How to Track Conversions in Google Ads in 7 Simple Steps

Tracking conversions in Google Ads is one of the most important steps in running profitable advertising campaigns.

Without proper tracking, you are left guessing which ads are driving results. This leads to wasted ad spend and missed revenue opportunities.

In today’s guide, you will learn how to track Google Ads conversions using Growify and its PowerPixel technology. By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear system in place to measure conversion value and scale your marketing efforts with confidence.

7 Easy Steps on How to Track Google Ads Conversions

Below are seven steps you can follow to track Google Ads conversions accurately:

Step 1: Sign Up for a Growify Account

The first step in tracking Google Ads campaigns is to create a Growify account.

Growify is an AI-powered marketing attribution and analytics platform that simplifies Google Ads conversion tracking.

Unlike Google’s built-in tracking system, Growify provides deeper insights into customer behavior. It supports multi-touch attribution, which can credit various touchpoints along a customer’s journey.

When signing up for Growify, you need to provide some details, including your business email, a secure password, credit card details, and other additional required information.

You should also choose a pricing plan that fits your business size and budget requirements. Growify offers flexible pricing options based on your website’s monthly visits:

Step 2: Select the Type of Conversion to Track

After creating a Growify account, you can determine which conversion actions to track in Google Ads. These usually include the following:

• Website actions (purchases, form submissions, button clicks)
• Phone calls (click-to-call from mobile ads)
• App installs or in-app actions
• Offline conversions (CRM-based data, physical store visits)

Choosing the right conversion action depends on your ad campaign goals. For example, if you have an e-commerce store, you should focus on purchases and abandoned cart recoveries.

Meanwhile, running a lead generation company means prioritizing form submissions and scheduled calls.

Step 3: Integrate Growify With Google Ads

Once you have identified which conversion actions to focus on, you can connect Growify’s marketing attribution software to Google Ads. This integration allows you to track, analyze, and optimize conversion data.

To link Growify to your Google Ads account, you need to copy the following tracking parameters:

{lpurl}?gr_source=google&gr_campaign={campaignid}&gr_term={adgroupid}&gr_gadid={creative}

Then, paste this script into the “Change tracking templates” box, which can be found in the Google Ads’ campaign settings menu.

Here’s a table showing the tracking parameters that Growify supports:

Name	UTM Value	Alternative UTM Key	Description
gr_source	google	utm_source	Ad Source Channel
gr_campaign	{campaignid}	utm_campaign	Campaign ID
gr_term	{adgroupid}	utm_term	Ad Group ID
gr_content	{keyword}	utm_content	Ad Name
gr_gadid	{creative}	utm_id	Google Ad ID

If you already use specific parameters, you no longer need to add them to your Google Ads account.

Step 4: Install PowerPixel

The next step involves installing PowerPixel, Growify’s server-side pixel that captures behavioral data across multiple devices. It allows you to track the entire customer journey, from initial site visit to purchase.

To install PowerPixel, visit Google Tag Manager.

Create a new account and fill in the required details, such as account name, country, and container setup. Under container setup, select “Web” and type “www.growify.ai” into the blank space.

After creating an account in Google Tag Manager, you’ll have access to the “Workspace” tab. This is where you can add a new tag. Make sure to name this Google tag, such as “Growify Pixel,” for quick identification.

Then, go to the “Tag Configuration” section and click on “Choose a tag type” to open a side menu. Select the “Custom HTML” option and paste the following script:

<script type="module">

if (!window.grp) {

const grp = (...args) => (grp.process ? grp.process(...args) : grp.queue.push(args));grp.queue = [];grp.t = Date.now();window.grp = grp;

const script = Object.assign(document.createElement('script'), {

async: true,

src: 'https://storage.googleapis.com/grpixel/openpixel.min.js',

});

document.head.appendChild(script);

grp("init", "670");

}

</script>

Step 5: Configure Trigger Settings

Before fully implementing PowerPixel, you should configure trigger rules to track specific conversion actions. Triggers define what actions will be recorded as a conversion.

For example, you can set the view-through conversion window to 30 days. This means Google Ads can track customer actions that happen within 30 days after the first impression.

You can also modify the tag firing priority. “99” is the recommended value when linking Growify’s PowerPixel to Google Tag Manager.

Then, in the “tag firing options” menu, you should choose “Once per page” from the selection.

Don’t forget to click “Save” to save the tag. Finally, select “Submit” and “Publish” before

Step 6: Verify PowerPixel Connection and Status

Before launching your campaigns, check if PowerPixel is firing correctly. A tracking error could result in missed conversions or inaccurate data.

Go to your website and open DevTools. Here’s how you can do it in different operating systems:

• Windows: Ctrl + Shift + I or F12
• MacOS: ⌘ + ⌥ + I

Navigate to the “Network” tab. Search for the keyword “grp” and locate the event.

Once the event has been located, you can expect the status update to change after indexing the conversion data.

Now, open your Growify account and wait around 15 minutes for the change to reflect on the Growify dashboard.

Step 7: Set Up Conversion Events

The last step involves tracking conversion events. Make sure the tracking code fires at the end of your customer journey. This typically refers to the order confirmation page or thank you page.

You can set up the purchase event using native JavaScript integration or custom tagging with the GTM data layer. The former is easier to do because it simply requires you to paste a script.

What Conversion Actions Can You Track in Google Ads?

After setting up Google Ads conversion tracking, it’s time to focus on the supported actions you can monitor:

Website Conversions

Website conversions include actions like purchases, form submissions, newsletter sign-ups, or even button clicks. These conversions show direct engagement and help measure how well your ads drive valuable interactions.

To track website conversions, you need to install the global site tag (now known as Google tag) into your site’s backend. This script collects data on user interactions and sends it to Google Ads for accurate conversion tracking.

App Installs or Purchases

Google Ads uses app conversion tracking to measure app-related events, such as app installs and in-app purchases. This is useful if your business runs mobile app campaigns because it shows how users engage with your software.

You can set this up through Google Analytics with Firebase, Google Play for Android apps, or third-party mobile measurement partners.

Google Analytics Conversions

If you use Google Analytics to track user behavior, you can import these conversions into Google Ads. Doing so creates a more complete picture of your ad campaign performance.

You can track actions like session duration (how long users stay on your site), goal completions (form fills, downloads), and e-commerce transactions (product purchases).

To import Google Analytics data, you should create a new conversion action in your Google Ads account. Click “Import” from the list of conversion types and select “Google Analytics 4 properties” to initiate data sync.

Phone Call Conversions

Phone calls are among the most valuable conversion types, especially for lead generation companies and service-based businesses.

Google Ads can accurately track conversions from call extensions, call-only ads, and phone number clicks on your website.

Setting up call tracking in Google Ads is easy. You can either create a new conversion action or use dynamically generated Google forwarding numbers.

Offline Conversions

Some conversions happen outside of Google Ads, like in-store purchases or sales inquiries. It’s important to track these offline conversions, especially if you have long sales cycles or rely on multiple touchpoints before closing a deal.

Fortunately, you can import offline conversions into your Google Ads account. You can encounter several ways to do this, depending on the type of conversion data.

For example, if you have a customer relationship management (CRM) system, you can import data from Salesforce. Or you can use a third-party integration partner, like Zapier, to track offline conversions.

Benefits of Google Ads Conversion Tracking

Tracking conversions in Google Ads can benefit your business in several ways. Below are the advantages to expect:

Measure Campaign Performance Accurately

Google Ads tracking allows you to see which campaigns, keywords, and ad groups generate the most conversions.

Without conversion tracking, you’re left guessing which marketing efforts drive results. You may end up wasting money on underperforming ads.

Optimize Ad Spend and Improve ROI

Google Ads conversion tracking also helps you allocate your budget where it matters most.

If certain campaigns generate low conversions, you can adjust strategies to improve return on investment (ROI) over time.

Identify High-Performing Channels

Not all traffic sources perform equally. Some campaigns drive better quality leads than others.

With accurate conversion tracking, you can see which marketing channels perform best. You can then invest in these channels for maximum ad impact.

Enhance Audience Targeting

Google Ads tracking can improve audience targeting by evaluating historical data. It can also predict conversion trends based on user demographics, location, and devices.

It ensures your ads reach users who are more likely to convert.

Improve Bidding Strategies

Smart bidding strategies, like target CPA (cost per acquisition) and target ROAS (return on advertising spend), rely on accurate conversion tracking.

By feeding Google Ads with real conversion data, you help the system automate bidding to get the most conversions at the lowest cost.

Common Google Ads Conversion Tracking Mistakes

If you want to maximize the benefits of Google Ads conversion tracking, you should avoid the common mistakes below:

Focusing on Too Many or Irrelevant Conversion Actions

Tracking too many conversions can make it hard to understand what truly drives business growth. Not all conversions have the same value.

For example, a page view doesn’t carry the same weight as a purchase or lead submission.

You can skip tracking this metric and focus instead on primary conversions that directly impact revenue and business goals.

Failing to Use Google Tag Manager

Manually adding conversion tags to a website can lead to errors, missing data, and tracking delays.

Google Tag Manager (GTM) simplifies this process by allowing you to manage all tracking tags in one place.

Forgetting to Verify Conversion Tracking Setup

Many businesses assume conversion tracking is working after setup. But without verification, tracking errors, like tags failing to fire or duplicate conversions, can go unnoticed.

Overlooking Attribution Models

By default, Google Ads uses last-touch attribution, which credits the final interaction before a conversion.

However, this doesn’t account for multi-touch customer journeys. It ignores other touchpoints that a user goes through before they decide to buy your product or subscribe to your email newsletter.

Ignoring Cross-Device Conversions

Customers switch between devices before converting. If you only track single-device interactions, you may miss important conversion data.

For example, a user might see an ad on their phone and later visit your website using their laptop.

Best Practices for Google Ads Conversion Tracking

You can easily avoid common conversion tracking mistakes by following these best practices:

Define Clear and Relevant Conversion Goals

As previously mentioned, not all conversions hold the same value.

You should determine which actions matter most for your business. For example, e-commerce brands can track purchases and abandoned carts, while lead generation companies should prioritize form submissions and scheduled calls.

Setting clear goals makes sure your data is useful for performance analysis and budget allocation.

Install a Conversion Tracking Tag

Tracking is incomplete without a Google Ads conversion tag. The Google tag collects and reports conversion data.

You should install this tag on your website’s backend or use Google Tag Manager for an easier setup.

Once this tag is properly installed, you can record all user actions and measure ad performance effectively.

Use Google Tag Assistant for Verification

You can use Google Tag Assistant to check if your conversion tags are firing correctly.

It helps you identify broken tags, duplicate tracking, or missing data. This makes sure your conversion tracking is always accurate.

Choose the Right Attribution Model

You shouldn’t rely on last-click attribution alone if you want to track the entire customer journey. Consider multi-touch attribution to understand the full picture of your marketing campaigns.

You can also choose between different attribution models that align with your specific needs and goals. Common models include first-click attribution (for brand awareness), U-shaped attribution (for lead generation and conversion), and time-decay attribution (for long sales cycles).

Use Marketing Attribution Software

Relying solely on Google Ads conversion tracking can limit insights. Marketing attribution platforms like Growify provide a full-funnel view of customer interactions across multiple channels.

Growify can accurately track conversions beyond last-click interactions. This gives you a better understanding of your ads’ true impact.

Simplify Google Ads Conversion Tracking With Growify

Managing Google Ads conversion tracking can be tedious for many businesses. By integrating Growify into Google Ads, you can easily monitor and analyze conversion data.

With Growify, you can receive comprehensive insights into your campaigns’ performance. You can also take advantage of its built-in AI tool to predict trends, identify risks, and suggest areas for improvement.

Plus, you no longer need to switch between different platforms. Growify consolidates all your marketing channels in one place for seamless management and automation.

Sign up today to enjoy these benefits and more! You can also contact us for a product demo.

FAQs About How to Track Conversions in Google Ads

How do I track conversions on Google Ads?

To track conversions, you should sign up for a Growify account, integrate it with your Google Ads account, and install the PowerPixel.

If you want to monitor specific actions like mobile app installs, you can set up a conversion action in Google Ads.

Does Google Ads automatically track conversions?

No, Google Ads does not track conversions automatically. You should manually set up conversion actions and add tracking tags to your website, mobile app, or CRM system.

However, you can integrate Google Ads with marketing attribution software like Growify. This connection simplifies data tracking and analysis, which can save significant time and effort.

How do I calculate conversions in Google Ads?

Google Ads calculates conversions by counting each completed action that meets your tracking criteria. You can view data under Tools & Settings > Conversions in the Google Ads dashboard.

You can also measure marketing success and adjust strategies in real time using Growify’s attribution platform.

What is the first step in setting up conversion tracking in Google Ads?

The first step is to define your conversion goals. Decide which actions (purchases, sign-ups, calls, or form submissions) you want to track. Then, create a new conversion action in Google Ads and install the necessary tracking code. Don’t forget to test your setup before full implementation.