Google Ads Tracking Template Setup: Custom Parameters & Parallel Tracking

Google Ads lets you set tracking templates and URL suffixes at several account levels. A lower-level setting can override one above it, so check which setup each ad inherits. This guide explains the fields and a testing process.

The Google Ads Tracking Hierarchy

Google Ads evaluates tracking templates using a top-down inheritance model:

1. Account Level: Applies broadly across the account, subject to more specific settings; useful for centralized oversight.
2. Campaign Level: Overrides account-level settings for specific campaigns.
3. Ad Group Level: Overrides campaign-level settings.
4. Ad / Keyword / Sitelink Level: Overrides all parent templates.

Use an account-level setting if your campaigns share a tracking setup. Add lower-level overrides where needed and document which setting each campaign uses.

If dynamic parameters are new to you, Orange SEO's overview of tracking marketing efforts with dynamic UTMs explains why platform macros beat hand-typed values. The rest of this guide covers the Google Ads specifics.

How to Set Up an Account-Level Final URL Suffix

1. Sign in to your Google Ads account.
2. In the left navigation menu, click Admin > Account settings.
3. Click to expand the Tracking section.
4. In the Final URL suffix field, paste your parameter string:

   utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={_campaign}&utm_term={keyword}&utm_content={creative}&utm_id={campaignid}

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5. Click Test. Google Ads will test your landing pages to ensure the parameter string does not trigger HTTP errors.
6. Click Save.

Using Custom Parameters ({_campaign}) for Clean Names

By default, ValueTrack only provides {campaignid} (a number like 1948201948). If you want human-readable campaign names in your CRM, use a custom parameter:

• In campaign settings, expand Campaign URL options.
• Under Custom parameters, enter:
  Name: _campaign
  Value: us_saas_brand-search_2026

When an ad is clicked, Google Ads dynamically replaces {_campaign} in your account-level suffix with the specific campaign name!

Parallel Tracking Requirements and HTTPS

Under Google's Parallel Tracking architecture, tracking templates must point to secure HTTPS endpoints. If your tracking redirect uses HTTP, Google Ads will reject the URL or pause the ad.

For the broader setup, read Google Ads UTM Tracking Guide: ValueTrack, Tracking Templates & GA4 Attribution. Browse the Google Ads Tracking guides to choose another troubleshooting task.

References

• Use ValueTrack parameters in tracking templates (Google Ads Help)

DJ

Written by

Dinesh Jeengar

Founder, UTMCraft

Founder of UTMCraft, an independent set of browser-based campaign URL tools and measurement guides.

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