For Autotagging, What Parameter Does Google Ads Include In The Destination URL?

Question: For autotagging, what parameter does google ads include in the destination URL?

• utm=
• urlid=
• adid=
• gclid=

Answer: GCLID

The right answer to your query is mentioned above. However, if you want to know more about auto-tagging and the reasons that support the correct answer, please go through this article. I have discussed auto-tagging GCLID in detail.

What is auto-tagging?

Auto-tagging is a feature needed for different purposes, such as –

• Track your website’s conversion on different browsers.
• You can import your conversion data into Google Ads from Google Analytics. Importing conversion data is also possible from different external sources like CRM systems and more.
• Autotagging also helps import cost data, and  Google Ads Campaign into Google Analytics reports.  
• Users can also import Google Analytics site engagement metrics like average session duration and bounce rate into the Google Ads reporting.

All the new account holders will have auto-tagging enabled on them by default. Here is why you should use auto-tagging.

Read More: Which Reports Require The Activation Of Advertising Features?

Why Use Auto-tagging?

There are many benefits to using auto-tagging.  Here are some of the most important reasons for using Autotagging on Google –

• It allows you to check the effectiveness of your Google ad clicks in generating valuable customer activities like purchases, app downloads, phone calls, newsletter sign-ups, and more.
• The setup process is different based on the type of conversion you are measuring or tracking. So, when you are trying to track your conversion rate, the first step should be choosing a source for your conversions.

Auto-tagging also helps track the conversions on the offline stores of a business. It helps track the conversions/sales that happened in the physical stores of the business due to online advertisements.

The Downsides Of GCLID  

There are some benefits that make it convenient to use GCLID. However, there are some limitations as well. Here are the downsides and limitations of using GCLID-

• Limited tracking of offline conversions: GCLID only tracks online conversions that occur within the Google Ads platform. If a conversion happens offline, such as an in-person visit or a phone call, GCLID cannot track it.
• Limited tracking of cross-device conversions: GCLID relies on cookies to track user behavior across devices. If a user switches devices or clears their cookies, the tracking may not be accurate.
• Limited tracking of cross-platform conversions: GCLID only tracks conversions occurring within the Google Ads platform. If a conversion happens on a different platform, such as Amazon or Facebook, then GCLID cannot track it.
• Limited tracking of non-Google Ads traffic: GCLID only tracks clicks and conversions from Google Ads campaigns. If a user comes to your site through an organic search or a non-Google Ads campaign, GCLID will not be able to track it.
• Limited data sharing: Google limits the sharing of GCLID data with third-party platforms. This can limit the ability to track conversions across multiple platforms and channels.

For Autotagging, What Parameter Does Google Ads Include In The Destination URL?

The answer to this question is GCLID. However, here is the explanation for this answer –

Once someone clicks on the ads of your business, auto-tagging will add a little more information to the URL people clicked through to your website. This information is called GCLID or Google Click Identifier.  If you want an example, then we can say –

If a visitor clicks on your ad for www.demo/example.com, then the final URL will appear like – www.demo/example.com/? gclid=123xyz. So, it is visible that Google Ads includes GCLID in the Destination URL for auto-tagging. If you want to know more about how to find GCLID and enable auto-tagging, please follow the section below –

How To Find GCLID?

Here is how you can find GCLID –

• On Google Ads, Go to Overview.
• Then look for Account Settings from the left slider that opens.
• Now, select Yes on Auto-tagging from the results shown.

GCLID tracks an array of information like –

• Traffic source
• Campaign
• Ad group
• Keywords, or keywords
• Keyword positioning
• Time of day
• Search Query

It provides paramount information regarding which ads are working and which ads are not.

Read More: When Will Google Analytics Be Unable To Identify Sessions From The Same User By Default?

Frequently Asked Questions! (FAQs):

Here are some popular questions and answers that might help you learn more about auto-tagging and GCLID

Final Words   

I hope that you have found a proper answer to the question – for autotagging, what parameter does google ads include in the destination URL?

However, if you have any additional queries, please ask us in the comment section. We will answer as soon as possible.