Shopify-Google Conversion Tracking Issues Coinciding with Recent Platform Changes: Seeking Insights

[BoshTheNonDev]

Hello fellow e-commerce professionals and Shopify users,

I'm reaching out to the community regarding persistent and complex issues with Google Ads conversion tracking on our Shopify store. These problems have become particularly noticeable around the time of recent significant changes to both Google's and Shopify's platforms. We're hoping to gather insights, experiences, and potential solutions from the community.

About our store:

• Specialty footwear retailer
• Based in Australia, serving customers nationwide
• On the Advanced Shopify plan
• Key marketing channels include Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and email marketing

The Core Issue:

We're experiencing duplicate or multiple conversion tracking events in Google Ads, resulting in inflated conversion numbers and significant discrepancies between Google Ads and Shopify dashboard analytics. This issue has become more pronounced recently, coinciding with several platform changes.

Recent Platform Changes (Potential Factors):
While we can't confirm these as direct causes, the following recent changes coincided with our issues:

1. Google's implementation of Enhanced Conversions
2. Shopify's changes to Checkout, including:
   • Deprecation of Checkout Scripts
   • Removal of checkout.liquid
   • Introduction of Checkout Extensibility (primarily available to Plus and Enterprise clients)
   • Implementation of Customer Events (pixels)

Key Details of Our Issue:

1. Multiple conversion events are being triggered on the order confirmation page.
2. The Google Ads tag (AW-XXXXXXXXXXX) is present and firing, despite attempts to remove it.
3. Conversion event data shows correct order details but is duplicated.
4. This issue has persisted for over 37 days (as of August 9, 2024) despite various troubleshooting efforts.

Steps Taken:

1. Installed, uninstalled, and reconfigured the official Shopify Google & YouTube app. App 'pixel' is Disconnected.
2. Created custom tags via Google Tag Manager (GTM) and Global Site Tag (gtag.js). Tags pixel Disconnected.
3. Removed all custom scripts and tags in attempts to isolate the issue, including any references in accessible LIQUID files.
4. Conducted multiple test purchases to verify the problem. Most recent 9 August, 2024.
5. Consulted with both Shopify and Google Ads guides, forums, documents and individual support teams. 

 

 

 

Impact on Business:

• Inability to accurately measure ROI on advertising spend
• Compromised decision-making for marketing strategies
• Potential overspending on advertising due to inflated conversion numbers
• Loss of trust in our analytics data, affecting overall business intelligence

Broader Questions:

1. How reliable are official and custom integrations between Shopify and Google, especially in light of recent platform changes?
2. Are there differences in data handling and access across different Shopify plan tiers, particularly with the new Checkout Extensibility features?
3. What are the implications for businesses, especially non-Plus/Enterprise stores, in accurately tracking conversions and making data-driven decisions?
4. Is there a possibility of 'sandboxing' of enhanced conversion data for non-Plus/Enterprise Shopify users?

Questions for the Community:

1. Have you experienced changes in your conversion tracking around the time of the recent updates to Google Enhanced Conversions and Shopify's Checkout?
2. For non-Plus/Enterprise users: What challenges have you faced with conversion tracking recently, and have you found any effective solutions?
3. Plus/Enterprise users: How has the new Checkout Extensibility affected your conversion tracking setup, if at all?
4. Has anyone successfully implemented a reliable solution for accurate conversion tracking that works well with the recent platform changes?
5. Have you noticed any differences in data accuracy or access between different Shopify plan tiers recently?
6. What troubleshooting steps or diagnostic tools have you found most effective for identifying the source of conversion tracking discrepancies?
7. How are you managing marketing decisions and budget allocations in light of any tracking challenges you've faced?

I'm eager to hear about your experiences, insights, and any potential solutions. Thank you in advance for your help and for contributing to this conversation! 

[Playdoh]

Can't help you. Also having problems with Google conversion tracking 😞 hoping this can bump / get someone to respond.

[Sam_Mahmud]

Hello playdoh,

Thanks for your query.

recently many Shopify users facing google ads conversion issues.

I would love to debug and check everything if you share your website URL.

Did you integrate google and youtube app to track conversions?

THanks

[Sam_Mahmud]

Hello,

I have read your post thoroughly.

Has anyone successfully implemented a reliable solution for accurate conversion tracking that works well with the recent platform changes?

yes.

You are having these only because of the datalayer issue. another reason could be the recent bug in the google and you tube channel app. 

What troubleshooting steps or diagnostic tools have you found most effective for identifying the source of conversion tracking discrepancies?

GTM setup . but first need to change the current datalayer. create a new datalayer or hire someone to implement a datalayer which push event in the GTM..

track the conversion based on GA4 schema from both browser and server side.

You can integrate this GA4 schema datalayer for seamless data tracking from browser/client and server side tracking.

I have successful tracking record for shopify conversion tracking. 

Feel free to ask anything you may have about GTM and server side tracking.

[Andrew24510]

Any solutions yet? I've been running into similar issues.

[Sam_Mahmud]

Hello Andrew24510,

Solution is  setting up the conversion tracking via Google Tag Manager. 

You can validate the solution using Google Tag Manager. 

this is the ultimate solution for conversion tracking. Google and you tube already said in the review section they have not updated the checkout extensibility.