How to get valid GCLIDs (for testing)?

[Hustle OU]

We would like to test our current implementation of the Google Ads API V9.

For that, we need valid GCLID values.

Is there a way to get these valid GCLID values without launching a "real" campaign?

For example, for Facebook, they have this "Facebook Debugger Tool" where you can get valid "fbclid" values (similar to gclid), that you can use for testing.

They also have a parameter called "test_event_code" for testing purposes.

Is there something similar in Google Ads API?

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out. Google Ads does not support dummy GCLID values, and as such the API does not support them either. You can use Campaign Experiments as a means of testing campaigns. If you provide more context on what you're attempting to test, we may be able to provide a workaround for this.

Regards,
Matt
Google Ads API Team

Matt Google Ads API Team

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[Hustle OU]

Ok, I see. Can we use the "Campaign Experiments" directly in the Google Ads UI or does it need to go through API?

We would like to test that our Google Ads API V9 implementation works correctly. We have implemented the Upload Offline Conversions (CLICKS) service.

To test that service a valid GCLID is needed.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hello,

Campaign Experiments can be used in both the API and UI. Please allow me to make a feature request, subject to review, on your behalf for a testable 'dummy' GCLID. Relevant updates can be found on the Ads Developer blog.

[Hustle OU]

Sounds good Matt! Thanks.

That will be great to have (dummy GCLID) so that we can properly test without running live traffic.

[Hustle OU]

Hi Matt,

Just checking out with you if they received the feedback suggestion about "gclid" IDs.

And if they are willing to implement a tool to generate those.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi there,

Thanks for getting back to us.

Our team is looking into the created feature request. However, I can not guarantee that it will be implemented soon regarding its availability in the API. For now, you may for now keep an eye on our blog for updates when they become supported.

Let us know if you have any additional questions.

Regards,

Yasar Google Ads API Team

 

 

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[Dario Macieira Mitchell]

Just adding my support, would be great to have this feature.

[Marcin Karpiński]

Was Dummy GCLID added already or it is still in progress?

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Marcin,

We appreciate your request for updates to the feature request "Dummy GCLID". However, could you please provide a business use case here? Because, in the Google Ads API, GCLID is automatically created, and you need to have a production account in order to get a GCLID. Having that said, I'm afraid that test or dummy gclid cannot be supported in the Google Ads API.

Best regards,

Jinky Google Ads API Team

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[Marcin Karpiński]

We use conversions on production and it looks like it is working correctly. However we also have e2e tests and we need GCLID to check if google ads api response was fine.  Those tests check whole flow (request/response) on dev/qa environment. In our config for now we use special qa/dev conversion but every 90 days we need to refresh GCLID. I'm just curious if there is another way or something like dynamic GCLID just to not refresh GCLID on e2e every 90 days.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Marcin,

I'm Darwin, also a member of the Google Ads API team. I work with Jinky and allow me to assist you here. I hope you are doing well today.
 

Thank you for providing your business use case. Please note that the Google Ads API mirrors the Google Ads UI. meaning, if the feature is not available in Google Ads UI most likely also not available in the Google Ads API.

However, you may include this validate_only field in this UploadClickConversionsRequest. If true, the request is validated but not executed. Only errors are returned, not results.
 

Regards,

Darwin Google Ads API Team

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[Marcin Karpiński]

Hi Darwin,
If I set "validate_only to true" isn't it still be returning "EXPIRED_EVENT" on dev/qa environment after 90 days? So we cannot test google ads api response (check if whole flow "request" is correct). All we can do is take production GCLID and refresh to a new one after "max 90 days"?

Regards, 

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Marcin,

Thank you for getting back to the Google Ads API support team.

With regards to "If I set "validate_only to true" isn't it still be returning "EXPIRED_EVENT" on dev/qa environment after 90 days?", yes, it will return an error.

As mentioned by my colleague, note that if a feature is not available in the Google Ads UI, then it is most likely that this is also not available in the Google Ads API. Note that features will be first in the UI before in the API. Having said that, if these Dummy gclids are available in the Google Ads UI, can you please provide the whole Google Ads UI screenshot first so our team can provide accurate recommendations?

You may then send the requested logs via the Reply privately to author option. If this option is not available, you may send the details directly to our googleadsa...@google.com alias instead.

Regards,

Carmela Google Ads API Team

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[Robert De Vivo]

When (if) I get API access and want to post conversions in real time as they occur via a post request to the endpoint with access token and gclid, will I be able to? or do you ALWAYS need to wait 4 hours after the click to send a conversion?

I wish there was a way to mimic the <script> AW gtag method so it a conversion fires as soon as its loaded/requested

Am i wrong here?

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Robert,

Thank you for your latest email.

Based on our documentation, it takes up to 3 hours for imported conversion statistics to appear in your Google Ads account for last-click attribution. For other search attribution models, it can take longer than 3 hours. Having said that, I'm afraid that it's not possible to see conversions in realtime. Also, I can confirm that there's no way to replicate Google tag for Google Ads conversion tracking via Google Ads API where you can see conversions as they occur.

Regards,

Kevin Gil Google Ads API Team

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[Robert De Vivo]

will that ever be a possibility for that ? 
Thanks

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Robert,

Thank you for getting back to us. I hope you are doing well today.
 

Moving forward to your concern about this "will that ever be a possibility for that ?" As my colleague mentioned in his last response "I'm afraid that it's not possible to see conversions in real time. Also, I can confirm that there's no way to replicate Google tag for Google Ads conversion tracking via Google Ads API where you can see conversions as they occur." I also, confirm that this is not possible.
 

On the other hand, you may also check this data freshness guide for more information on performance data that isn’t available instantly. If you want further insights regarding this, you may instead reach out to the Product team via this link, as they are better equipped to provide guidance on this matter.
 

Regards,

Darwin Google Ads API Team

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