Google Ads Conversion Tracking

[joejoe518]

Greetings Shopify Entrepreneurs,

I have Google tracking installed on our site with the global site tag and the checkout page "additional scripts" confirmation page.

As per these instructions: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/promoting-marketing/analyze-marketing/tracking-adwords-conversion...

We recently started using the Shopify Google Smart App - for Google Shopping Ads. I am a bit confused as to weather I have to remove the old tracking code, as the above guide says that app does it already for you?

I am noticing some inconsistencies with the conversion tracking on our Ads profile - and was wondering if the reason may be that we have the old tracking code installed as well as the Google Smart Shopping automatic tracking when you install the app on Shopify.

[Sara32]

Hi @joejoe518 

I haven't used that app but even if it does track the conversions for it's own campaigns inside the app I can't really see how it could track other conversions for your Google Ads account?  Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong..

If you want to run normal shopping campaigns (which I would recommend over Smart campaigns anyway) you'll have to do that inside your Google Ads account and will need the conversion tracking set up for that.  Also for any search campaigns you might want to run.  

When you say 'inconsistencies' can you elaborate?  In my experience the numbers will never exactly match across Google Ads, Analytics and Shopify. Lots of reasons especially how the different platforms attribute the sale to the traffic source.

Not sure if that helps?

Sara

[joejoe518]

I mean by inconsistencies that I have had 10 sales by 10 AM but Google Ads was saying I had more sales than 15 sales - all attributed to Google Ads. This maybe that I recently changed attribution to linear from "last click" in my settings...

[DuaneBrown]

I might look at using the Google shopping app for your store, that way you can keep the global site tags on your site. Using the Shopify Google app means you would have two tags on your site, which you don't want. Plus at some point you are going to want to run campaigns beyond shopping and the shopify google app does not make that easy as you would have two tags.

Your data is never going to match up 100%. I would look at importing your purchase goal from Google Analytics (GA) into Google Ads. Then just use Google Analytics as your source of truth for tracking data. It won't be perfect and won't agree with Shopify but GA is the best place to try and track all you different marketing efforts in one place. Hope you found this helpful, if so please click "like" below to let me know.

[joejoe518]

I already have the Google Smart Shopping App you linked to above. Do I remove the old site tag and event snippet I had from before? Sorry if these seems redundant.

[DuaneBrown]

Ah. When you said Shopify Google shopping app.... I thought you meant a Google Shopping app that Shopify had build vs a new version of the Google Shopping app I linked to. I would remove the tag on your site based on the guide.