Overview
ClickBank affiliates can use the Google Ads Tracking Integration to track, optimize, and measure the performance of their Google Ads.
The integration utilizes the Google Ads Conversion API to send server-to-server (S2S) events directly to Google Ads. Server-side tracking is the most reliable tracking integration method, therefore ensuring that you get the best results based on accurate data.
Two event types are integrated: ClickBank order form impressions and purchase events. This event data is sent to Google ads in real time, empowering ClickBank affiliates to make data-informed decisions about their Google ad strategy.
Before setting up this integration you must have the following:
A ClickBank account with owner or account nickname permissions enabled
An active Google Ads account with standard or admin permissions and the ability to create new conversion types
NOTE: The Google Ads integration requires the Google Click ID (gclid) to be passed to ClickBank on the HopLink or the Direct Tracking Link in order for ClickBank conversions to be accepted as an event type in Google Ads. To ensure ClickBank conversions are accurately tracking in Google, we recommend using a direct offer tracking link as the ad destination URL and enabling the auto-tagging setting within Google. This ensure that ClickBank always gets the Google Click ID required for the conversion to be tracked.
This article contains the following sections:
Create Your Conversion Actions in Google Ads
Step 1: Log in to your Google Ads account.
Step 2: In the left menu, click Goals.
Step 3: On the Summary page, scroll to the "All your goals" section and click the blue + Create conversion action button.
Step 4: For "Where do you want to measure conversions?", select only Conversions offline (ensure no other options are selected), then click Add data source.
Step 5: Add an offline data source:
In "Data source", choose Skip this step and set up a data source later.
In "Customer data", check the box confirming data is collected and shared in compliance with Google policies.
Click Done to return to the “Where do you want to measure conversions?” page.
Step 6: Click Save and continue.
Step 7: For “What’s important for you to measure?”, you'll create three conversion actions to map to ClickBank events (Initial Purchase, Upsell Purchase, Initial Order Form Impression.
Purchases:
To receive Initial Purchase and Upsell Purchase events from ClickBank:
Select Purchase as the category.
Click + Add conversion action, then select Connect data source later.
Repeat to create two purchase event types — one for each event.
Click Edit settings to configure each purchase event:
Configure “Initial Purchase”
Conversion Name: ClickBank Initial Purchase
Value: Use different values for each conversion
(ClickBank passes the transaction value for all purchase events)
Count: Every
Configure “Upsell Purchase”
Conversion Name: ClickBank Upsell Purchase
Value: Use different values for each conversion
(ClickBank passes the transaction value for all purchase events)
Count: Every
Order Form Impressions:
To receive Initial Order Form Impressions:
Click Add another category and select Add to cart.
Click + Add conversion action, then select Connect data source later.
Click Edit settings to configure the order form impression event.
Configure “Order Form Impression”
Conversion Name: ClickBank Order Form Impression
Value: Don’t use a value for this conversion
Count: Every
Step 8: Once your events are configured, click Save and continue.
Step 9: Click Finish.
How to Enable Auto-Tagging in Your Google Ads Account
Step 1: Access your Google ads account.
Step 2: Go to Account Settings.
Step 3: Select Auto-tagging and click to enable the Tag the URL that people click through from my ad setting.
NOTE: As an optional step, you can select Tracking to add a default tracking URL template. This allows you to automatically measure performance of your Google Ads campaigns within ClickBank reporting. Customize the URL suffix to automatically append information about the ad click on the destination URL, using ClickBank affiliate tracking parameters to gain meaningful insights within ClickBank analytics.
Example URL Suffix: gclid={gclid}&traffic_source=google&traffic_type=paid&campaign={campaign}&aff_sub1={keyword
How to Set Up Your Google Ads Integration in ClickBank
Step 1: Log in to your ClickBank account.
Step 2: Select Integrations then Postback/Pixels.
Step 3: Click Add Integration.
Step 4: Select Google Ads.
Step 5: Select Google ads will automatically navigate to a Google sign in to authorize the integration and enable the required permissions.
NOTE: Enabling the requested permissions is required for ClickBank to utilize Google's Conversions API to deliver conversions reliably using server-to-server integration method. To learn more about the integration and permissions required visit Google Ads and ClickBank Integration.
Step 6: Complete the integrations form.
Name
Name your integration so you can easily identify it.
NOTE: This name is not shared anywhere outside of your account and is for your purposes only.
Account NicknameSelect which account nickname you wish to integrate from the Account dropdown.
Role
Select the role (affiliate or seller) you are operating as in that account nickname.
Google Ad Account
Select the relevant Google Ad Account to report conversions to from the dropdown list.
Integration Level
NOTE: It’s recommended to select Custom and apply filter, such as traffic_source=google so only conversions which originated from clicks on your affiliate tracking link containing ‘traffic_source=google’ will be reported to Google Ads.
Event Types
Select the ClickBank event type(s) to report in Google Ads. For each event, select the 'Conversion action goal' (configured in Google Ads) for the ClickBank event to map to. See How to Set Up Your Google Ads Integration in Google Ads for more information on configuring Conversions in Google Ads
Step 7: Click Save.
Once you have saved the integration, test it to ensure that it is working as expected.
How to Test Your Google Ads Integration
Once you save the Google Ads integration, the ClickBank system will use Google's APIs to verify the detailed you have provided are valid. This ensures that invalid information isn't saved into the integration and that it functions as expected. If the integration was successfully saved, you're ready to move into final review and activation stages.
Google Ads does not support test conversion events in production level ad accounts so we recommend reviewing the following requirements and recommendations before activating your Google Ads Integration.
Google Click ID (gclid): Confirm that the Google Click ID (gclid) is passed into the ClickBank affiliate tracking link (Direct Offer Tracking Link or HopLink) using ‘gclid’ URL parameter. All conversion events sent to Google Ads must have a gclid otherwise Google will not accept the conversion event.
Conversion Visibility: It may take up to 24 hours for conversions to appear in your Google Ads reports after initially creating conversion actions. Thereafter, conversions are delivered and reported in real time.
Monitor Conversions: Upon activating your integration we recommend monitoring conversions in ClickBank’s reporting and Google Ads to ensure tracking is working as expected. Utilize diagnostic tools in Google Ads to review conversion tracking status.
Troubleshooting
Check these tips if your ClickBank conversions are not showing in your Google Ads.
Verify that your Google Ads Account ID is entered correctly.
Ensure the correct conversion actions are configured in the integration settings.
Ensure that Google click id is being passed into your ClickBank affiliate tracking link (HopLink or Direct Offer Tracking Link) in the gclid URL parameter
Test sales made with ClickBank Test Credit Card details do not trigger conversion event to Google Ads.
If the conversion event was just created, it may take 24 hours for the event data to show up in your google ads account.
Additional Resources & Related Articles
KNOWLEDGEBASE: Postback/Pixels Guide
KNOWLEDGEBASE: Transitioning to the New Postback/Pixel Technology
KNOWLEDGEBASE: Reporting FAQ