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Learn How to Import Your Google Analytics Goals into AdWords Conversion Tracking Posted by John on May 11, 2009 in Analytics, Google AdWords

Early on in my search marketing career, one of the discrepencies that annoyed me most was that Google Analytics and Google AdWords were almost entirely separate entities.  With the exception of AdWords data populating in Analytics, there wasn’t any cross-functionality – especially for conversion tracking.  This killed me.  Until now.  It is now possible for you to have data from your Analytics goals and transactions imported into your AdWords conversion reports!

How is this possible?  Well, the same system that links AdWords to Analytics has been tapped to push data both ways.  Here’s the basic steps you’ll need to take to get your Analytics goals into your AdWords reporting:

1. The first step is to ensure that you have successfully linked both services.
2. Next you’ll need to ensure that you’ve set Analytics to share data under the “Edit Account and Data Sharing Settings.”  Google requires that you have at least the “With other Google products only” setting enabled.
3. Now you can enter AdWords and navigate to the Conversion Tracking page.  From here you’ll be presented with a message notifying you that you can link your Analytics goals to AdWords (see screenshot below).
4. Simply follow the instructions, and AdWords will populate a table with all of your Analytics goals giving you the option to create a Conversion Action name and add each goal to your AdWords reporting (see screenshot below).

Conversion Tracking Notification

Goals and Transactions Link Table

All in all this is a pretty nice upgrade for users of Analytics and AdWords.  While I still think there could be improvements in the data sharing between the 2 services (like showing ad text data in Analytics), this is a big step forward!

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 11th, 2009 at 7:42 am and is filed under Analytics, Google AdWords. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

11 Responses to “Learn How to Import Your Google Analytics Goals into AdWords Conversion Tracking”

1. san Says:
   May 11th, 2009 at 8:25 am

   Hi John,

   I have done the same steps that you have mentioned but I did not get any message notifying me that I can link my Analytics goals to AdWords account.

   Please Advise

2. John Says:
   May 11th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

   @san,

   Please double check the following:

   * Are AdWords and Analytics linked together?
   * Are you opted into Data Sharing? (at least “With other Google products only”)

   If you’ve done both of these things and you still don’t see the initial message on your Conversion Tracking page – either there’s a delay and you need to give Google more time to process your changes, or you need to contact Google directly for assistance!

3. birendra singh Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 2:58 am

   Hi,
   I also find it true that google analytic do everything to prepare a report.
   By
   birendra singh
   Internet Marketer India

4. Bfri Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 7:53 am

   I don’t see the message either. It seems that it’s rolled out in phases or only available for US accounts for now?

5. christine harrison Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am

   Hi,

   I too have the same issue as John, and I double checked the settings. I will contact my adwords reps if I don’t see a message shortly.

   Thanks.

6. christine harrison Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 8:33 am

   Pardon my error, same issue as san!

   Thanks for the article by the way.

7. Jo Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

   I have found this option available only on select accounts in my MCC. I can’t wait until the release it for all.

8. Nicola Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 8:06 am

   This is only available in the US

   No plans to bring it across the pond according to my Google AM.

9. Nikki Rae Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 am

   I am in the UK and have just emailed my account relationship manager. I’ll let you know the response.

10. brad Says:
    June 1st, 2009 at 9:12 am

    Have you been able to add more than the first goal per profile in AdWords? I’ve been playing with this for a while; but it doesn’t seem well implemented or supported.

11. Steve Says:
    June 4th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Hopefully the integration of Google Analytics goals with adwords conversion tracking can better aid advertisers, along with many-per-click conversion tracking. It’s about time Google releases this.

    Thanks for the update.

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