Combining ClickPatrol with Kickbite

Both tools need to live in the same tracking template field in Google Ads. Because Kickbite applies different attribution logic per campaign type, this guide shows you how to merge them into one template per campaign type so they run side by side without breaking each other.#

Kickbite is a cookieless tracking and attribution platform for e-commerce. It measures ad performance and ROAS without relying on third-party cookies, giving you accurate data in a privacy-first world. It adds a kb= parameter to your Google Ads URLs to identify and attribute clicks per campaign type.

Why use both?#

Kickbite gives you accurate, privacy-compliant attribution across your ad channels. ClickPatrol protects the budget those channels are spending.

Google Ads uses the most specific tracking template available, in this order: ad > ad group > campaign > account. This means that as soon as Kickbite is configured at the campaign level, it overrides any ClickPatrol template set at the account level — and ClickPatrol stops protecting that campaign. To keep both working, the two must be merged into a single template and applied at the level Kickbite requires.

Before you start#

Editing tracking templates on campaign or ad group level does not trigger a new ad review, does not affect your optimization score, and does not reset the learning phase. You can make these changes safely at any time.

Kickbite also requires a tracking script on your order confirmation page. The tracking template alone is not enough to record conversions. If you haven't set this up yet, do so first with your Kickbite CSM before continuing.

Step 1: Identify the Kickbite Parameter for Each Campaign Type#

Kickbite uses a different channel code per campaign type. The full list is maintained by Kickbite here: URL Parameters for Google Ads.

At the time of writing, the default channel mix is:

• Search Brand: kb=ga_sb_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• Search Non-Brand: kb=ga_snb_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• Performance Max: kb=ga_pm_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• YouTube Paid: kb=ga_vd_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• Demand Gen: kb=ga_dg_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• Shopping Brand: kb=ga_shp_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• Shopping Non-Brand: kb=ga_shnb_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}
• Display: kb=ga_dis_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}

Always check Kickbite's latest documentation for the current list and any retargeting variants.

Step 2: Find Your ClickPatrol Tracking Template#

1. Log in to your ClickPatrol dashboard.
2. In the left sidebar, click Integration.
3. Click Tracker.
4. Copy your ClickPatrol tracking template.

Step 3: Build the Kickbite-Side Template for Each Campaign Type#

For each campaign type you run, construct the full Kickbite-side URL meaning your own UTM structure (if any) followed by the correct kb= parameter for that type.

If you're not using UTMs:

{lpurl}?kb=ga_sb_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}

If you're already using UTMs:

{lpurl}?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&kb=ga_sb_{campaignid}_{adgroupid}

Build one version for each campaign type you run (Search Brand, Search Non-Brand, PMax, etc.).

Step 4: Merge with ClickPatrol — One Merged Template Per Campaign Type#

For each Kickbite-side template you just built, create a merged version with ClickPatrol.

1. Go to clickpatrol.com/trackingtemplate.
2. Paste your ClickPatrol tracking template into Step 1.
3. Paste the Kickbite-side template for a specific campaign type into Step 2.
4. Click "Merge tracking templates."
5. Copy the result and save it, labeled by campaign type (e.g., "Merged — Search Brand").
6. Repeat for every campaign type.

You should end up with one merged template per campaign type.

Step 5: Check for Ad Group and Ad-Level Templates#

Templates at the ad group or ad level override any template set at the campaign level. If any exist, they must either be cleared or updated to include both Kickbite and ClickPatrol parameters — otherwise they will bypass both tools.

1. In Google Ads, add the "Tracking template source" column to your ad group and ad views (Columns → Modify columns → Attributes → Tracking template source).
2. For any ad group or ad showing its own template source, either clear that template or manually update it to match the merged template for its campaign type.

Step 6: Apply Merged Templates at the Campaign Level#

For each campaign:

1. Open the campaign in Google Ads.
2. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Campaign URL options.
3. Paste the merged template matching that campaign's type into the Tracking template field.
4. Click Test to verify it resolves correctly.
5. Click Save.

Kickbite's documentation also describes a bulk workflow for applying templates to multiple campaigns of the same type in one go — see their article for the step-by-step.

Step 7 (Recommended): Set ClickPatrol as an Account-Level Fallback#

Because ad > ad group > campaign > account, any campaign without a campaign-level template will fall back to the account-level template. Setting your ClickPatrol-only template at the account level ensures newly created campaigns are still protected by ClickPatrol before you get around to applying the correct merged template.

1. Click Admin → Account Settings → Tracking.
2. Paste your ClickPatrol template (not a merged one) into the Tracking template field.
3. Click Test, then Save.

Campaigns with a merged template continue using that; the rest fall back to ClickPatrol.

Step 8: Verify#

1. Make sure Auto-tagging is enabled on your account (required by Kickbite).
2. Go to your campaign view and add the "Tracking template source" column.
3. Campaigns running Kickbite should show "Campaign" as the source. Campaigns relying on the fallback should show "Account".
4. Spot-check a few campaigns: open their settings and confirm the merged template matches the campaign type (e.g., a PMax campaign should contain kb=ga_pm_, not kb=ga_sb_).
5. In Google Ads, use the Test button next to each tracking template to confirm the URL resolves correctly.

Things to Watch Out For#

• Always use the correct kb= code for each campaign type. Applying a Search Brand template to a PMax campaign will corrupt Kickbite's attribution.
• Check Kickbite's documentation periodically for new channel codes (especially retargeting variants like Demand Gen Retargeting and Display Retargeting).
• New campaigns do not automatically inherit the merged template. Manually apply the correct merged template for the campaign type. If you forget, the account-level ClickPatrol fallback still protects the campaign, but Kickbite attribution will be missing.
• Any ad group or ad-level template overrides the campaign-level template and may bypass both tools. Always check the "Tracking template source" column when troubleshooting.
• If the Test button in Google Ads returns an error, check that both templates were copied in full with no line breaks.