> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.growsurf.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.growsurf.com/integrations/google-ads.md).

# Google Ads

Retarget referred visitors and track referral events in Google Ads to optimize your ad campaigns.

## How It Works <a href="#sync-with-your-activecampaign-list" id="sync-with-your-activecampaign-list"></a>

The Google Ads integration lets you retarget website visitors who arrive through referral links and track their conversions when they submit their email addresses on your website.

{% hint style="success" %}
Under the hood, GrowSurf loads the Google Ads library for event tracking. If Google Ads is already installed, GrowSurf does not load it again.
{% endhint %}

***

## How to Set Up

**Step 1**: In *Program Editor > 4. Options > Integrations*, open the Google Ads integration card and enter your [Google Ads conversion ID](https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/6105160?hl=en\&sjid=10459907078839107427-AP).

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** If Google Ads is already on your site, you can skip the Google Ads conversion ID and press *Connect*. We still recommend entering it for pages that do not have Google Ads installed.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://2794996218-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LeklWo0yn03AhWro2Ux%2Fuploads%2Fd4YXHr4vOxt7VAz8SMRZ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=0268d74d-bd01-4330-b7ca-3b2e834984ff" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Step 2:** Once connected, GrowSurf will have all events enabled by default. Disable any events that you do not want to track.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Important Note**: Make sure that your Share URL (found in the *Program Editor > 5. Installation* step) is a part of your Google Ads account. Also, if you are tracking conversions when a referred friend submits their email address, make sure the page where this event happens is also a part of your Google Ads account.
{% endhint %}

**Step 3:** In your Google Ads account, you will need to add the following two conversion actions (You can skip this step if you have both "Track conversion event" checkboxes toggled off). Follow the instructions in [How to Add Conversion Actions In Google Ads](#how-to-add-conversion-actions-in-google-a-ds).

* `growsurf_referral_signup` - This conversion event represents when a referred visitor submits their email address on the form on your website that has referral tracking on it.
* `growsurf_referral_trigger` - This conversion event represents when a participant completes a qualifying action, like making a purchase (Note: this only applies when you are using [`growsurf.triggerReferral()`](https://docs.growsurf.com/developer-tools/javascript-sdk/api-reference#trigger-referral)from the front-end).

***

## How to Add Conversion Actions In Google Ads

<details>

<summary>Open instructions</summary>

1. Log into your [Google Ads account](https://ads.google.com).
2. Click the top-left "Create" circular button (see image below)

   <figure><img src="https://2794996218-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LeklWo0yn03AhWro2Ux%2Fuploads%2FYvjyz8wPPUUkMzrkGw2n%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=4bdbb4db-777a-42d5-942a-a3bf9aae4aba" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3. Choose "Conversion action" in the dropdown.
4. Choose "Website" as the conversion source.
5. Enter your website (where the conversion event will happen).
6. Select "Add a conversion action manually" (see image below).

   <figure><img src="https://2794996218-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LeklWo0yn03AhWro2Ux%2Fuploads%2F0kt1iWxUtpTp2JJ0c1w9%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=81dab961-0aa9-47e7-a70d-0471b44d158f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
7. In the "Goal Category" dropdown, choose one of the following:
   1. For `growsurf_referral_signup`, we recommend using "Sign-up" (or choose a different category that best represents a referred visitor signing up).
   2. For `growsurf_referral_trigger`, we recommend using "Purchase" (or choose a different category that best represents when a referred participant completes a qualifying action, which triggers a referral).
8. For the "Value", choose one of the following:
   1. For `growsurf_referral_signup`, enter a value that represents how much a referred visitor signing up is worth.
   2. For `growsurf_referral_trigger`, enter a value that represents how much a referred participant completing a qualifying action is worth.
9. For the "Count", choose "Only one conversion".
10. Click the blue *Done* button at the bottom of the window.

    <figure><img src="https://2794996218-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LeklWo0yn03AhWro2Ux%2Fuploads%2FlXdWm74Qrl2rwOwBIm2b%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=ba6043eb-4b2f-4539-a15d-5239353e58bd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
11. Make sure that you repeat steps 1-10 above for `growsurf_referral_trigger` as well. Your screen should look like this image:

    <figure><img src="https://2794996218-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LeklWo0yn03AhWro2Ux%2Fuploads%2F28HF5O2yErnff2qAfXSu%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=b9b50547-8038-4c01-b1f5-4bfe3710d174" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
12. Click the blue *Save and continue* button at the bottom of the page.
13. Click the *Done* button.

</details>

***

## **Troubleshooting Tips** <a href="#troubleshooting-tips" id="troubleshooting-tips"></a>

Here are common scenarios and how to troubleshoot them.

#### If Google Ads events are NOT occurring, but you were expecting them:

* Make sure you do not have any ad-blockers or browser extensions blocking requests to Google Ads.
* Make sure your Share URL (and the page where the referral submits their email address, if you are tracking conversions) is a part of your Google Ads account. You can find the Share URL in the *Program Editor > 5. Installation* step.
* If you are testing conversions being tracked, make sure that you've allowed up to 24-48 hours for Google Ads to process the events.
* To check whether the Google Ads script (Tag Manager) is loading on your website, open a participant's referral link first. The script loads only after that.

#### If Google Ad events are occurring, but you were NOT expecting them:

* To stop GrowSurf from loading Google Ads, disconnect the integration. Turning off every event is not enough.
* If you see Google Ads network requests being made on your website and you have the integration completely disabled, GrowSurf may not be emitting these events. Check other parts of your code to find where these events might be happening.


---

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