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Google Ads intros new URL parameter options ahead of parallel tracking deadline

The deadline to migrate to parallel tracking is October 30, 2018.

Ginny Marvin on July 26, 2018 at 4:14 pm

Google is adding two landing page URL parameter options in Google Ads (formerly AdWords) ahead of the parallel tracking deadline.

There is a new field to add a “Final URL suffix,” which gets appended to the end of the final URL, and advertisers can now enter as many as eight custom parameters, up from just three.

Google Ads has a new Final URL suffix field and supports up to 8 custom parameters.

Google says it now supports all the features needed for advertisers using third-party click measurement systems to migrate their accounts to parallel tracking ahead of the October 30 deadline.

Parallel tracking is another initiative to help speed up landing-page load times. It works by separating tracking parameters from the landing page URL. When users click an ad, they are taken straight to the landing page while the tracking URL, AdWords click tracker and any redirects load separately.

For those making these changes, two advisories:

If you’re working in AdWords Editor, Google says you’ll need to be using version 12.4 or higher to ensure your previous URL and parallel tracking changes are not deleted.

Google warns some edits made in the old AdWords UI to campaigns, ad groups, keywords, ads or extensions “may be rejected,” so you should complete your edits in the new AdWords experience.

Want more info on paid search? Check out our comprehensive PPC Guide – Nine chapters covering everything from account setup to automation and bid adjustments!

About The Author

Ginny Marvin

Ginny Marvin is Third Door Media's Editor-in-Chief, managing day-to-day editorial operations across all of our publications. Ginny writes about paid online marketing topics including paid search, paid social, display and retargeting for Search Engine Land, Marketing Land and MarTech Today. With more than 15 years of marketing experience, she has held both in-house and agency management positions. She can be found on Twitter as @ginnymarvin.