Transparent Growth Measurement (NPS)

Google Ads Conversion Tracking Setup: Complete Guide to Fix Attribution Issues

Contributors: Amol Ghemud
Published: February 9, 2026

Summary

Google Ads conversion tracking works by placing a conversion tag (pixel) on key pages like thank-you pages, confirmation screens, or post-purchase pages that fire when users complete desired actions, sending conversion data back to Google Ads to optimize campaigns and measure ROI. The most common tracking issues stem from broken tag implementation, incorrect attribution windows, failing to exclude internal traffic, importing GA4 conversions instead of using native Google Ads tracking, and failing to implement enhanced conversions for privacy-compliant measurement. 

Proper conversion tracking requires setting up conversion actions in Google Ads, installing tracking code via Google Tag Manager or direct implementation, and testing tag fires with Google Tag Assistant.

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You are running Google Ads, spending ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000 per month, but the conversion data is incomplete or incorrectly attributed. You are optimizing blindly, wasting budget on campaigns that might not convert. Broken conversion tracking is the silent killer of Google Ads performance. Without accurate tracking, Google’s algorithm cannot optimize bids, you cannot calculate true ROI, and you have no idea which keywords or ads drive results. This guide covers setting up bulletproof conversion tracking, fixing attribution issues, and ensuring proper conversion credit.

Understanding Google Ads conversion tracking (and why it breaks)

When a user clicks your ad, Google places a cookie (the gclid parameter) that tracks the click source. When that user converts, a conversion tag fires, sending data back to Google Ads, matching the gclid to attribute the conversion to the specific campaign, keyword, and ad. This data feeds Google’s Smart Bidding for optimization.

Tracking breaks for five reasons: broken or missing conversion tags, attribution window mismatch (60-day sales cycle with 30-day window causes late conversions to not get credited), GA4 import issues causing data discrepancies, enhanced conversions not enabled (reducing accuracy by 20% to 40%), and internal traffic pollution from team testing.

Step 1: Set up conversion actions in Google Ads

Go to Google Ads → Tools → Conversions → Plus button → Select source (Website for on-site actions, Phone calls for call tracking, App for mobile installs, Import for offline/CRM data). For website conversions, select category: Purchase/Sale for e-commerce, Leads for forms/demos, Signup for trials/accounts, Page view for key pages, Other for custom actions. Enter conversion name (descriptive like “Trial Signup”), value (monetary value or average deal value), count (One for leads, Every for repeat purchases), conversion window (30 to 90 days based on sales cycle), and view-through window (typically 1 day).

Primary vs. secondary conversions: Primary conversions are the main business goals that Smart Bidding optimizes for (purchases, trial signups, demo requests). Secondary conversions are tracked but do not influence bidding (content downloads, email signups, video views). Only set high-intent revenue-driving actions as primary to avoid optimizing for low-value engagement.

Step 2: Install conversion tracking code (Google Tag Manager vs direct)

You have two options for installing conversion tracking: Google Tag Manager (recommended) or direct pixel installation.

Why Google Tag Manager is the better choice

Google Tag Manager (GTM) provides centralized tag management without touching website code, easier testing with a built-in preview mode, support for multiple conversion actions without code changes, and a reduced page-load impact compared to multiple hardcoded pixels.

How to set up conversion tracking via Google Tag Manager

If the GTM container is not already installed, install it at tagmanager.google.com, then add the container code to the <head> and <body> sections. In GTM, create conversion tag: Tags → New → Google Ads Conversion Tracking → Enter conversion ID and label from Google Ads (Tools → Conversions → Tag setup → Use Google Tag Manager) → Set conversion value and transaction ID. Set up a trigger for when the tag fires (Form Submission for forms, Page View for thank-you pages with URL contains /thank-you, Custom Event for purchases). Test tag firing using Preview mode → Complete test conversion → Verify tag fires in debug panel → Check Google Ads within 24 hours. Publish the GTM container after verification.

Direct pixel installation (when GTM is not feasible)

If you cannot use GTM, go to Google Ads → Tools → Conversions → Tag setup → Install the tag yourself → Copy global site tag (all pages in <head>) and event snippet (conversion page only).

Step 3: Fix common conversion tracking issues

Conversions not showing: Conversion tag not firing (verify with Google Tag Assistant), tag on wrong page (must be on post-conversion page), conversion window has not elapsed (takes 3 to 24 hours), user converted outside attribution window (extend from 30 to 60/90 days), or browser privacy/ad blockers prevent tracking (enable enhanced conversions).

Conversion counts do not match GA4: Different attribution models (Google Ads uses last-click, GA4 uses data-driven), conversion counting rules (Google Ads counts one per click, GA4 counts every event), time zone differences, or user privacy settings. Solution: Use Google Ads native tracking as the optimization source of truth, use GA4 for cross-channel analysis, and do not import GA4 conversions if native tracking exists.

Phone call conversions not tracked: Set up call tracking at Tools → Conversions → Phone calls. Choose “Calls from ads using call extensions,” “Calls to phone number on website” (requires Google forwarding number), or “Clicks on phone number on mobile.” Install the provided tag via GTM.

Enhanced conversions not enabled: Go to Tools → Conversions → Settings → Enhanced conversions → Turn on. Choose automatic detection or manual GTM implementation with user data variables (email, phone).

Step 4: Configure attribution windows correctly

Attribution windows determine how long after a click or view, Google Ads credits conversions. The click attribution window defines how many days after an ad click Google Ads attributes a conversion (default 30 days). Extend to 60 or 90 days for B2B SaaS with 45+ day trial-to-paid cycles, enterprise sales with 90+ day timelines, educational services, or financial services with approval delays. 

Keep 30 days for e-commerce, low-ticket SaaS, local services, or B2C products with short consideration. To change: Tools → Conversions → Settings → Click-through conversion window.

View-through conversions occur when users see your ad but do not click, then later convert (default 1 day). Extend to 7 or 30 days for brand awareness campaigns, keep at 1 day or disable for direct-response campaigns focused on clicks.

Step 5: Choose the right attribution model

Attribution models determine how conversion credit is distributed across ad interactions. Last click (default) gives 100% credit to the last ad clicked, best for direct-response with single-touch conversions, but ignores earlier touchpoints. First click gives 100% to the first ad, good for awareness, but ignores nurture. Linear distributes credit equally across all clicks.

Time decay gives more weight to recent clicks, which is good for nurture-heavy sales cycles. Data-driven (recommended) uses machine learning to assign credit based on actual impact, requires 3,000+ monthly conversions. Position-based (40-20-40) allocates 40% to the first and last clicks and 20% to the middle.

Change attribution model: Tools → Conversions → Settings → Attribution model. Start with last-click for simplicity, move to data-driven once you have 3,000+ monthly conversions. For low-volume accounts, test time-decay or position-based.

Step 6: Track offline conversions

Many businesses close deals offline after generating online leads. When a user fills a lead form, capture their gclid (Google Click ID) in your CRM. When that lead converts offline (demo booked, contract signed), upload a CSV to Google Ads that matches the gclid to the conversion event, attributing it to the original campaign.

Create offline conversion action: Tools → Conversions → Import → Other data sources → Upload conversions. Capture gclid in forms using a hidden field with URL parameter {gclid} (auto-tagging enabled by default). Upload conversions when they happen: export from CRM, including gclid, conversion name, time, value → Tools → Conversions → Uploads → Upload file → Map fields. Offline conversions can be uploaded up to 90 days after the original click.

Step 7: Verify and test your tracking setup

Use Google Tag Assistant Chrome extension: navigate to your site, complete a test conversion, verify Google Ads tag fires with a green checkmark, and check for errors. Use GTM preview mode: Preview → Enter URL → Complete conversion → Verify tag fires → Check data layer variables. Verify conversions appear in Google Ads within 3 to 24 hours under Tools → Conversions → Recent conversions. Exclude internal traffic: Settings → IP exclusions → Add office IP addresses.

Perform monthly audits: check conversion volume aligns with analytics and CRM, verify tags fire after website updates, review attribution windows as sales cycle changes, ensure enhanced conversions remain enabled, audit for duplicates, compare Google Ads to GA4 and CRM.

Want to see how upGrowth scales campaigns across industries? Explore our case studies across SaaS, eCommerce, D2C, and service businesses

Google Ads vs GA4 conversion tracking (and which to use)

Google Ads native tracking feeds directly into Smart Bidding with 3-hour updates, whereas GA4 imports are delayed by 9 to 24 hours. Google Ads defaults to last-click attribution and counts one conversion per click, while GA4 uses data-driven attribution and counts every event. Google Ads only shows performance within Google Ads, while GA4 shows cross-channel journeys.

Use Google Ads native tracking for real-time optimization, accurate campaign ROI, and simple conversion actions. Import GA4 conversions for cross-channel attribution or unified conversion definitions across channels. Best practice: use Google Ads native tracking for primary conversions to drive bidding, and use GA4 for holistic analysis. Avoid importing GA4 conversions if native tracking works to prevent duplicates.

Enhanced conversions: What they are and why you need them

Enhanced conversions securely hash first-party data (email, phone, name, address) provided during conversion and send it to Google to match with signed-in Google accounts, recovering conversions lost to cookie restrictions, iOS 14+ privacy changes, or ad blockers. This improves measurement accuracy by 15% to 30% without third-party cookies.

Enable by going to Tools → Conversions → Settings → Enhanced conversions → Turn on. Choose automatic detection (if the conversion page collects email) or manual code implementation via the GTM data layer. Enhanced conversions are GDPR- and CCPA-compliant because data is hashed client-side and used only for measurement, not for targeting.

Final Takeaway

Google Ads conversion tracking helps you measure when users take important actions (such as filling out a form, booking a demo, or making a purchase). It works by placing a tracking tag on your website that sends conversion data back to Google Ads, so you can see which campaigns are actually driving results.

Most tracking issues arise from tags not firing properly, attribution windows being too short, conversions being imported incorrectly from GA4, enhanced conversions not being enabled, or internal traffic being counted as real leads. The best setup includes creating the right conversion actions, installing tags via Google Tag Manager, testing with Google Tag Assistant, setting the right attribution window based on your sales cycle, choosing a suitable attribution model, and regularly auditing tracking.

If your Google Ads campaigns are getting clicks but not conversions, upGrowth can audit your tracking, landing pages, and campaign structure to identify exactly what is breaking performance and fix it fast. Book a free strategy call with our team today.


FAQs

1. What is the difference between Google Ads and GA4 conversion tracking?

Google Ads native tracking feeds directly into Smart Bidding for real-time optimization and updates within 3 hours, while GA4 conversions are imported with 9 to 24 hour delays and use different attribution models (last-click vs data-driven). Google Ads tracks one conversion per click by default, while GA4 counts every event. Use Google Ads native tracking for campaign optimization and GA4 for cross-channel attribution analysis. Avoid importing GA4 conversions if native tracking is already in place to prevent duplicates.

2. Should I use Google Tag Manager or direct pixel installation?

Google Tag Manager is recommended because it provides centralized tag management without requiring code changes, makes testing easier with preview mode, supports multiple conversion actions, and reduces page load impact. Use direct pixel installation only if you cannot access GTM due to technical constraints or developer availability. GTM makes future updates and troubleshooting significantly easier.

3. How do I track phone calls as conversions in Google Ads?

Go to Google Ads → Tools → Conversions → Phone calls. Choose “Calls from ads using call extensions” for calls directly from ads, “Calls to a phone number on your website” for website calls after ad clicks (requires Google forwarding number), or “Clicks on a phone number on mobile” for mobile click-to-call tracking. For website call tracking, install the provided tag via Google Tag Manager and set the minimum call length (typically 60 seconds for qualified leads).

4. What is the difference between primary and secondary conversions?

Primary conversions are main business goals that Smart Bidding optimizes toward, including purchases, trial signups, demo requests, and qualified lead submissions. Secondary conversions are tracked for measurement but do not influence bidding, including content downloads, email signups, video views, and product page visits. Only set high-intent revenue-driving actions as primary conversions to avoid optimizing for low-value engagement.

5. How long does it take for conversions to show in Google Ads?

Conversions typically appear in Google Ads within 3 to 24 hours after the conversion event. Real-time data updates within 3 hours for most conversions. Imported conversions from GA4 or offline sources can take 24 to 48 hours. If conversions do not appear within 24 hours, verify tag implementation with Google Tag Assistant and check attribution window settings.

6. What attribution model should I use for Google Ads?

Use data-driven attribution if you have 3,000+ conversions in 30 days, as it uses machine learning to assign credit based on actual impact. For lower-volume accounts, use last-click for simplicity or time-decay for nurture-heavy sales cycles. Position-based (40-20-40) works well for balancing awareness and conversion touchpoints. Avoid linear attribution unless all touchpoints genuinely contribute equally.

7. How do I track offline conversions from Google Ads?

Capture the gclid (Google Click ID) in a hidden form field when users submit leads, store it in your CRM alongside contact information, then upload a CSV to Google Ads when offline conversions happen (sales closed, contracts signed). Go to Tools → Conversions → Uploads → Map gclid to conversion name, time, and value. Offline conversions can be uploaded up to 90 days after the original click.

For Curious Minds

The gclid, or Google Click Identifier, is a unique parameter that acts as a digital fingerprint for every single ad click, linking a user's session directly to the campaign that brought them to your site. This connection is the absolute bedrock of accurate performance measurement, as it allows Google Ads to attribute a subsequent conversion back to its origin point. Without it, you are essentially advertising with a blindfold on, unable to connect spending to outcomes. The entire optimization ecosystem relies on this parameter. When a user converts, the conversion tag on your site searches for the gclid cookie and reports it back to Google, confirming which ad drove the action. This feedback loop is critical for several reasons:
  • Bidding Intelligence: Smart Bidding strategies use this data to understand which user signals, keywords, and creative combinations are most likely to convert, allowing the algorithm to adjust bids automatically.
  • Performance Clarity: It enables you to calculate a true return on investment (ROI) by tying specific ad spend directly to generated value.
  • Audience Building: It provides the data needed to create highly relevant remarketing audiences based on past interactions.
Preserving the gclid through redirects and across your entire user journey is non-negotiable for effective advertising. The full guide explains how to audit your setup to prevent this critical data from being lost.

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About the Author

amol
Optimizer in Chief

Amol has helped catalyse business growth with his strategic & data-driven methodologies. With a decade of experience in the field of marketing, he has donned multiple hats, from channel optimization, data analytics and creative brand positioning to growth engineering and sales.

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