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Overview

Rockerbox can automatically append tracking parameters to most Google Ads campaigns through the Google Ads API, including Search, Shopping, Performance Max, Demand Gen, Display, and Video. This is the recommended setup method. All existing UTMs and custom parameters remain in place. If your ads do not meet the requirements below, see Google Ads Manual Tracking for instructions on applying tracking manually.

Setup Process

  1. Authenticate your Google Ads account on the Advertising Platforms page. This allows Rockerbox to ingest daily spend and apply tracking parameters automatically
  2. Contact support@rockerbox.com with the launch date and the tier structure you’d like applied
  3. The day after launch, confirm tracking is applied on the Advertising Platforms page
  4. If tracking is missing from specific campaigns, review the requirements below. If ads are still missing tracking, use manual tracking
Authenticating and enabling auto-append will cause ads to enter a re-learning phase. If this is a concern, schedule a call with your Rockerbox representative to authenticate live and ensure auto parameters are disabled before your ads run.

Auto-Append Requirements

Manual tracking is required when any of the following apply:
  • Final URL Suffix field is used at keyword or sitelink level
  • SA360 or similar platforms overwrite the Final URL Suffix
  • Video or express campaigns use the Final URL Suffix field
  • DCM internal redirect tags exist in the Tracking URL Template
  • Tracking URL templates contain {lpurl} tokens

Parameter Application Hierarchy

  • Account Level: Supports “smart” campaigns
  • Campaign Level: Adds parameters plus inherited account-level UTMs
  • Ad Group Level: Only applies if existing parameters are present

View-Based Tracking

Google Display Network (GDN)

Pixel-based impression tracking is available for GDN campaigns. See the GDN page for pixel implementation details.

YouTube

Rockerbox uses probabilistic synthetic events for YouTube video views. Only YOUTUBE_WATCH events are captured.
View-based tracking is not supported for Performance Max, Demand Gen, or Discovery campaigns.

Manager Accounts

If sub-accounts show as “(unauthorized)” in Rockerbox Settings:
  1. Click the sub-account name in Google Ads
  2. Go to Tools and Settings > Access and Security > Users tab
  3. Invite the authenticating user with Standard access
  4. Accept invitations one at a time (Google Ads limitation)

Spend

Spend is ingested automatically via API after authentication. Spend data refreshes daily. Note: Google’s API does not report spend from Demand Gen (formerly Discovery) ads with the “Product Feed” subtype. Conversions from these ad types may fall into “Unmapped Events.”

Verification

After setup:
  1. Confirm tracking is applied on the Advertising Platforms page
  2. Verify spend data appears in Rockerbox dashboard
  3. Contact support@rockerbox.com for QA assistance