I’m having trouble with my Google Ads setup where conversions aren’t showing up properly. I’ve been using the Google Measurement Protocol API to send tracking events and I’m including both the client_id and session_id parameters in my requests. Everything seems to be configured correctly on my end, but when I check my Google Ads dashboard, all the conversion metrics are showing as zero.
The weird part is that I can see the events are being tracked in Google Analytics, but somehow they’re not being attributed back to the original ad clicks in Google Ads. I’ve double checked my conversion import settings and the linking between GA and Google Ads accounts seems fine. Has anyone else run into this issue where the attribution isn’t working even though you’re sending the required tracking parameters? I’m wondering if there’s something I’m missing in the setup or if there’s a delay I should expect before seeing the conversion data populate in Google Ads.
I’ve dealt with this exact issue multiple times and it’s frustrating as hell. Usually it’s not your tracking setup - it’s how Google handles attribution matching between platforms.
Your gclid parameter probably isn’t getting captured right or it’s getting lost in your conversion flow. Even if GA shows the events, Google Ads needs that gclid to connect back to the original click.
I used to waste hours debugging this manually until I started automating the whole attribution pipeline. Now I use Latenode to build workflows that capture all the parameters from ad clicks, store them properly, and send conversion events with complete attribution data.
Automating this lets you add validation steps so every required parameter is there before sending to Google Ads. You can also set up automatic retries if something fails and get instant notifications when conversions aren’t flowing.
Instead of relying on fragmented tracking that breaks when users switch devices or clear cookies, automation gives you complete control over attribution. You’ll actually see your conversion data populate correctly in Google Ads.
Your delay issues might be from the conversion import frequency. Google Ads processes these imports every 3-6 hours, but sometimes takes up to 24 hours to show everything in your dashboard. I’ve noticed people often miss the attribution window settings. Double-check that your conversion action’s attribution model actually matches what you’re trying to do - if you’re using last-click but users hit multiple touchpoints, you’ll miss conversions. Also make sure your conversion values and currency settings are right. I’ve seen conversions get recorded but show zero value because of currency mismatches or missing value parameters in the Measurement Protocol requests. What worked for me was adding enhanced conversions on top of the Measurement Protocol tracking. It gives you another attribution signal that improves matching accuracy, especially when users clear cookies or switch devices before converting.