What is a click ID?
A click ID is a unique identifier that an ad platform adds to the landing page URL when someone clicks an ad. Saving it with a lead lets you report later outcomes, such as a sale, back to the exact click that started them.
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How click IDs work
Ad platforms add a parameter to your URL when someone clicks. Google Ads uses gclid when auto-tagging is on, Microsoft Advertising uses msclkid, and Meta adds fbclid to links clicked from its apps.
The ID is unique to that click. The platform can use it to match a conversion back to the ad, keyword, and campaign that drove it.
Why you should store it
Many leads become customers days or weeks after the click, often outside your website. If you capture the click ID in a hidden form field and store it with the lead, you can send the result back later.
That's the basis of offline conversion import. Without the ID, the platform has a harder time linking a sale to the ad.
Common problems
Redirects and form builders can strip URL parameters before the ID is saved. Test the full path from ad click to stored lead record, and check privacy rules that apply to the data you keep.
Common questions
What is a gclid?
A gclid is the Google Click Identifier, the click ID that Google Ads adds to landing page URLs when auto-tagging is on.
Is a click ID the same as a UTM parameter?
No. UTM parameters are labels you choose to describe a campaign. A click ID is a unique code added by the platform that points to one specific click.
How do I capture a click ID?
Read the parameter from the landing page URL, store it in a cookie or session, and write it into a hidden form field so it saves with the lead.
Do click IDs expire?
Platforms only accept them for a limited time after the click, and the window varies by platform. Check the current rules before planning a long sales cycle.
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