Google does not allow a click tracker (such as a Google click tracker or any third-party click tracker) to be the final URL in Google Ads. The final URL must lead directly to the destination page where the user will land after clicking on the ad, without any intermediate redirects, except for a few specific exceptions.
Here’s why:
Final URL Requirements:
The final URL is the actual destination URL that appears in the ad after any redirects.
Google requires this URL to lead directly to the landing page, providing users with a clear and accurate idea of where they will land.
Tracking Templates:
To use click trackers, you should utilize tracking templates or custom parameters within Google Ads. These allow you to include tracking URLs without disrupting the final URL.
Tracking templates are specifically designed to handle click trackers and other URL parameters without modifying the final landing page URL.
Allowed Redirections:
Google allows redirection through certain tracking systems but only when used in tracking templates or custom parameters, not as the final URL itself.
You can set the click tracker in the tracking template so that it triggers the necessary tracking without altering the final URL.
How to Set Up Click Tracking Correctly:
Final URL: This should be the URL of the actual landing page.
Tracking Template: Set up your Google click tracker in the tracking template, which looks like this:
https://fst.ink/ctnp1vIbP0w?ct_redirect_url=products.cleartrust.cc
Example:
If your final destination is https://www.yourwebsite.com, and you have a click tracker, the setup might look like:
Final URL:
https://www.yourwebsite.comTracking Template:
https://fst.ink/ctnp1vI4b0w?ct_redirect_url=products.cleartrust.cc
This ensures that your ad complies with Google Ads policies while still enabling tracking.
You can set up tracking templates at various levels in your Google Ads account depending on your campaign structure and the amount of flexibility you need for tracking. Each level inherits the tracking template from the one above it unless a more specific template is set.
Here are the different levels where you can set up tracking templates:
1. Account Level
Applies to: All campaigns and ads under your Google Ads account.
Use case: If you want to apply the same tracking structure to all campaigns and ads in your account, setting a tracking template at the account level is the easiest and most efficient option.
How to set it up:
Go to your Google Ads account.
Navigate to “Settings” on the left-hand menu.
Scroll down to "Account Settings" and look for “Tracking Template.”
Enter the tracking template that applies to your entire account.
2. Campaign Level
Applies to: All ads within a specific campaign.
Use case: This is useful if you have a campaign-specific tracking requirement (e.g., separate tracking for different products or services) but want the same template for all ads in that campaign.
How to set it up:
Select the campaign where you want to add the tracking template.
Click on the campaign’s settings.
Scroll down to the “Tracking” section and find the “Tracking Template” field.
Input the tracking template for this campaign.
3. Ad Group Level
Applies to: All ads within a specific ad group inside a campaign.
Use case: If you want different tracking templates for various ad groups within a campaign, you can set it up at the ad group level. This can help differentiate traffic coming from different product categories or target audiences within the same campaign.
How to set it up:
Go to the campaign, then select the specific ad group.
Click on “Ad Group Settings.”
Look for the “Tracking Template” section.
Add the tracking template you want for that specific ad group.
4. Ad Level
Applies to: Individual ads within an ad group.
Use case: When you need specific tracking for individual ads (e.g., for A/B testing different creatives or landing pages), you can define the tracking template at the ad level. This is the most granular level for tracking templates.
How to set it up:
Go to the specific ad group, then select the individual ad.
Click on the “Edit” option for the ad.
Scroll to the “Tracking” section, and you will find the “Tracking Template” field.
Add your tracking URL here.
5. Keyword Level
Applies to: Specific keywords within an ad group.
Use case: If you need to track clicks based on individual keywords, you can apply a tracking template at the keyword level. This is particularly useful when you want to measure the performance of certain high-value or experimental keywords.
How to set it up:
Go to the ad group that contains the keyword.
Select the specific keyword.
In the “Keyword Details” section, find the “Tracking Template.”
Add your custom tracking template.
6. Sitelink Extensions and Other Ad Extensions
Applies to: Specific sitelink, callout, or other extensions associated with your ads.
Use case: If you want to track interactions with specific ad extensions (e.g., sitelinks, call extensions), you can set tracking templates at the extension level.
How to set it up:
Go to the “Extensions” section in your Google Ads account.
Select the type of extension (e.g., sitelinks).
Find the specific extension and click “Edit.”
In the tracking options, add a custom tracking template.
7. Final URL Suffix
Applies to: Adds parameters to the final URL without using a tracking template.
Use case: If you only want to add UTM parameters or other tracking values at the end of your final URL, you can use the Final URL Suffix instead of the full tracking template. It applies to the account, campaign, ad group, or ad levels.
How to set it up:
Go to any level (account, campaign, ad group, or ad).
Look for the “Final URL Suffix” section under the tracking options.
Enter the desired tracking parameters, such as
utm_source=google&utm_campaign={campaignid}.
Important Considerations:
Hierarchy of Tracking Templates: Lower-level tracking templates (e.g., ad group or ad level) will override higher-level templates (e.g., campaign or account level) if both are present.
Custom Parameters: In addition to tracking templates, you can define custom parameters to pass more specific data into your tracking template.
By understanding the flexibility Google Ads offers through tracking templates, you can fine-tune your tracking efforts and collect more insightful data to improve your campaign performance.