Kochava Support: Implementing Google Ads Web Tracking with SmartLink™

Google Ads web campaigns can be tracked within Kochava by setting a SmartLink™ or platform specific click tracking link within the Tracking Template field in Google Ads. It is required to utilize either the Google Web or Google Web – Universal integrations when creating tracking links in order to comply with Google’s Click Tracking Transparency Guidelines.

BEST PRACTICE: It is recommended to use a SmartLink™ as the Tracking Template for ads that target multiple app platforms.

Setting up a Click Tracking Link

Log in to Kochava.
Select the desired Account and App.
Select Links > Campaign Manager.

BEST PRACTICES: For Web Traffic campaigns in AdWords, you will need to create a unique tracker for each distinct landing page/destination URL. You may select the method to organize the trackers, however it is recommended that all trackers be created within a single campaign and use segments to group various trackers together. At the tracker level, specific names of trackers may be created based upon the landing page destination. If there are a large number of trackers, the Kochava Power Editor may be used to replicate trackers in bulk. For more information on the Kochava Power Editor, refer to our support documentation.

Enter a unique Tracker Name.
Select the Tracker Type > Acquisition.
Select Media Partner > Google Web.
Click Save.

A. Campaign and Segment selection/creation section.

Locating the Click Tracker URL

Once a tracker has been created, the Click URL needs to be copied and provided to Google Ads.

After clicking save, the tracker will be displayed within the Campaign Manager. The Click URL is located at the bottom of the tracker display.

Setting up a Kochava SmartLink™

NOTE: For more information about Kochava SmartLinks™, refer to our support documentation.

Create an App.
Create an App Group.
Click Add a Smartlink.
Enter a unique SmartLink™ Name.
Select an App Group.
Select Media Partner > Google Web – Universal.
Select an Agency Partner. (optional)
Enter a unique Tracker Name.
Select a Destination If App is Not Installed.
Select a Destination if App is Installed.
Enter a Catch-all Destination.
Select a Target App (For Tracking).
Click Save.

Locating the SmartLink™ URL

Once a SmartLink™ has been created, the Click URL needs to be copied and provided to Google Ads. After the SmartLink™ has been saved, it should appear at the top of the list within the SmartLink™ dashboard. If you do not see the desired SmartLink™, you can search for the desired link, or sort by the newest created.

Inserting Kochava Tracking Link into Adwords

NOTE: Kochava will not persist the Google Click ID (GCLID) onto the website URL query string. To ensure that this is passed by Google, enable the Auto Tagging setting within the Google AdWords account.

Log in to Google AdWords.
Select Ads & extensions.
Select the desired ad.
Click Edit > Change tracking templates.

Paste the Kochava click_ url created in the Kochava Campaign Manager.
Click Apply.

BEST PRACTICES: If multiple ads with the same landing page destination have been created, it is not necessary to enter the Tracking Template on each ad. Google provides the option to specify the Tracking Template at the Ad Group and Campaign level as well.

Tracking Parameters in Analytics and Reporting

Once the campaign within Kochava and Google AdWords has been successfully created, Kochava will begin receiving clicks against the Google AdWords Web Traffic Campaigns and will attribute activity from the Web SDK accordingly.

Analytics:

Log in to Kochava.
Select the desired Account and Web App.
Select Analytics > Event Detail.

NOTE: Within Analytics views, filters can be added for Site and/or Creative or the Split By drop-down menu may also be used to view the Facebook Web Traffic data. For more details about the Analytics, refer to our Analytics Overview support documentation.

Click Add a Filter.
Select Site and/or Creative.
Select the desired Google AdWords site.

A. Select Site or Creative.
B. Click “+” to add a site or creative.

Reporting:

Log in to Kochava.
Select the desired Account and Web App.
Select Audiences & Reports.
Locate the desired report and Click Customize.
If Campaign Summary or Network Summary report is selected, Add Grouping Options>site and/or creative. (optional)

NOTE: The site and creative appear in the Click, Install and Event Detail reports by default. For the Campaign Summary and Network Summary reports, adding the parameters may be accomplished under the report Grouping Options.

A. Report title.
B. For Campaign Summary and Network Summary reports, add parameters to the Grouping Options.

NOTE: Custom Parameters may also be added to a detailed reports. The macro values will be populated in a separate column within the reports. For more information about adding Customer Parameters and additional Reporting functions, refer to our Pulling Reports support documentation.

Google Ads Web Tracking