You Need to Know About Google Ads Final URLs //
Two URLs are important in Google Ads paid searches campaigns: The display URL and Google Ads final URL.
Advertisers can display a display URL to give prospects an easy-to-read URL so they know where they will be once they click on the ad. You can also define a unique URL with rich tracking information by using a final URL.
Today’s article will focus on Google Ads final URLs.
What is the final URL for Google Ads?
Final URLs are only one part of two-part URLs that include a tracking template. The landing page URL is identical to the final URL for most advertisers.
Google Ads Final URL refers to the website address that people visit when they click on your ad. This information is necessary to create Google Ads. This URL type is not visible in the ad. However, the display URL is:
An optional tracking template is the opposite. The tracking template will be used to create your landing page URL when a search user clicks on your ad. (more details below).
Google Ads final URL mismatch. Redirects and tracking
Do I need a final URL? Yes. The domain must match your display URL domain. Redirects within a single domain can be allowed. However, cross-domain redirects cannot be done. Your ad may get rejected if you do so. This policy is Google’s to make sure searchers have a clear and accurate idea of the page they will land on when clicking an ad. It also creates a better user experience.
For example, if a display URL reads www.mylandingpage.com, then the final URL can be as detailed as www.mylandingpage.com/abcde-12345, as long as the domains match. Yet a cross-domain redirect such as www.differentlandingpage.com/abcde-12345 will not get approval.
Using parameters (such as “source=google” and “ad=creative) is another option. These allow advertisers to track and store certain details once someone clicks on their ad.
Google Ads’ upgraded URLs allow advertisers greater control over their URLs and more specificity.
Their tracking management. It is no longer necessary that tracking parameters be included in the “Final URL”. This information can now be entered in the “Tracking template” field.
Note: While you can enter a “clean” URL in the “Final URL”, the tracking code from “Tracking template”, will be automatically added to the URL after it is clicked. Your URL will look less clean and simple when users arrive on your destination page.
Here’s an Instapage Google Ads ad promoting “landing pages platforms” using the display URL:www.instapage.com.
The URL at the end is different to www.instapage.com due to the tracking code making it look longer:
How to insert keywords
Google Ads encourages advertisers customize their URLs for keywords to create the best landing page for prospects. Customized keyword landing pages direct people to landing pages that have high-relationship to specific keywords.
These steps will help you create custom keyword landing page URLs.
- Register for your Google Ads account
- Click “Keywords” in the page menu.
- Scroll down to the “Final URL” column for the keyword that you wish to create a landing page. Click the pencil icon.
- Enter the URL (maximum 2,048 characters).
- Click “Save”
Google Analytics will provide information about keywords and costs for your Google Ads keywords if you enable automatic-tagging, or manually tag URLs that contain your keyword URLs with tracking parameters.
Google recommends auto-tagging to automatically import Google Ads data into Analytics. This data can be combined with rich Analytics data to show you how people interact with your site and landing pages after clicking on your ads. You will get the best insights.
Is it legal to change the URL of Google Ads?
You can edit your URL using the Ads Editor, either individually or in bulk.
Advanced URL Changes Tool is required to modify a URL within an ad group. This tool allows advertisers to modify final URLs, mobile URLs, tracking templates and more in bulk.
It allows you to:
- All URLs can be changed to a new URL
- All URLs can be updated with new text
- All URLs that have been selected should be removed from the list of parameters
These are the steps to edit bulk ads:
- Register for your Google Ads account
- Click “Ads and extensions” in the page menu.
- You can edit all the ads by checking the box beside them. Alternatively, you can click the box at the top of the menu to select all ads at once.
- Click on “Edit” and then choose “Change text ads”.
- Click “Preview” to view your edits. Or click “Apply” for final approval.
We should also discuss two other points:
First, when adding a final URL for an existing ad you must first post the URL before posting all of the changes. This will cause you to lose all your ad history and stats. Google considers editing an ad as creating a brand new ad.
You should also consider A/B Testing new ads instead of editing it. This will allow you to compare the performance of different versions of your advertisement. This allows you to keep your original ad running while new versions are created.
What is the difference between final mobile URLs and final desktop URLs
Final mobile URLs can be different to final desktop URLs. It is easiest to create a mobile landingpage using device or ifmobile valueTrack parameters.
You can also enter a separate mobile-preferred URL. This is called a “final Mobile URL.” Google Ads will still use the final mobile URL for mobile devices even though your URL contains ifmobile parameters. If the final mobile URL for a given device is invalid, Google Ads will use the correct URL. Google Ads supports final mobile URLs for sitelinks, keywords and app extensions.
Google Ads final URL Report
Google Ads offers a final URL Report to help you understand the performance of your landing pages. This report is only available for Google Ads traffic. This report displays all URLs that you have directed prospects through Google Ads. It allows you to determine which landing pages are most engaging and convert the highest.
All statistics are aggregated at the final URL-level. One row is per final URL. If other segment fields were used, there are more than 1 row per final URL. Important to remember that this report does not include metrics for ad extensions.
Optimize your landing page
Display URLs can be used to display brand names and the type of content that will be displayed on the landing pages. The final URL is more than a visual component. It determines the location of a visitor when they click on your ad.
Final URLs are pages from which you send ad traffic. It is crucial that landing pages be created to enhance the user experience and increase conversions.
Marketers can create customized, high-converting landing pages with Instapage faster and easier than ever before. No other platform offers the same level of personalization, AMP and team collaboration. Register for an Instapage Demo today.