YouTube

YouTube Ads allows you to reach audiences with video content across YouTube and Google's video partner network. By connecting YouTube Ads to SegMetrics through your Google Ads account, you can track video campaign performance, measure ROI from video advertising, and analyze how video ads contribute to customer journeys. This guide shows you how to set up the integration.

Connecting your Google Ads account

Since YouTube ads are managed directly in your Google Ads account, connecting Google Ads to SegMetrics automatically integrates all your YouTube campaigns along with any other Google Search, Display, and Shopping campaigns you're running.

1. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of SegMetrics
2. Select Integrations from the dropdown menu
3. Click Ads, then select the Google Ads integration
4. Click Connect Google Ads to begin the authentication process
5. You'll be redirected to log in to the Google Ads account you want to connect
6. Select your Google account when prompted
7. Continue through Google's authorization prompts to confirm the connection
8. Once connected, proceed to the next section to install tracking parameters

Configuring tracking parameters

To connect individual ad clicks to customer conversions in SegMetrics, add tracking parameters to your Google Ads account settings. This applies to all campaigns in the account, including YouTube ads.

Adding tracking parameters

1. Copy the following URL parameters:

utm_campaign={campaignid}&utm_source={network}&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content={placement}&utm_term={keyword}&seg_aprod={product_id}&ad_id={creative}

1. From your Google Ads account, click Settings in the left navigation
2. Click Account Settings
3. From the Settings screen, click Tracking
4. Paste the URL parameters into the Final URL Suffix field
5. Click Save

Once configured, these parameters will automatically apply to all campaigns, including your YouTube video campaigns. SegMetrics will begin importing ad spend, clicks, and impressions for all currently active ads from the last month.

Using YouTube Ads data in SegMetrics reports

YouTube advertising data appears across several SegMetrics report types:

Advertising Reports track campaign performance including ad spend, views, clicks, leads, customers, and revenue generated from YouTube campaigns. Filter by account, campaign, ad set, or individual ads to analyze video advertising effectiveness.

Acquisition Reports show which YouTube campaigns first introduced contacts to your business, helping you understand which video content attracts new prospects.

Engagement Reports track how contacts from YouTube ads interact with your website, emails, and other marketing touchpoints after viewing your video ads.

Orders Reports display all revenue associated with YouTube campaigns, regardless of when the purchase occurred relative to the ad interaction.

Access your YouTube Ads data by navigating to Acquisition > Advertising in SegMetrics. Apply filters based on dates, tags, and touchpoints to analyze how each video campaign influences your sales.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How much historical data syncs when I first connect Google Ads?

A. SegMetrics imports the last month of ad spend, clicks, and impressions for all currently active ads when you first connect. Lead attribution begins as soon as the tracking parameters are configured. Over time, SegMetrics accumulates more historical data with each sync, allowing you to report on longer timeframes.

Q. What time zone is Google Ads data synced in?

A. Google Ads data syncs in UTC. SegMetrics reports on your data based on the timezone you set in your Account Settings at https://app.segmetrics.io/a/account/edit.

Q. What YouTube ad types are supported?

A. SegMetrics supports all standard YouTube ad formats available through the Google Ads API, including TrueView in-stream, bumper ads, and non-skippable video ads. Note that Google Experimental Campaigns are not currently supported. Performance Max campaigns with video assets are in the process of being integrated.

Q. Why am I seeing clicks but no leads in SegMetrics?

A. This typically occurs when tracking isn't properly configured. Verify that your SegMetrics tracking pixel is installed on all landing pages your YouTube ads direct to, including any opt-in or order forms. Confirm that ad_id={creative}  is included in the Final URL Suffix and being passed to your landing pages. Check that leads are entering their email addresses on pages with the tracking pixel installed, and verify that leads are being added to your email marketing platform.

Q. Can I track YouTube video views and engagement separately from conversions?

A. Yes. YouTube engagement metrics like video views, view rate, and watch time are imported from Google Ads and appear in your Advertising reports. These metrics help you understand video performance separately from conversion actions. You can filter reports to analyze which videos generate the most engagement before conversion.