Step 3: Connect Google Ads
Authorize Google Ads, choose the ad account to protect, and configure tracking and audience settings.
In this step, you'll connect your Google Ads account and select which ad account ClickFortify should protect. This covers steps 2 and 3 of the onboarding wizard.
Why This Step Matters
The Google Ads connection allows ClickFortify to:
- Read campaign and account structure
- Track paid traffic sources more accurately
- Apply exclusion actions automatically
- Power account and campaign-level protection workflows
Connect the Account
- Open the onboarding flow in ClickFortify
- Click Authorize Google Ads
- Sign in with a Google account that has the correct level of access
- Approve the requested permissions
You should use a Google account with admin access to the ad account you want to protect.
Choose the Ad Account
After authorization, select the Google Ads account you want to protect from the Select Ad Account dropdown.
What the Dropdown Shows
- Individual Google Ads accounts you can connect directly
- MCC-linked accounts that may expose sub-accounts after you choose the parent account
- The exact account you want ClickFortify to monitor and protect first
Optional Setup Choices
Set tracking template (Recommended)
Leave this enabled for the cleanest rollout. When turned on, ClickFortify will try to apply the tracking template automatically so ad clicks carry the data needed for attribution, fraud analysis, and downstream protection workflows.
Use this when you want to:
- reduce manual Google Ads setup
- improve click-level tracking accuracy
- avoid missing data caused by incomplete campaign tracking settings
Set custom audience
Enable this if you want ClickFortify to prepare audience-based protection alongside the account connection. This is useful when your protection strategy includes audience exclusions for suspicious or unwanted visitors.
Use this when you want to:
- create audience-based exclusion workflows earlier
- support remarketing or exclusion logic tied to risky visitors
- keep Google Ads protection settings aligned with ClickFortify automation features
In the current product flow, both options are enabled by default so most teams can connect the account with recommended protection settings in one pass.
After You Connect The Account
Use these follow-up guides to validate the handoff and recover quickly if anything looks wrong:
Recommended Rollout Pattern
- Start with the account that has the highest spend or clearest click quality issue
- Avoid connecting too many accounts before validating your first implementation
- Confirm the selected account matches your intended production account
Next Step
Continue to Step 4: Choose Your Plan.