This guide shows you how to run Google Ads that send clicks to a RealScout Search Link, and how to track those clicks. There are two ways to do it depending on whether you just want traffic or you want Google Ads to optimize toward results. Pick the one that matches your goal.
Before you start
A published Search Link. If you don't have one yet, in RealScout go to Extras → Search Link and create a Quick Link or Advanced Link, then copy the URL.
A Google Ads account with a campaign (or the ability to create one).
For Method 2 only: the ability to add one HTML page to your own website.
First, understand the catch
Google Ads wants to install a conversion tracking tag (sometimes shown as a "tracking widget," "Google tag," or "pixel") on the page your ad points to. That tag is what tells Google which clicks turned into a real action, so it can find more people like your best visitors.
The problem: a Search Link lands on a page RealScout hosts, not a page you control. You can't paste Google's code into it. That's why the tag setup feels like a dead end.
The two methods below work around this. Method 1 skips tracking and keeps things simple. Method 2 adds a small page you host so Google gets a signal to optimize on.
Method 1: Traffic only (simplest)
Use this if you mainly want clicks to your search and you're comfortable measuring results inside RealScout and Google Analytics rather than inside Google Ads.
1. Add tracking parameters to your Search Link
Take the link you copied from RealScout and add UTM parameters to the end:
https://YOUR-REALSCOUT-SEARCH-LINK?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=YOUR_CAMPAIGN_NAME
Example:
https://link.realscout.com/abc123?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=luxury_pools_under_750k
2. Use it as your Final URL
In your Google Ads campaign, paste that full URL into the Final URL field for the ad.
3. Skip the conversion tag prompt
When Google prompts you to set up conversion tracking, you can proceed without it. Your ad will still run and collect clicks.
Verify it worked
Click your own ad (or the preview) and confirm it opens your RealScout search. In Google Analytics → Acquisition, you'll see the traffic show up as source/medium google / cpc.
What you get and don't get
You get: clicks, traffic, and RealScout's own lead count per Search Link.
You don't get: conversion data inside Google Ads, so Google can't automatically optimize toward people who sign up.
Method 2: With conversion tracking (bridge page)
Use this if you want Google Ads to optimize your spend toward better visitors. It requires hosting one small page on your own website.
How it works: Your ad points to a page on your site. That page fires the Google tag (which it's allowed to do, because you control it), then instantly forwards the visitor to your RealScout Search Link.
Ad click → Your bridge page (Google tag fires) → RealScout Search Link
1. Create your conversion action in Google Ads
Go to Goals → Conversions, create a new conversion action, and copy two things Google gives you:
Your tag ID (looks like
AW-XXXXXXXXX)Your Conversion ID / Label (the
send_tovalue, looks likeAW-XXXXXXXXX/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY)
2. Set up the bridge page
Create an HTML page with the Google tag in the <head>, a conversion event that fires on load, and a redirect to your Search Link. Replace three placeholders: your tag ID (appears twice), your Conversion ID / Label, and your RealScout Search Link. (Member Support can provide a ready-made template — see the bottom of this article.)
3. Host it on your own site
Upload the page somewhere you control, for example yoursite.com/search.
4. Use the bridge page URL as your Final URL
In Google Ads, set the Final URL to your bridge page (yoursite.com/search), not the RealScout link directly.
Verify it worked
Install Google's Tag Assistant browser extension, then visit your bridge page. Confirm the tag fires and that you're forwarded to your RealScout search. Conversion status in Google Ads can take up to 24–48 hours to update.
What this actually measures
Because the tag fires when the bridge page loads, the recorded "conversion" means "visitor reached the search" — not "visitor signed up." The real sign-up happens on RealScout's domain, which still can't be tagged. This is essentially a cleaner version of click tracking (it filters out people who bounce before the page loads) and gives Google something to optimize toward, but it is not true lead-capture tracking.
Which method should I use?
| Method 1: Traffic Only | Method 2: Bridge Page |
Setup effort | Paste a link | Host one HTML page |
Website needed? | No | Yes |
Google Ads optimization | No | Yes (toward "reached search") |
Tracks actual sign-ups? | No | No |
Best for | Quick campaigns, testing | Ongoing spend you want to optimize |
Neither method can track the actual RealScout sign-up, because that action happens on RealScout's hosted page. For most agents starting out, Method 1 is the practical choice.