After Google released a new AdWords feature that allows importing Google Analytics goals into AdWords to be reported alongside conversions, I have been using it extensively and have found great value with it.
However, just the other day, I happened across an account where this option was grayed out. Hmmm, I thought. I wonder why. Google Analytics is connected to AdWords just fine and the account is active.
Import goals from Google Analytics option disabled
I finally reached out to Google for an answer and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the fix was simple. All I had to do was enable the data sharing! Out of all things, Data Sharing was something I would have never thought of.
But it makes sense: the account needs to be opted into data sharing (at least with other Google products) to have integrated features working.
So, long story short, here’s how to fix this and opt GA into data sharing (super simple!):
- Sign into your Google Analytics account.
- Click “Edit Account and Data Sharing Settings.”
- Make sure you’ve selected at least the “With other Google products only” options under “Share my Google Analytics data…”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Good to know this information.this is a
great help to all especialy those in need s
of financial assitance about adwords and its policies.
I’ve done exactly what you’ve said… I have conversion data in analytics and for a goal I set up in adwords… I know tracking is working on both sides… the accounts are connected but still the button won’t ‘come to life’ so to speak!
Need help!
I have set up google spreadsheets to automatically pull all my data from analytics and it looks awesome. The only thing holding it back is that ppc conversions are coming through as ‘direct visitors’. I don’t want to have to go through this segment and offset it against adwords goals to know who came through as a ppc conversion and the others as actual direct visitor conversions.
I had the same problem until I did a bit of testing. It seems you cannot import the analytics goal to adwords until the goal has collected some hits in analytics. If the goal has not been reached you can’t import it. Good luck!