Modify Data` transformation type.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2F18rBuA1zJgKmCk70VNYL%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.46.48%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7ef38077-ea31-48a0-81d5-af25cea1d7c5" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

4. Select the Freshpaint event you want to send as the conversion. Then select `Google Ads Conversion API` for the destination. Finally, click `Save & Add Transformations`.&#x20;

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FM0rBcxKevCVwpktGhFXh%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.49.02%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b5928e47-73e8-475b-ae02-8b16d642e739" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

5. On the next page, select `Send Constant Property` in the `Add new transformation` dropdown options.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FLlqXPQiYxhodnxrerM7I%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.51.36%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8d011ef8-d860-4a6f-8851-7b0442016c79" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

6. Fill in `ctname` for `Property Name` . `Property Value` should be the Google Ads Conversion Name of the conversion you created in the previous section. Select `Text` for `Constant Type`.&#x20;

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2F3A2vc2g9A49cbAaVarsj%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.55.59%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a6946ec9-4098-4557-ac29-fb2c679ec47e" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

7. Click "Save" to save the transformation for the event. You've now linked your Freshpaint event to your Google Ads Conversion Action. <br>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FGW9zKXhftLYXAERMD0OJ%2FScreenshot%202024-12-05%20at%203.56.25%20PM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ec6f46d2-b28f-41ae-afde-e97043b6ee4d" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
Conversions may take up to 24 hours to appear in your Google Ads Conversion Goals.
{% endhint %}

### Required Properties

{% hint style="info" %}
The following event properties are **required** in order to attribute events to specific ads.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

<table data-header-hidden data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th width="165"></th><th width="164"></th><th width="103"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Freshpaint property</strong></td><td><strong>Google Ads parameter</strong></td><td><strong>Type</strong></td><td><strong>Description</strong></td></tr><tr><td><code>$gclid</code> or <code>$gbraid</code> or <code>$wbraid</code></td><td><code>gclid</code> or <code>wbraid</code> or <code>gbraid</code></td><td>string</td><td>gclid (Google Click ID) is generated at ad click time and appended to the landing page URL. <strong>Freshpaint will automatically capture gclid for events from your website</strong>. If you wish, you may provide <code>$gclid</code> as an event property to override the automatically captured value. <code>wbraid</code> or <code>gbraid</code> can be used instead of <code>gclid</code>.</td></tr><tr><td><code>ctname or ctid</code></td><td><code>ctid</code></td><td>string</td><td>The Conversion Name or Conversion Id of the conversion action in Google Ads. When using the Conversion Name, the Freshpaint integration will lookup the Conversion Id before sending the event to Google. The name of the Freshpaint Event must exactly match the name of the Google Ads Conversion name.</td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" %}
Freshpaint will only deliver events to Google when a user arrives on your site by clicking on a Google Ad, thus generating an `gclid`. Without `gclid`, Google will not be able to attribute conversions.
{% endhint %}

There are other optional parameters you can add to your events in order to achieve different use cases. You can view the full list of parameters [here](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/integrations/destinations/direct-response-ads/google-ads-conversions-api-reference#server-side).

### Add the Campaign ID to your Final URL Suffix

To ensure visits with `$gbraid`or `$wbraid`are attributed to the correct campaign, add the Campaign ID to your [Final URLs](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9054021?hl=en). This can be configured globally or at the campaign, ad group, or individual ad level.

To do this globally:

1. Go to the Admin -> Account Settings page.\
   &#x20;![](https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FHvkX0LLf9rkdhqK7a3kg%2FScreenshot%202025-03-21%20at%2012.07.41.png?alt=media\&token=ba4e5cb2-43c0-49be-8674-5247380e972d)
2. Under "Tracking" add `gacid={campaignid}` to the Final URL Suffix. If you are already using a Final URL Suffix, you will need to separate parameters with `&` .\ <img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FCqraDu7UxK3ChiBPqSl1%2FScreenshot%202025-03-21%20at%2012.08.31.png?alt=media&#x26;token=18771f6a-0ab3-44c3-aeeb-f151234ccf8f" alt="" data-size="original">

Note: If you set the Final URL Suffix in an ad, campaign, or ad group it will override this global setting, so you will need to append `&gacid={campaignid}` to the new Final URL Suffix.

### If you are a HIPAA account, you will need to add event properties to the allowlist. If you are not a HIPAA account, you can skip this step.

1. Configure the [HIPAA allowlist](https://app.freshpaint.io/hipaa/allowlist) destination specific HIPAA allowlist
2. Edit the Event Properties allowlist and add the following properties:
   1. `$gclid` or `$gbraid` or `$wbraid`
   2. `ctname or ctid`

### That's it! Now all you need to do to send an event to Google Ads is enable the destination in the Freshpaint event definition:

Navigate to your Freshpaint event, and toggle the destination on to enable the event to be sent to the Google Ads destination. <br>

<figure><img src="https://1666823438-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MA7aDqsXMFbUsWVqonF%2Fuploads%2FXRvSi32Ut3WbcK3WwSc3%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d480a993-9c31-47f5-a97d-109004c53561" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Confirm and Validate Conversions in Google Ads

<figure><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hKKqRTB-9mTPYJG6psiqdQRxeyGQip44zrkr2gLBjIEnTkNGH3NppgqUkDwV12mlZBb1KVWdtKBoSYhtqQ3syY7T4-i2tkLLTOFQUi2sRXh_GJSGK9Es4a4HToyr3GQrBR2T-P8bN8i6NWOJqjn3pcP2Bw=s2048" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Data from the previous day may not be ingested and displayed by Google in your  until 3:30pm ET the following day and can even take up to 24 hours to appear in your Google Ads conversion goals.
{% endhint %}

Congratulations! Once you have confirmed conversion in Google Ads, you have finished setting up this integration.

You can find more detailed documentation on this integration in the [reference guide document.](https://documentation.freshpaint.io/integrations/destinations/direct-response-ads/google-ads-conversion-api/google-ads-conversions-api-reference)