How to Set Up Google Ad Reporting in Sparkforge

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

Connect the Google Ads account in Integrations with admin-level access, select the MCC and Client Account IDs, paste the UTM tracking template at the account level, and add the precautionary script for fail-safe attribution.

Google Ad Reporting in Sparkforge needs four things in place before live data flows: the right account connection, the MCC and Client IDs, a UTM tracking template, and the precautionary script.

Step 1 — Connect the right Google Ads account

The Google account you connect under Integrations must have administrator (max-permission) access on the Google Ads account, or be linked as a manager on the Google Ads side. Anything less and the data sync will be incomplete.

Step 2 — Select the MCC and Client Account IDs

An MCC (My Client Center, also called Google Ads Manager Account) is the parent account that manages multiple client Ads accounts.

MCC ID sits in the top-right corner of the manager account.
Client Account ID sits inside the Help section of the client account.

Pick both correctly during setup or reporting will pull the wrong campaigns.

Step 3 — Add the UTM tracking template

Add the template at the Account level (recommended), Campaign level, or Ad Group level. Account-level applies it to every campaign in one shot.

{lpurl}?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium={adname}&utm_campaign={campaignname}&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_keyword={keyword}&utm_matchtype={matchtype}&campaign_id={campaignid}&ad_group_id={adgroupid}&ad_id={creative}

The {lpurl} ValueTrack parameter inserts your final landing page URL. Without it, your URL breaks on click.

Where to paste it

Open Google Ads → Account Settings → Tracking, then paste the template into the Tracking template field. Run the test — most campaigns should show landing page found. Fix any errors on active campaigns.

Example output

Final URL: http://example.com

After click: http://example.com?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=black_friday&utm_campaign=blackday10&utm_content=marketingbanner&utm_keyword=getdiscounteddeal&utm_matchtype=e&campaign_id=12345&ad_group_id=2394984903&ad_id=93844980940&gclid=84843ewhfb834nedhj4u49

Note: utm_source=google is deprecated — ad blockers strip URLs that match it.

Step 4 — Add the precautionary tracking script

The script is a fail-safe. If a UTM template fails to capture attribution, the script catches link clicks and forwards them to Google Analytics. See the precautionary tracking script setup guide for the full code.

Naming rules to follow

Names must be unique across campaigns, ad groups, and ads.
Names cannot change mid-campaign. If you need a different name, create a new campaign, ad group, or ad.
Renaming without a new campaign breaks attribution. Sparkforge keeps reporting against the original name in the URL parameter.
Use the Objectives dropdown (top left) to record what the campaign was built to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I add the UTM template — account, campaign, or ad group?

Account level is recommended. It applies the template to every campaign at once. Campaign or ad group level only makes sense if you need different parameters per campaign.

Why does my landing page URL break after I add the template?

The template likely is missing the {lpurl} ValueTrack parameter. Without it, Google has no final URL to insert and the redirect fails. Re-add {lpurl} at the start of the template.

Do I still need utm_source=google?

No. utm_source=google is deprecated and ad blockers strip it. Use utm_source=adwords as shown in the template.

What permissions does the connected Google account need?

The account must have administrator-level access on Google Ads or be linked as a manager. Lower permissions cause partial or empty reporting.

Can I rename a campaign after it goes live?

You can, but Sparkforge keeps reporting against the original name embedded in the UTM. To get clean reporting under a new name, create a new campaign.