Documentation: How to Integrate Your Shop with Google Ads (AdWords) via HitMe Panel
Step 1: Set Up a Google Ads (AdWords) Account
Before you can integrate Google Ads with your shop, you first need to create a Google Ads account if you haven’t already.
1. Sign up for Google Ads:
o Go to Google Ads and sign in with your Google account or create a new one if needed.
o Follow the prompts to create your Google Ads account, including setting up your first campaign (you can skip this for now if you’re only integrating with your website).
2. Access Google Ads Account:
o Once your account is set up, navigate to the Tools and Settings menu (the wrench icon in the top right corner).
o Under Setup, select Linked Accounts to link your Google Ads account with other services like Google Analytics or your website.
3. Create a Google Ads Conversion Tracking Tag (optional for tracking):
o If you want to track conversions (e.g., purchases or form submissions), go to Tools and Settings > Measurement > Conversions.
o Click +New Conversion and follow the steps to create a new conversion action, such as purchases or lead submissions.
o After creating the conversion action, you will be given a conversion tracking tag (a piece of JavaScript code) that you’ll need later.
4. Note Your Google Ads Customer ID:
o In the Google Ads account, go to the top right corner and copy your Customer ID. This is necessary for linking your Google Ads account to your website.
Step 2: Integrate Your Shop with Google Ads in the HitMe Panel
Now that you have your Google Ads account set up, it’s time to integrate it with your shop via the HitMe panel.
1. Log in to the HitMe Panel:
o Open the HitMe panel in your browser and log in using your administrator credentials.
2. Navigate to the Analytics / SEO Section:
o In the left sidebar, go to Website > Analytics / SEO.
o Under Analytics / SEO, select Integrations.
3. Enter Your Google Ads Account Information:
o In the Integrations section, find the field labeled Google Ads (AdWords) Integration.
o Enter your Google Ads Customer ID that you noted earlier.
o If you created a conversion tracking tag in Google Ads (Step 1), paste the Conversion Tracking Tag (JavaScript snippet) into the relevant field for conversion tracking in the HitMe panel.
4. Connect Your Google Ads Account:
o Hit Save to save the integration settings.
o The panel will now connect your website with Google Ads, enabling you to run Google Ads campaigns, track conversions, and monitor the performance of your ads.
Step 3: Set Up eCommerce Tracking and Google Ads Campaigns
With the integration completed, you can now begin tracking eCommerce events and running ads in Google Ads.
1. Enable eCommerce Tracking (Optional):
o If your website has an eCommerce store and you want to track product purchases, follow these steps:
In Google Analytics, go to Admin > View > Ecommerce Settings and toggle Enable Ecommerce to ON.
This will allow you to track product purchases and revenue in Google Analytics, and Google Ads will automatically use this data for remarketing and campaign optimization.
2. Create Google Ads Campaigns:
o In Google Ads, you can now create campaigns such as Search Ads, Display Ads, or Shopping Ads (if you have an eCommerce site).
o When creating campaigns, Google Ads will use the integration to track the actions users take on your website, such as clicks and conversions, helping you optimize your ads for better performance.
3. Set Up Remarketing:
o You can set up Remarketing in Google Ads to target users who have visited your website but didn’t convert. Simply create a remarketing list in Google Ads based on user behavior (e.g., users who added items to the cart but didn’t complete the purchase).
4. Monitor Conversion Tracking:
o Once your campaigns are running, you can monitor conversions in Google Ads. Conversion data will show how many users completed actions such as purchases, sign-ups, or leads after clicking on your ads.
Step 4: Verify Google Ads Integration and Track Performance
After the integration, you’ll want to verify everything is set up correctly and monitor your Google Ads performance.
1. Verify Integration:
o Go to your website and check if the Google Ads conversion tracking tag is firing correctly. You can use the Google Tag Assistant Chrome extension to check for active tags and verify they are working.
2. Check Conversion Data:
o In Google Ads, go to the Conversions tab under Tools and Settings to check the status of conversion tracking. This will show whether users are completing the actions you’ve set up for tracking, such as purchases or form submissions.
3. Monitor Campaign Performance:
o In Google Ads, regularly check your campaign performance by going to the Campaigns tab. You can monitor important metrics like click-through rate (CTR), cost per click (CPC), and return on ad spend (ROAS).
o Use the data to adjust your ads, targeting, and budget to improve campaign performance.
Step 5: Troubleshooting
If the integration isn’t working as expected, here are some troubleshooting steps to help resolve common issues:
1. Check Google Ads Conversion Tag:
o Make sure the conversion tracking tag was correctly pasted into the HitMe panel under Integrations. Double-check that it matches the tag provided by Google Ads.
2. Verify Pixel Firing:
o If you’re using Google Ads remarketing or conversion tracking, ensure that the tracking pixel is firing correctly on your website. Use Google Tag Assistant to check if the pixel is being triggered as expected.
3. Ensure Correct Customer ID:
o Double-check that the correct Google Ads Customer ID was entered in the HitMe panel. You can find your Customer ID in your Google Ads account settings.
4. Check Campaign Status:
o In Google Ads, ensure your campaigns are active and running. If your campaigns are paused or have budget issues, they may not be delivering ads or tracking conversions.
5. Clear Cache and Cookies:
o Clear your browser cache and cookies to ensure that the latest changes are reflected. Refresh your website and check if Google Ads is tracking correctly.
Step 6: Optimize Your Google Ads Campaigns
With the integration complete and performance data flowing into your Google Ads account, you can optimize your campaigns for better results:
1. Use Conversion Data to Optimize Ads:
o Use the data from Google Ads and Google Analytics to refine your targeting and ad copy. Focus on the best-performing keywords and demographics to improve your ad spend efficiency.
2. A/B Testing:
o Run A/B tests for different ads to determine which ones convert the best. Use Google Ads' built-in tools to compare the performance of different ads, landing pages, and bidding strategies.
3. Optimize for ROAS:
o Use Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) as your key performance indicator to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. Adjust your bids and targeting based on the ROAS to maximize profitability.
By following these steps, you can successfully integrate your shop with Google Ads via the HitMe panel and begin running targeted ad campaigns to drive traffic and conversions. Google Ads provides powerful tools for driving sales and leads, and with conversion tracking and eCommerce integration, you can continuously optimize your campaigns to achieve better results.