Setting up Google Ads

Follow this step-by-step guide to set up Google Ads conversion tracking in Checkfront, from creating conversion actions to installing tags and confirming that the process captures accurate booking data.

Learn how to set up Google Ads, including creating conversion actions and setting up tracking tags.

New to Google Ads?  Read the first article in this series for an introduction to our Google Ads integration.

Accessing the features mentioned in this article

Where can I find this feature using the top menu?

• Manage > Integrations > Conversion > Google Adwords
   

What more do I need to use this feature?

• Google account with Google Ads. (Disable your ad blocker to view Google Ads pages.)
• Admin permissions to manage your account.
   

Which Checkfront version supports this feature - classic items, classic products, or both?

• This feature is available in both our classic items version (Inventory > Items) and our classic products version (Inventory > Products).  → Learn more about products

Follow these steps to set up conversion actions in Google Ads:

1. Log in to your Google Ads account. 

2. Click the Create button from the left side menu. 
3. Select the Conversion action option from the dropdown menu.

4. In the Choose data sources to measure conversions step, check the Conversions on a website option. 
5. Deselect any other available source options. 
6. Click the Add URL link to continue.

6. In the Measure conversions on your website side panel, enter your web page URL in the field labeled, Which website do you want to measure conversion on?.
7. Click the Scan link to start searching for a data source to connect to.

8. When the scan completes, place a check mark beside the Google tag data source. 
9. Click the Done button to submit your selection and close the side panel.
10. Click the Save and continue button to complete this step of the process.

11. Select the Purchase category in the Group your conversions step.

12. Select the + Create conversion option in the Create and measure conversions screen to open the data source menu, where you can choose your Google Tag entry.

13. Select the Manually with code option in the Create a conversion side panel.

14. Expand the Conversion settings section.

15. In the expanded Conversion settings section, you need to configure four settings: Action optimization, Conversion name, Value, and Count. 
    
    You can configure each setting to suit your needs, with some exceptions explained in detail below.

Action optimization

For action optimization, choose the option that best aligns with your goal from the following:

• Primary action used for bidding optimization
  Primary actions are conversion actions included in Google Ads reporting and used for bidding, as long as you also use the standard goal they are part of for bidding.

• Secondary action not used for bidding optimization
  Secondary actions are actions for observation only. They are used in Google Ads reporting, but not for bidding, even if the goal is used for bidding, unless the action is part of a custom goal.
  
  What is bidding?
  Bidding is how you participate in an auction that takes place every time there is available ad space on Google Search or a website that shows ads. Your bid represents the maximum amount you are willing to pay for a specific action, such as a click on your ad.
  
  The goal of the auction is to decide which ads show and in what order. While your bid is a key factor, Google also considers the quality of your ad and landing page to ensure Customers see helpful and relevant results.

Conversion name

Input a name for the conversion. Something simple and related to Checkfront is best. In our example above, we use Checkfront Bookings.

Value

Follow these steps to configure the Value setting:

1. Select the first option Use different values for each conversion to measure the impact of your advertising.
2. Choose the Event snippet setup option.
3. Assign whatever default value you wish, as the system pulls the value from your items/products in Checkfront.
    

Count

For the Count setting, choose the option that best fits your purpose:

• Every
  Recommended for purchases because every purchase is valuable.
• One
  Recommended for leads, sign-ups, and other conversions because only the first interaction is valuable.

16. When you finish configuring all four settings, click the Done button.
     

17. Review your selected settings in the Create and measure conversions screen. Click the Save and continue button to advance to the Summary step.

After setting up your conversion action in Google Ads, it's time to review and install your tag.

Checkfront requires two pieces of information from the code Google Ads provided. These are the Conversion ID and the Conversion Label.

1. To find the pieces of code you need, choose the Use Google Tag Manager tab in the Summary step after creating a conversion.

2. The following screen displays the two ID and label codes you need. Make a note of these values for the next step.
3. Once you note that information, click the Finish button to save your progress, then head to your Checkfront account.

Edit or view existing conversion entries To edit or view an existing conversion entry, such as to find the Conversion ID and Conversion Label at a later time, expand the Purchase goal section in the Summary area and select the conversion action from the list that you want to view.

Next Steps

In the following article, we look at setting up Google Ads in Checkfront.

< Introduction to the Checkfront Integration with Google Ads     |     Setting up Google Ads in Checkfront >