Google Sheets

Requirements

• You must have Editor access to the file in Google Sheets.
• The file should be a native Google Sheets spreadsheet, or a file with an extension of .tsv or .csv.
• For native Google Sheets spreadsheets, the data you want to import must be present in the first sheet.
• The first row in the file must contain the column headers.
• Data should be updated before each import.
• One file is required per conversion event or audience list.

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Set up Google Sheets as a data source

Apply a use case now

The following sections walk you through a single procedure to link a data source to a use case. Click on your use case to expand the steps. To link the data source only, and apply a use case later, see Apply a use case later.

Customer Match

Note: It’s recommended that you add an audience segment to a connection that you created. You can either set up an audience segment before you link a data source or you can create an audience segment in the final step of setting up a data source.

Open Tools > Data manager. Select the connection you just made from “Connected products” and under “Usage”, click + Add audience segment.

1. In Google Ads, open Tools > Shared library > Audience manager.
2. Click + Create remarketing list > + Customer list.
3. Under Data source, select Connect a new data source.
   • If you previously linked a data source from the Data manager screen that you want to use, select Select an existing source.
4. Search and select Google Sheets from the list of data sources, and then select Direct connection.
5. Select Audiences as the use case, read and accept the customer data policy, then click Continue.
6. Make sure you’re signed in to your Google Drive account.
7. In the authorization window, click Allow to let Google Data Connector access your Google Sheets.
8. Select the data type, then click Next.
9. Select the file that you want to import, then click Next.
10. To map fields, select the data source fields from the dropdown lists that match the destination fields.
11. Optional: Apply transformations to your data.
12. Click Next.
13. Enter a name for this connection.
14. Optional: Edit connection details.
15. Click Finish.
16. Enter a name for the segment, confirm policy compliance, then click Save and continue.

Learn more about Customer Match and audience segments.

Offline Conversion Import

Tip: Upgrade from offline conversion import to enhanced conversions for leads for more accurate reporting, easier data import, and engaged-view and cross-device conversion attribution.

To set up enhanced conversions for leads, you can either use an existing offline conversion import conversion action or create a new conversion action.

Note: It’s recommended that you add a conversion action to a connection that you created. You can either set up a conversion action before you link a data source or you can create a conversion action in the final step of setting up a data source.

Open Tools > Data manager. Select the connection you just made from “Connected products” and under “Usage”, click + Add conversion action.

1. In Google Ads, click Goals > Summary > + New conversion action.
2. Click Import.
3. Select CRMs, files, or other data sources.
4. Select a tracking method.
5. Under Data source, select Connect a new data source.
   • If you previously linked a data source from the Data manager screen that you want to use, select Select an existing source.
6. Search and select Google Sheets from the list of data sources, and then select Direct connection.
7. Select Conversions as the use case, read and accept the customer data policy, then click Continue.
   • If you’re creating a new conversion action, select a category from the conversion goal list, then click Set up.
8. Make sure you’re signed in to your Google Drive account.
9. In the authorization window, click Allow to let Google Data Connector access your Google Sheets.
10. Select the file you want to import, then click Next.
11. To map fields, select the data source fields from the dropdown lists that match the destination fields.
12. Optional: Apply transformations to your data.
13. Click Next.
14. Enter a name for this connection.
15. Optional: Edit connection details.
16. Click Finish.
17. Click Save and continue.

Learn more about Offline conversion imports and how to Create a conversion.

Apply a use case later

In this type of setup, you complete each part of the connection at different times. This can be useful when you are ready to link a data source, but you are not ready to set up your use case–for example, you aren’t ready to create a customer list.

Consider the following scenario:

• Step 1: Dana is an engineer who manages data for your company. Dana sets up the data source to be used for activation in Google Ads. The data source is ready to be associated with a use case.
• Step 2: Mahan is a media specialist who needs to measure audience activation. Mahan creates a customer list and then associates it to the data source that Dana has previously set up, to use that data for Customer Match.

Step 1. Initiate the connection to the data source

Set up a data source and create a connection to be associated with a use case later.

1. In Google Ads, click Tools > Data manager > + Connect Product.
2. Under Data source, search and select a data source from the list of products.
3. If prompted, select Direct connection.
4. Select your use case, read and accept the customer data policy, then click Continue. If you select Audiences, you are prompted to select the data type at this step.
5. Enter your data source location and credentials*, then click Next.
6. To map fields, select the data source fields from the dropdown lists that match the destination fields.
7. Optional: Apply transformations to your data.
8. Click Next.
9. Enter a name for this connection.
10. Optional: Edit connection details.
11. Click Finish.
12. Optional: Depending on the use case, you may add an audience segment or conversion action to your connection.
    To do this, select a connection from one of your Connected products and under Usage, click + Add audience segment or + Add conversion action. Learn more about audience segments and how to Create a conversion.

Note: If you already completed the instructions for initiating the data source connection, including the optional step, you can skip the remaining instructions for completing the connection.

* Use the same credentials and location details for this data source as described in the first part of this article.

Step 2. Complete the connection by applying a use case

1. Open the destination you intend to use–for example, begin to create a new customer list or conversion action using the steps from the previous sections. Return to these steps before completing the data source step.
2. Under Data source, select Select an existing source.
3. Select the data source that was initiated in Step 1 from the list of data sources.
4. Continue to follow the remaining steps for your use case in the first part of this article. Note that you will skip further data source-related steps, such as entering credentials, because you completed these previously.

Troubleshoot errors

File format issues

Here are some tips to avoid issues while importing data from Google Sheets

• Make sure you have Editor access to the Google Sheet, and that it contains data.
• The file must be a native Google Sheets spreadsheet, or a file with a file extension such as .tsv, or .csv.
• The first row in the spreadsheet, or the first line in the file must consist of valid headers, which could be details such as email address or first name.
• Data Manager can only read data from the first sheet in a Google Sheets spreadsheet. If your spreadsheet has multiple sheets, make sure that the first sheet contains the data you're trying to import.