How to Set Up Conversions for Bonsai's Buying Algorithms
This guide walks through how to configure conversions or pixel and campaign structure to enable Bonsai’s buying algorithms using a controlled test vs. control framework.
The goal is to:
Introduce a Bonsai-optimized purchase conversion or pixel
Isolate algorithm performance in test markets
Prevent incremental spend during the testing period
Grant Access to Bonsai
Add your Bonsai Activation Lead to your Google Ads account with standard or admin permissions.
This allows Bonsai to create and configure the required conversion actions.
Bonsai Creates the PCV Conversion
Bonsai will:
Create a new conversion action (example:
bds_pcv_conversion)Configure it as a Purchase conversion and set it as a Secondary conversion
This ensures:
Your existing optimization remains unchanged
Bonsai can measure and optimize independently during testing
Duplicate Existing Campaigns for the Test
Duplicate the campaigns that will participate in the test based on the test design doc created by your Bonsai Activation Lead.
Use naming convention "{existing_campaign_name} - Bonsai Trial” for duplicated campaigns.
Pause Test Campaigns (Temporarily)
After duplication:
Leave the new Bonsai Trial campaigns paused
Final activation happens after market targeting is complete
Assign Test Markets (DMAs) to Trial Campaigns
Apply geo-targeting so only the selected test DMAs based on the test design doc created by your Activation Lead receive spend from the Bonsai Trial campaigns.
Exclude Test Markets from Control Campaigns
In your original (control) campaigns:
Add the same DMAs as negative targets
This ensures:
No overlap between test and control
Clean incrementality measurement
Set Budgets on Test Campaigns
Activate Bonsai Trial campaigns using the recommended daily budgets based on the test design doc created by your Activation Lead.
Guidelines:
Bonsai uses historical market spend as the baseline
Reduce Control Campaign Budgets
To prevent incremental spend:
Reduce control campaign daily budgets by the exact amount allocated to test campaigns.
This keeps:
Total spend = flat during the test period.
Launch Checklist
Before going live:
What Happens Next
Once live, Bonsai will:
Optimize bidding using the Bonsai's buying algorithm
Measure performance in test vs. control markets
Quantify true incremental lift and efficiency gains
Best Practices
Avoid changing creatives or targeting mid-test
Let tests run a minimum of 4 weeks (volume dependent)
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