You run an online store and use Google Ads to promote your products. When someone clicks on your ad, they land on your website.
Now, you want to know which specific ad (and even which keyword within that ad) led to that click and maybe even a purchase. This is where auto-tagging comes in.
In this article, I will explain auto-tagging and much more about it.
What is Auto-Tagging in Google Ads?
Auto-tagging in Google Ads is a feature that automatically adds a special code (like a tiny tag) to your ad’s links. This helps you track what people do after they click on your ads, like whether they make a purchase or sign up for something on your website.
The code typically includes things like:
- The name of your Google Ads campaign
- The specific ad group the ad was in
- The keyword that triggered the ad to show
- And other helpful tidbits
Who Should Use Auto-Tagging?
Auto-tagging is a good fit for anyone running Google Ads who wants to:
- Track Conversions: If you want to see which ads are leading to valuable actions on your website, like purchases, signups, or downloads, auto-tagging makes it easy to track these conversions.
- Use Google Analytics: Auto-tagging works seamlessly with Google Analytics, providing more insights into how people interact with your website after clicking on your ads.
- Simplify Tracking: If you don’t want to manually add tracking codes to every ad link, auto-tagging does it for you automatically.
In short, If you’re using Google Ads and want to understand how your ads are performing and driving results, you should use auto-tagging.
Why Is Auto-Tagging Important?
Auto-tagging is important because it helps you understand what happens after someone clicks on your ad. It’s like a little detective that follows people around your website, telling you things like:
- Did they buy something?
- Did they sign up for your newsletter?
- Which ad made them do those things?
This information is super valuable because it helps you see which ads are working well and which ones aren’t. That way, you can spend your money on the ads that bring in the most customers!
What Data Does Auto-Tagging Collect?
Auto-tagging primarily collects data about how people interact with your website after clicking on your Google Ads.
This data includes:
- Campaign Data: Which specific ad campaign, ad group, and keyword triggered the click?
- Traffic Source: Whether the click came from Google search, a partner site, or other sources.
- User Behavior: Actions taken on your website, like page views, conversions (purchases, signups, etc.), and time spent on site.
- Technical Details: Information like the user’s device, browser, and location.
Do You Need UTMs for Google Ads?
No, you don’t need UTMs for Google Ads if you are using auto-tagging.
Here’s why:
- Auto-tagging automatically adds tracking information to your ad URLs, similar to what UTMs do.
- Using both auto-tagging and UTMs would create duplicate tracking information, which can complicate your data analysis.
- In some cases, using both can lead to tracking errors.
Is Auto-tagging AI?
No, auto-tagging in Google Ads is not AI.
It’s a simple, rule-based system that adds specific tracking parameters to your ad URLs.
These parameters allow Google Ads and Google Analytics to identify which ad was clicked and track subsequent user behavior on your website.
How do you enable auto-tagging in Google Ads?
Here’s how to enable auto-tagging in Google Ads, broken down into simple steps:
1. Sign in to your Google Ads account.
2. Click on the “Settings” icon (it looks like a gear) in the top right corner of your screen.
3. From the dropdown menu, select “Account settings.”
4. In the “Account settings” page, find the section labeled “Auto-tagging.”
5. You’ll see a toggle switch next to “Tag the URL that people click through from my ad.” Click the switch to turn it on. It should turn blue when it’s enabled.
6. Save: Once the switch is on, click the blue “Save” button at the bottom of the page.
That’s it! Auto-tagging is now enabled for your Google Ads account.
Conclusion
Auto-tagging in Google Ads is a simple yet powerful tool that unlocks invaluable insights into your ad performance.
By enabling this feature, you can track conversions, analyze user behavior, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your campaigns.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to boost your ROI and achieve greater success with your Google Ads.
