The background on PixelRelay's Google Ads connection: what it sends, how Google matches it, and what to check when numbers look off. For the setup steps, see Connect Google Ads.
What gets sent
Each conversion action you pick in Connections → Google Ads gets its own event:
| Dropdown | What PixelRelay sends to it |
|---|---|
| Purchase conversion action | Every paid order |
| Begin Checkout action (optional) | Checkout started |
| Add Payment Info action (optional) | Payment details submitted. Uses the Begin Checkout action if you leave it empty. |
| Add to Cart, View Item, Search, Page View (all optional) | Browsing events (see below) |
- Purchase value is the order subtotal after discounts, not counting shipping and tax.
- Recharge subscription orders count as purchases too, unless you pick a separate renewal action when you connect Recharge.
- Refunds lower the value of the original purchase in Google Ads, for purchases PixelRelay sent.
- Checkout steps (Begin Checkout, Add Payment Info) are sent from our servers and also pinged by the checkout tag in the browser.
- Browsing events (Add to Cart, View Item, Search, Page View) are recorded in the browser by PixelRelay's own Google tag, which the PixelRelay Pixel app embed loads for you. By default they're not also uploaded from our servers, because most are anonymous and Google can't match them. You can change that in Settings → Google Ads → Browse event uploads to Google. If you turn it on, pick Only events with match data.
Which purchases Google Ads gets
With Settings → Attribution on Smart (the default), Google Ads only gets purchases that carry a Google click ID from an ad. Broad sends every purchase. See Choose which networks get each sale.
Matching customers (enhanced conversions)
- The Google click ID from the ad goes with the conversion when there is one.
- Email, phone and name/address are hashed before they're sent, and only when the shopper's consent choice allows ad data. See Privacy & consent.
- An event with neither a click ID nor customer details is skipped, since Google can't use it.
Counting each sale once
- PixelRelay's own copies. The server copy and the checkout tag's browser ping carry the same ID (the order ID for purchases, the checkout ID for checkout steps). Google uses it to count them once.
- Other senders. The Google & YouTube app, GTM tags and theme code use their own IDs, so Google can't tell their conversion and PixelRelay's are the same sale. That's why you turn off the old tracking.
- Two Primary purchase actions also double your sales in bidding, even with one sender each. Keep only PixelRelay's Purchase as Primary. See Dedicated conversion actions.
Timing
- New conversions can take several hours to show in Goals → Conversions → Summary, sometimes up to a day.
- New conversion actions show "No recent data" and tag warnings for the first 24–48 hours. That's normal. See About those diagnostics warnings.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| "Google sign-in didn't complete" | Try again from the Google Ads card. Use a Google login that has access to the Google Ads account. |
| Card says Incomplete | Google is linked but setup isn't finished. Click Finish setup, pick your Customer ID and click Connect. |
| "Couldn't load conversion actions" | Check the Customer ID. If you picked a manager account, pick the ad account your campaigns run in. |
| An action shows "not supported" | Only website conversion actions work. Use Create actions for me instead. |
| Nothing in Google Ads after a day | Check Reports → Event log for Google Ads errors. Purchases need a Google click ID or the customer's email for Google to use them. |
| Events stopped after you removed access in Google | Open the card and click Reconnect Google account. |
| "No recent data" or tag warnings on the new actions | Normal for the first 24–48 hours. Make sure the Checkout tag row in Connections says Active. |
| Conversions look doubled | Something else still sends them, or two purchase actions are Primary. See Turn off old Google Ads tracking. |
Disconnect
Connections → Google Ads → Disconnect stops PixelRelay sending to Google Ads right away. To also remove PixelRelay's access from your Google account, click Edit on the card first, then Disconnect in the Google account connected box.
Turn your old tracking back on if you disconnect (switch back), or Google Ads stops getting conversions.
See our Privacy Policy for how we handle Google data.
Questions
Does PixelRelay change my campaigns? No. It uploads conversions, reads your accounts and conversion actions, and creates conversion actions only when you click Create actions for me. It never touches campaigns, budgets or bids.
Do I need to paste Google's tag code anywhere? No. The PixelRelay Pixel app embed and the checkout tag handle the browser side.
Can I keep my old conversion actions? Yes, and you should. Set them to Secondary so they keep their history but stop counting toward bidding.
Related
Need help? Email [email protected]