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Google Campaign Manager API Essential Guide

Aug 3, 20246 minute read

What type of API does Google Campaign Manager provide?

Type of API

  • Google Campaign Manager 360 uses a REST API.

Key Details

  • It is described as a "language-neutral REST API" that offers programmatic access to reporting and other Campaign Manager 360 functionality.

  • The API allows building applications to manage trafficking, reporting, and attribution workflows for Campaign Manager 360.

  • It provides access to various resources like accounts, ads, campaigns, reports, etc. through REST endpoints.

API Features

  • Enables automating recurring processes and integrating Campaign Manager 360 with third-party systems.

  • Allows uploading and editing conversions.

  • Provides programmatic access to reporting data.

  • Supports various authentication methods including OAuth.

API Access

  • API access is enabled for each Campaign Manager 360 account.

  • There is no additional charge to access the API.

  • It doesn't offer additional features beyond automating tasks available in the user interface.

Best Practices

  • Software developers are likely needed to work with the API to create applications.

  • Support information and developer resources are available on the Campaign Manager 360 developer site and forum.

In summary, Google Campaign Manager 360 uses a REST API architecture, providing programmatic access to its functionality through language-neutral REST endpoints.

Does the Google Campaign Manager API have webhooks?

Based on the search results provided, there is no specific information about webhooks or event subscriptions for the official Google Campaign Manager API. The search results do not contain details about webhook functionality for Campaign Manager.

The key points to consider are:

  1. The search results primarily focus on the REST API endpoints and resources available for Campaign Manager, but do not mention webhooks.

  2. There is information about a generic Webhook connector for Google Cloud Integration, but this is not specific to Campaign Manager.

  3. The search results do not provide any details about event types or subscriptions specifically for Campaign Manager.

  4. One search result mentions integrating Campaign Manager and Webhooks data using a third-party tool (Stitch), but does not indicate native webhook support in the Campaign Manager API itself.

Given the lack of specific information about webhooks in the official Campaign Manager API documentation, it appears that the API may not have native webhook support. To get a definitive answer, it is recommended to:

  1. Check the latest official Google Campaign Manager API documentation directly.
  2. Contact Google support or post on their developer forums for clarification.
  3. Explore if there are any third-party solutions or workarounds to implement webhook-like functionality with Campaign Manager, if needed for your use case.

If webhook functionality is crucial for your implementation, you may need to consider alternative approaches or third-party tools that can provide this capability when working with Campaign Manager data.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Here are the key API rate limits for the Google Campaign Manager API:

Daily Request Limit

  • 50,000 requests per project per day
  • This limit can be increased if needed

Per-Second Rate Limit

  • 1 query per second (QPS) per project by default
  • This is referred to as "Queries per minute per user" in the Google API Console and is set to 60 by default
  • Can be increased up to a maximum of 600 (10 QPS)

Error Codes

If you exceed the quota limits, you may receive the following error codes:

  • 403 dailyLimitExceeded - Daily limit exceeded
  • 403 quotaExceeded - Various quota exceeded errors for reports, scheduled reports, etc.
  • 403 userRateLimitExceeded - Per-user rate limit exceeded

Key Points

  • The daily limit is shared across all Campaign Manager API resources and methods
  • Additional quota limits may apply for specific features like Report Builder
  • You can request additional daily quota if needed by following the instructions in the documentation
  • To avoid hitting rate limits, implement exponential backoff and avoid making concurrent write requests

Best Practices

  • Monitor your usage in the Google API Console
  • Implement proper error handling and retries with exponential backoff
  • Spread out requests over time rather than sending in bursts
  • Request quota increases proactively if you anticipate higher usage

The API does not provide a way to programmatically check current usage or remaining quota. Implementing proper error handling and backoff is the recommended approach to stay within limits.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points regarding the most recent version of the Google Campaign Manager API:

Current Version

The most recent version of the Google Campaign Manager API is v4 [1]. This can be seen from the REST resource listings in the search results, which all begin with "v4".

Key Points

  1. The API is officially called the "Campaign Manager 360 API" [1].

  2. It is a REST API that provides programmatic access to Campaign Manager 360 functionality [4].

  3. The API allows developers to build applications to manage trafficking, reporting, and attribution workflows for Campaign Manager 360 [1].

API Features

The API provides access to various resources, including:

  • Account management (accounts, user profiles, permissions)
  • Advertising entities (advertisers, campaigns, ads, creatives)
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Trafficking tools (placements, targeting)
  • Conversion tracking (Floodlight activities)

Recent Updates

While the search results don't explicitly mention a new version release, they do highlight some recent updates and upcoming features:

  1. In March 2024, conversion domains bulk edit became available via SDF and API [5].

  2. Google Analytics 4 and Campaign Manager 360 integration via Floodlight was introduced in July 2023 [5].

  3. Transparent click tracking tags for Google Ads were added in September 2023 [5].

  4. API read permission enforcement was implemented in April 2022 [5].

Best Practices

  1. Developers should refer to the official Campaign Manager 360 API documentation for the most up-to-date information on endpoints and features [1].

  2. When using the API, ensure that you have the necessary permissions, especially for read operations [5].

  3. Stay informed about upcoming changes and new features by regularly checking the release notes and announcements [2][5].

In conclusion, while the search results don't explicitly state a new version release beyond v4, they indicate that the API is actively maintained and updated with new features and improvements.

How to get a Google Campaign Manager developer account and API Keys?

Here's how to get a developer account for Google Campaign Manager to create an API integration:

Key Steps

  1. Create a Google Ads account if you don't already have one.

  2. Enable API access for your Campaign Manager 360 account:

    • API access is enabled per Campaign Manager 360 account
    • Contact your account team or Campaign Manager 360 support to request API access if not already enabled
  3. Set up a Google Cloud project:

    • Go to the Google API Console
    • Create a new project or select an existing one
    • Enable the Campaign Manager 360 API for your project
  4. Set up OAuth 2.0 credentials:

    • In the Google API Console, go to Credentials
    • Create OAuth client ID credentials
    • Select Desktop app as the application type
    • Download the client ID and client secret
  5. Request a developer token:

    • Go to Google Ads UI > Tools & Settings > Setup > API Center
    • Request a developer token for your manager account
  6. Install a client library for your preferred programming language

Key Considerations

  • You must have a Campaign Manager 360 account with API access enabled
  • Your user profile must have appropriate permissions in Campaign Manager 360
  • The developer token must be approved before using with production accounts
  • Consider creating test accounts to experiment with the API before approval
  • Familiarize yourself with the API documentation and best practices

Summary

To get started with the Campaign Manager 360 API:

  1. Ensure you have a Campaign Manager 360 account with API access
  2. Set up a Google Cloud project and enable the API
  3. Create OAuth 2.0 credentials
  4. Request a developer token
  5. Install a client library
  6. Start making API requests using the credentials and token

Following these steps will allow you to create an API integration with Google Campaign Manager. Be sure to review the full documentation for more details on authentication, available endpoints, and best practices for using the API.

What can you do with the Google Campaign Manager API?

Based on the search results provided, here are the key data models you can interact with using the Google Campaign Manager API, along with what is possible for each:

Campaigns

  • Create, update, and manage advertising campaigns
  • Set campaign parameters like start/end dates, budget, etc.
  • Associate campaigns with advertisers and other entities

Ad Groups

  • Create and manage ad groups within campaigns
  • Set ad group level targeting and parameters
  • Associate creatives and placements with ad groups

Placements

  • Create and manage ad placements
  • Set placement targeting and parameters
  • Associate placements with campaigns and ad groups
  • Register conversion domains for placements (up to 3 per placement)

Creatives

  • Upload and manage creative assets
  • Associate creatives with campaigns and placements
  • Validate creative assets (e.g. size limits)

Floodlight Activities

  • Create and manage Floodlight conversion tracking tags
  • Configure attribution models for Floodlight activities
  • Associate Floodlight activities with advertisers

Attribution Models

  • Create and edit data-driven attribution models
  • Share attribution models with other tools like Ads Data Hub

Reporting

  • Generate various types of reports on campaign performance, conversions, etc.
  • Access reporting data via API
  • Note that some multi-channel funnel reports are being deprecated in 2024

Advertisers

  • Manage advertiser accounts and settings
  • Associate campaigns, placements, etc. with advertisers

User Management

  • Manage user access and permissions for the API

Trafficking Workflow

  • Automate trafficking tasks via API
  • Bulk edit capabilities for various entities

Data Transfer

  • Access raw event-level data for advanced analysis
  • Note that some user ID fields are being redacted for privacy reasons

The API allows for comprehensive programmatic management of Campaign Manager 360 entities and data, enabling automation of complex workflows and integration with other systems. However, the specific capabilities may evolve over time as Google updates the platform.