PPC

Google Ads pushes richer conversion imports

Google is pushing advertisers to enrich the conversion data they send to Google Ads, saying more signals mean stronger attribution, better modeling, and ultimately, improved campaign performance.

How it works. Google recommends upgrading pipelines to the latest Ads API (v20+) and layering in multiple data points:

  • User-provided data (hashed email, phone) to unlock cross-device conversions.
  • Session attributes via a new JavaScript helper or key-value pairs.
  • Braid parameters (gbraid & wbraid) for privacy-safe attribution.
  • Order IDs and conversion environments for cleaner reporting and model training.
  • Consent fields to comply with regulations and Google policies.

Why we care. Machine learning models thrive on data. By importing richer conversion signals (not just GCLIDs) advertisers can capture more observed and modeled conversions, adapt to privacy-driven shifts in tracking and give Google’s AI more context to optimize bidding and targeting.

Between the lines. Advertisers who fail to modernize may see weaker attribution as legacy identifiers phase out. Google’s models will increasingly rely on supplemental signals to maintain accuracy.

Bottom line. Google wants advertisers to treat conversion imports as more than a technical necessity; they are now a strategic lever for campaign performance.

Explore more on

Artificial intelligence Conversion tracking Google Google Ads Information privacy JavaScript Machine learning Multichannel marketing
Add Search Engine Land as a preferred source on Google

Editorial disclosure

Search Engine Land is owned by Semrush. We remain committed to providing high-quality coverage of marketing topics. Unless otherwise noted, this page’s content was written by either an employee or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.

About the author

Anu Adegbola

Paid Media News Editor, Search Engine Land

Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.

In 2008, Anu started her career delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side. Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event - PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPC Live The Podcast.

She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US, UK, Munich, Berlin), Friends of Search (Amsterdam, NL), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, AdWorld Experience (Bologna, IT) and more.