In addition to data from platform-specific data sources, an extra layer of information can be added through Google sheets using the Google sheets connector. This allows you to include additional or missing ad images/thumbnails, custom image dimensions, ad headlines, ad descriptions, ad final URLs, and lifetime impressions for specific assets.
1. How to create a Google sheet with additional images and meta information
1. Make a copy of this template.
2. You now have a sample file:
The required join key is ad_id, a unique identifier for ads across platforms. Multiple rows may share the same ad_id if a single ad contains multiple images, headlines, or other elements, as the data is nested.
Advanced feature: For DV360, the placement_id from Campaign manager can also be used as a join key. This placement_id is located in column A, which is hidden by default.
3. Replace the sampled data with actual data.
You can do this in one of the following ways:
Method 1: Pulling ad data using Supermetrics
Supermetrics is a powerful third party data integration tool designed to help digital marketers and analysts streamline their data collection and reporting processes. It allows users to pull data from various marketing platforms and data sources into tools like Google sheets, Google data studio, Excel, and other data visualisation and analysis platforms.
Set up your query: Use Supermetrics for sheets to pull ad data from the desired platforms, e.g. Facebook Ads, TikTok, DV360. In the Supermetrics sidebar, select the appropriate data source, connect your account, and configure your query to include key dimensions like
ad_id,campaign_name,ad_name, and any other relevant fields.Avoid date segmentation: Instead of pulling data segmented by dates, which could result in duplicated rows, set your query to retrieve a fixed number of the most recent rows, e.g. the last 400 days. This ensures you capture the latest data without overlap.
Run the query: Execute the query to pull the data directly into your Google sheet.
Method 2: Gathering missing images and meta information
Identify missing data: Review the pulled data to identify any missing images or meta information. These gaps might occur, particularly with formats like Facebook DPA, TikTok, or DV360 campaigns.
Fetch missing images: Use the
ad_idto cross-reference with an external source file or image repository. You can manually or programmatically (using additional Supermetrics queries if needed) fetch the missingimage_urlsand other creative assets.Populate custom fields: If your campaign uses custom dimensions or other meta fields (e.g., image sizes, preview links, headlines), ensure these are populated. You can either pull this data using Supermetrics from another data source or manually enter it into the relevant columns.
Here are some examples:
Scenario 1: Add missing DPA (Dynamic Product Ads) from Facebook
For DPA on Facebook, images are often not automatically pulled into the existing Creative insights report. To address this, set up a Google sheets connector that allows you to join these missing images by matching the ad_id from the Creative insights report with an external data source containing the missing images.
Note: You can configure your Supermetrics query to filter specifically for campaigns or ad groups that are missing images. This targeted approach will enable you to focus on and resolve gaps in your reporting more efficiently. Once the missing images are identified and joined into the report via the Google sheet connector, all DPAs will be fully visualized, allowing for comprehensive performance analysis across the entire campaign.
Scenario 2: Cross-platform reporting for TikTok
In cases where images are not automatically included for TikTok campaigns, use the Google sheets connector to integrate these missing images into your existing Creative insights report.
Begin by using Supermetrics for sheets to pull relevant ad data, focusing on key dimensions such as ad_id and campaign_name. Then, use the Google sheets connector to join any missing images from an external source, ensuring that all creative assets are accounted for in your report. This will help you to evaluate the effectiveness of creative assets across TikTok and make data-driven decisions on ad optimization and creative strategy.
Scenario 3: Handling missing images for DV360:
For DV360 campaigns (excluding YouTube), images are not automatically included in the Creative insights report, and a Supermetrics query alone will not suffice to retrieve them. To manage this:
Upload mages to Google Drive: Manually collect the missing images and upload them to a Google Drive folder. Ensure each image is named or tagged with the corresponding
ad_idto facilitate accurate matching.Set Uup the Google sheets connector: Use the Google sheets connector to link the
ad_idfrom your Creative insights report with the Google Drive folder containing the images. This allows you to join the uploaded images with the appropriate ads in your report.Integrate and review: Once the images are linked, review the Creative insights report to ensure that all ads from DV360 are properly visualized. This setup enables a complete and detailed performance analysis, helping you make informed decisions on your DV360 campaigns.
2. How to add a Google sheet with additional image and meta information to the Creative insights report
To add a created Google sheet to the Creative insights report, follow these steps:
Connect a new data source with a Google sheet type to Alvie, as explained in the documentation. Make sure to select Google sheets as the data source and choose your newly created 'Creative insights join' Google sheet file.
Navigate to Data & reporting → Reporting solutions and select the Creative insights report. In Step 2, choose Google sheet as the data source. You will now see your newly added Google sheet file in the dropdown list and can easily select it.
If you already have a Creative insights report created, you can also add a Google sheet file to it.
Ensure that you follow these steps to seamlessly integrate your Google sheet with missing or additional images or meta information into the Creative insights report.