Moz Q&A is closed.
After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.
Best practice to separate paid from organic conversions in Google Analytics
-
I have a PPC campaign for a client with standalone landing pages with a form, not reachable from the website (although in the same domain).
- I've added the AdWords conversion code to the "thank you" page and I also added a Goal in
Google Analytics whose counter is increased every time the thank you page is reached.
This way I can track conversions with both AdWords and Analytics.
Is that correct?
Should I import back in AdWords the goals from Analytics, as suggested in the AdWords account?
- I have another landing page with a form in the website, where I send users coming from
organic search, so I set up a second goal in Analytics for the thank you page of this form.
Is this the reason why I am supposed to import in AdWords the analytics' goals, so that I could see both kind of conversions in both accounts?
- But the most important question is: If I send both PPC/organic visitors to the same landing page is there still a way to separate PPC from Organic conversions?
Thank you very much for your advice.
DoMiSoL Rossini
- I've added the AdWords conversion code to the "thank you" page and I also added a Goal in
-
Hi DoMiSol,
- I've added the AdWords conversion code to the "thank you" page and I also added a Goal in
Google Analytics whose counter is increased every time the thank you page is reached. This way I can track conversions with both AdWords and Analytics. Is that correct?
Yes, as long as you have added the Google Analytics tracking code to the "Thank you" page so you can track that specific goal.
Should I import back in AdWords the goals from Analytics, as suggested in the AdWords account?
Linking your Analytics account with Adwords has a lot of benefits. The main reason to do so is to be able to see a more comprehensive view of your AdWords post/click activity such as:
- Bounce Rate: When someone sees only one page or triggers only one event.
- Avg. Session Duration: The average time someone stayed on your site.
- Pages/Session: The average number of pages viewed per session.
- % New Sessions: The estimated percentage of first-time sessions.
- Access to awesome Remarketing lists from Google Analytics
In terms of tracking AdWords conversions use one or the other, not both. Do not import any goals that you are already tracking through AdWords Conversion Tracking into AdWords, this can create double-counting and duplication, which would make your conversion data misleading and hard to interpret.
==================================
- I have another landing page with a form in the website, where I send users coming from organic search, so I set up a second goal in Analytics for the thank you page of this form.
Yes, you are simply tracking a new action from a different form.
Is this the reason why I am supposed to import in AdWords the analytics' goals, so that I could see both kind of conversions in both accounts?
_In theory yes (as explained above). But I would not import your organic goals into Adwords, there is no reason to. _To make it simple, remember this:
- AdWords tool will track ONLY your AdWords conversions.
- Analytics will track conversions from ALL your channels: Bing, Social, Email etc. As long as you have the proper tracking & tags implemented in your URL's.
=================================
3) But the most important question is: If I send both PPC/organic visitors to the same landing page is there still a way to separate PPC from Organic conversions?Yes, as long as you have auto-tagging enabled AND Adwords conversion tracking in the pages that you want to track. Google will track your PPC data separate from your organic - Google Adwords adds a "GCLID" (Google Click Identifier) to the Destination URL. This is a globally unique tracking parameter to pass information back and forth between Google AdWords and Google Analytics, this includes UTM parameters, click to conversion and cost data for your paid campaigns.
=================================
I hope this information is helpful.
Cheers,
~Barbara
- I've added the AdWords conversion code to the "thank you" page and I also added a Goal in
-
You should be able to go to Goal Overview > Source / Medium and see where the user came from.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
304 "If Modified Header" Triggers Error in Google Ads?
We have a client who is launch some Google Ads campaigns, and they recently asked us to fix 304 "Errors" on their website as per this feedback: "When we inspected the website we came across a number of 304 status errors. In order to get the ads running, we will need all of the website domain status codes converted to 200. “ Of course, all of their website pages return a 200 Status, it's just the HTTP headers that additionally clarify with a 304 Response (not an error). Has anyone else ever run into this issue with Google Ads? IMHO it makes no sense to remove this functionality. Google has even recommended in the past to use this it: https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2008/11/date-with-googlebot-part-ii-http-status.html Thanks for any tips or feedback!
Paid Search Marketing | | mirabile0 -
Clients Keep Googling Themselves
Hi, I have a common problem with my clients where they google their own business name or keywords they want to rank for and freak out when they don't show up on the first page of results. The same is true for my paid search clients. Is there a good way I can explain to them how Googleing themselves is not the best way to know if they are performing well? If there is an article out there that explains it that I can share that would be even better.
Paid Search Marketing | | GuardianOwlDigital0 -
Google Analytics showing my Adwords campaign bounce rate at 0%
I am relatively new to Adwords, and I can't figure out why the Adwords section of Analytics is showing all my site visitors at 0% bounce rate. Does that mean the account connection is not done right? Obviously Google ads are not a 0% bounce rate. If I can't get that to work, does anyone know how Google ads appear in Traffic? Is it Direct or Referral? I'm sure there's some simple answer I'm just not aware of, I would appreciate anyone's help. Thanks!
Paid Search Marketing | | Crystalline_150 -
Moving from old GTM to New Version of GTM - Analytic & Adwords transaction and revenue stop refelecting
Hi Guys, I am moving from old version of tag manager to new version of tag manager. But when i do so at that time in my google analytic 1) my adwords transaction, revenue and ecommerce conversion rate stop showing. 2) In ecommerce -overview also transaction, revenenue and ecommermce conversion rate stop showing. Can any one tell me what is the issue? I am sharing with you the details configuration of my old tag manager and new version of tag manager - I am using google analytic having id - UA-12345678-9 I am using old version of google tag manager in that i have configure 5 tags - a) google adwords conversion tracking
Paid Search Marketing | | devdan
b) GA pageview tracking
c) google remarketing
d) GA conversion tracking
e) twitter conversion tracking I did following configuration for all - Tag Name - google adwords conversion tracking
tag type - Adwords conversion tracking
conversion id - 123123123 ( from adwords)
conversion lable - sdfsnfs-sfsf ( from adowrds) Firing rule -{{url}} contains ordersuccessful.aspx
{{event}} equals gtm.dom save Google Analytic PageView Tracking
Tag Type - classic Google Analytic
web properid id - UA-12345678-9
track type - page view Firing rule - all pages save GA conversion Tracking
tag type - classic google analytics
web property id - UA-12345678-9
track type - transaction Firing rule -{{url}} contains ordersuccessful.aspx
{{event}} equals gtm.dom By above configuration everything work fine with google analytic. In New versoin of tag mananger following configuration i did - Adwords conversion tracking
Choose Product - Google Adwords
choose tag type - adwords conversion tracking
configure tag - conversion id - taken from adwords
conversion label - taken from adwords
conversion value - {{google_conversion_value}}
Fire on - Name - order successful page
type - custom event
Filter- Page url contains ordersuccessful.aspx
event equals gtm.dom save Choose Product - Google Analytic,
choose tag type - universal analytic
configure tag - tracking id - UA-12345678-9, track type - page view Fire on - All pages save GA conversion tracking Choose Product - Google Analytic,
choose tag type - universal analytic
configure tag - tracking id - UA-12345678-9, track type - transaction Fire on - Name - order successful page
type - custom event
Filter- Page url contains ordersuccessful.aspx
event equals gtm.dom save By above configuration my analytic stop reflecting transaction, revenue, ecommerce conversion rate for adwords and ecommerce overview. Thanks!0 -
Hire Products on Google Shopping
Has anyone got any experience with advertising products for hire rather than for sale on Google Shopping? Is it allowed? How does it perform?
Paid Search Marketing | | ese0 -
CPC or CPM for Google Display Network?
HI all I'm setting up my first Remarketing campaign on the display network. I'm targeting those that have visited a specific product page at the moment and therefore there won't be a massive amount of traffic to remarket to - roughly no more than 50 clicks/day. My question is - what is the best bidding option for a campaign like this? Not sure whether to go for CPM or traditional CPC. I have previously found CPM much better for Facebook but obviously thats very different to Google. All help appreciated!
Paid Search Marketing | | SamMaley0 -
Increasing Google Ad spend - is it worth it
Hi We are currently spending approx £500 pcm on google ad words however if I increased this spend to £4000 pcm what kind of results would this achieve? For example would it just be more visits per day as the budget is larger? Also what is the best way to track the success of an adwords campaign - the ultimate goal of the campaign would be to generate a lead whether this be a phone call, email or using our book an appointment form. Our service covers a geographical area (Scotland) and for organic search we are doing well 1st pages listings for searches such as pvc doors edinburgh etc so I am unsure whether it's worth increasing my PPC spend or put more resource into SEO, or even Facebook ads?
Paid Search Marketing | | ocelot0 -
What are the best sources for finding competitor PPC spending by category?
Can anyone provide sources for gathering paid search advertising spend for competitors, preferably by category? Thank you.
Paid Search Marketing | | JoeAmadon0