Negative conversions in CAMPAIGN_LOCATION_TARGET_REPORT?!

[Zweitze]

Hi,

This morning we executed this request:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<reportDefinition>
   <selector xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">
       <fields>CampaignId</fields>
       <fields>Id</fields>
       <fields>Date</fields>
       <fields>Conversions</fields>
       <fields>ViewThroughConversions</fields>
       <fields>ConversionValue</fields>
       <predicates>
           <field>CampaignStatus</field>
           <operator>IN</operator>
           <values>ENABLED</values>
           <values>PAUSED</values>
           <values>REMOVED</values>
       </predicates>
       <predicates>
           <field>IsNegative</field>
           <operator>EQUALS</operator>
           <values>FALSE</values>
       </predicates>
       <dateRange>
           <min>20190328</min>
           <max>20190702</max>
       </dateRange>
   </selector>
   <reportName xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">(...) LocationTotalConversion 28-03-2019...02-07-2019</reportName>
   <reportType xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">CAMPAIGN_LOCATION_TARGET_REPORT</reportType>
   <dateRangeType xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">CUSTOM_DATE</dateRangeType>
   <downloadFormat xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">GZIPPED_XML</downloadFormat>
</reportDefinition>

And the result contained a row:

<row campaignID='1948792250' location='20759' day='2019-05-29' conversions='-1.00' viewThroughConv='0' totalConvValue='-1.00'/>

fI assume this is not right? Can field Conversions get a negative value?

Thanks in advance!

[Zweitze]

This happened July 2nd, 2019, around 03:30 CEST

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi,

Thank you for posting your concern.

The Conversions field of Campaign Location Target Report should not return negative values. Because of this, I tried to impersonate the report on my end my using the fields and the report type that you provided. However, I wasn't able to replicate the issue as the report did not return any negative values for Conversions field. With this, could you provide sample report generated on your end where I can see the issue via Reply privately to author option?

Regards,
Ejay
Google Ads API Team

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCabDk:ref

[Zweitze]

So I passed the requested information after that.

Over a week ago I asked if any progress was made, but didn't get any answer yet.

Please supply an update?

It's hard when we don't get accurate data for over a month.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hello Zweitze,

I realize this is super frustrating, which is why I did increase the priority. Ever since I did, there was more triage on this because I pushed it above many other things. I've seen that we've linked it to have something to do with retractions on conversions, which might explain the numbers. We are now at the stage where we are looking for a solution since we've narrowed down the issue.

Regards,
Nadine, Google Ads API Team

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCabDk:ref

[Zweitze]

Nadine,

Thanks Nadine!

As you mentioned conversion retractions, I did some more digging and found out it is probably also related to the "Include in conversions" setting of individual conversion actions. The campaign manager said she changed that setting late June, for certain conversion actions.

I recall that the (all) conversion totals are updated according to the settings of individual conversion action, as it was set on the moment the conversion was registered - I believe it was you who told me that. I assume that (all) conversion totals are also updated when retractions come in, according to settings at the time of the retraction. So, if the settings change between conversion and retraction date, you can end up with negative conversion totals.

This theory supports other behavior I am seeing - when segmenting by conversion action, negative conversions disappear.

It would also mean this problem is not related to location reports, which was my suspect all the time.

I can imagine implementing a fix takes a long time. Can you tell me which solution you are considering?

Again lots of thanks for this! At least I can explain things here.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi Zweitze,

That does sound like a pretty sound theory. Let me bounce it off a few people here. You're right. I don't think it's a quick fix, either. I'll discuss with people here to find out the next steps. You seem to be a lightning rod for obscure issues; I wish it was more simple. Thanks for bearing with us.

Take care,

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hello Zweitze,

We're getting closer to the answer. I'm bothering people daily to get to the bottom of this; it looks really difficult to figure out the exact line of code that is causing this. I just wanted you to know that you're on my daily list for following up with people internally.

[Zweitze]

So it was fixed a year ago, but now something is back!

But my explanation of Aug 2 2019 won't hold in this situation, something else is going on. Now it's a Geo Performance report and its request is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<reportDefinition>
   <selector xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">
       <fields>CampaignId</fields>

       <fields>MostSpecificCriteriaId</fields>
       <fields>CountryCriteriaId</fields>
       <fields>CityCriteriaId</fields>
       <fields>Date</fields>
       <fields>Device</fields>
       <fields>AdNetworkType2</fields>
       <fields>ConversionTrackerId</fields>

       <fields>Conversions</fields>
       <fields>ViewThroughConversions</fields>
       <fields>ConversionValue</fields>
       <predicates>
           <field>CampaignStatus</field>
           <operator>IN</operator>
           <values>ENABLED</values>
           <values>PAUSED</values>
           <values>REMOVED</values>
       </predicates>
       <predicates>

           <field>LocationType</field>
           <operator>EQUALS</operator>
           <values>LOCATION_OF_PRESENCE</values>
       </predicates>
       <dateRange>
           <min>20181202</min>
           <max>20200811</max>
       </dateRange>
   </selector>
   <reportName xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">PhysicalLocationConversion 02-12-2018...11-08-2020</reportName>
   <reportType xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">GEO_PERFORMANCE_REPORT</reportType>

   <dateRangeType xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">CUSTOM_DATE</dateRangeType>
   <downloadFormat xmlns="https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201809">GZIPPED_XML</downloadFormat>
</reportDefinition>

You get a lot of rows, four with negative conversions:

<row campaignID='1936550158' mostSpecificLocation='1010543' countryTerritory='2528' city='1010543' day='2019-10-22' device='Mobile devices with full browsers' networkWithSearchPartners='Google search' conversionTrackerId='278161913' conversions='-1.00' viewThroughConv='0' totalConvValue='-8.34'/>

<row campaignID='1692881737' mostSpecificLocation='9065109' countryTerritory='2528' city='9063492' day='2019-05-31' device='Mobile devices with full browsers' networkWithSearchPartners='Google search' conversionTrackerId='278161913' conversions='-1.00' viewThroughConv='0' totalConvValue='-8.34'/>

<row campaignID='1676831485' mostSpecificLocation='9064490' countryTerritory='2528' city='9063488' day='2019-05-18' device='Mobile devices with full browsers' networkWithSearchPartners='Google search' conversionTrackerId='278161913' conversions='-1.00' viewThroughConv='0' totalConvValue='-8.34'/>

<row campaignID='1676831485' mostSpecificLocation='9065109' countryTerritory='2528' city='9063492' day='2019-07-29' device='Computers' networkWithSearchPartners='Google search' conversionTrackerId='278161913' conversions='-1.00' viewThroughConv='0' totalConvValue='-8.34'/>

There's a subtle difference with the previous is issue: this time the request includes ConversionTrackerId, which is a segmentation on conversion types. In other words, the hypothesis with "Include in conversions" is off the table. Also note that one of the records is from October 22, over two months after the fix was implemented.

This problem is probably not only related to the API. I managed to see the record of May 18 in the web UI as well. I couldn't see the records of May 31 and Oct 22 in the web UI, probably due to the heavy segmenting involved, which is not supported by the web UI. Nevertheless I'd like to ask the question here because product support don't understand why this is problem.

If anyone can look into this, thanks!

Zweitze.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi Zweitze,

We'll take a closer look at this and let you know why this is happening.

Regards,
Anthony

Google Ads API Team

ref:_00D1U1174p._5004Q23JHll:ref

[Zweitze]

After a lot of investigation, on more than one hundred accounts, re-reading from 1st January 2019, I can add:

The strange finding is negative conversions on a report segmented to ConversionTrackerId. This happens with about 4% of the accounts. But... only with GEO_PERFORMANCE_REPORT! Not on keyword performance, ad performance etc.etc.

I wrote I could see the negative conversions in the web UI as well. That's not really correct, in the web UI you cannot segment by conversion types. The negative conversion is there, just not by conversion type as I claimed

[Zweitze]

Any progress?

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hello Zweitze,

We're still identifying the root cause of this. Sorry for keeping you waiting.
Once I have more news, I'll inform you via this email thread.

Best,
Thanet, Google Ads API Team

ref:_00D1U1174p._5004Q23JHll:ref