LinkedIn Ads to Looker Studio: setup guide

Looker Studio is a powerful free tool to visualize and analyze your marketing performance.
However, it doesn’t include a native connector for LinkedIn Ads, meaning you’ll need an external solution to sync your campaign data. If you want to track impressions, clicks, spend, conversions, and engagement directly from LinkedIn Ads in Looker Studio, there are two ways to do it:

1. Automatically with a partner connector such as Catchr.
2. Manually using Google Sheets (via CSV export).

Why connect your LinkedIn Ads data to Looker Studio

Connecting LinkedIn Ads to Looker Studio gives you a single, unified view of your paid performance, so you can analyze metrics and share insights with your team or clients effortlessly.

With Looker Studio, you can:

• Combine LinkedIn Ads with other platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or GA4 for complete cross-channel insights.
• Automate your reporting and eliminate manual exports.
• Customize dashboards to monitor impressions, clicks, CPC, spend, and leads by campaign or audience.
• Share live dashboards with your team or clients instead of sending static reports.

In short, connecting LinkedIn Ads to Looker Studio transforms disconnected campaign data into actionable, always up-to-date insights.

Method 1: Automatically connect LinkedIn Ads to Looker Studio with Catchr

For most marketers and agencies, the LinkedIn Ads Catchr connector is the simplest and most scalable way to integrate LinkedIn Ads in Looker Studio.

How it works

Catchr connects directly to the LinkedIn Marketing API, automatically pulling your campaign performance data into Looker Studio. Your reports update daily, ensuring your dashboards always display accurate and fresh data without manual work.

Steps

1. Create a new data source on Looker Studio
   • Go to the Looker Studio homepage.
   • Click on Create → Data source.

2. Search for LinkedIn Ads
   • In the search bar, type LinkedIn Ads.
   • From the list, select a certified connector such as Catchr.

3. Authorize your Catchr and LinkedIn Ads accounts in Looker Studio
   • Click Authorize to link your Catchr account with Looker Studio.
   • Then, authorize again to sign in to LinkedIn Ads and allow access to your ad accounts.

4. Choose your ad account(s)
   • Select one or multiple ad accounts to include in your report.
   • (Optional) Start from a prebuilt Looker Studio template to save time.

5. Click Create report
   • Click Create Report to finish the setup.
   • Your LinkedIn Ads data, including impressions, clicks, spend, and ROAS, will automatically load into Looker Studio and refresh daily.

Common Use Cases

Connecting your LinkedIn Ads data to Looker Studio helps you transform campaign results into clear, actionable insights. Whether you manage ads for your own business or multiple clients, this connection simplifies performance tracking and reporting.

• Freelancers centralize multiple clients’ ad accounts into one dashboard to monitor performance in real time.
• Agencies build automated, white-labeled dashboards using connectors like Catchr to share accurate, always up-to-date reports with clients.
• Marketing teams automate weekly performance reports, focusing on key metrics such as spend, clicks, conversions, and CTR without manual exports.

To help you get started faster, Catchr offers ready-to-use Looker Studio templates for LinkedIn Ads

LinkedIn Ads Global overview dashboard template

Get a complete view of your LinkedIn Ads KPIs, impressions, clicks, spend, CTR, and conversions, with the LinkedIn Ads Global Overview Dashboard.

LinkedIn Ads Lead insights dashboard template

Analyze the quality and volume of your leads by campaign or audience using the LinkedIn Ads Lead Performance Dashboard.

LinkedIn Ads Budget dashboard template

Track spend, pacing, and ROI over time with the LinkedIn Ads Budget Dashboard to quickly spot overspending or optimize your campaign budgets.

Method 2: Connect LinkedIn Ads to Looker Studio using Google Sheets

If you prefer a free alternative, you can export your LinkedIn Ads data manually into Google Sheets and then connect it to Looker Studio.

How it works

From LinkedIn Campaign Manager, export your campaign data as a CSV file. Then import it into Google Sheets, where you can organize and clean the data. Next, connect your spreadsheet to Looker Studio using the Google Sheets connector.

⚠️ This method does not refresh automatically. You’ll need to repeat the export/import process regularly if you want up-to-date results.

Steps

1. Export your data from LinkedIn Campaign Manager and import it to Google Sheets
   • Go to LinkedIn Campaign Manager.
   • Open the Advertise tab and select the campaign you want to export.
   • Click on Export and choose your preferred report type.
   • Import the CSV file into Google Sheets.

2. Create a new data source on Looker Studio
   • Go to Looker Studio.
   • Click on Create → Data source.

3. Search for Google Sheets connector and authorize the connection
   • In the search bar, type Google Sheets.
   • Click on the native Google Sheets connector.
   • Click Authorize to link your Looker Studio and Google Sheets accounts.

4. Choose your spreadsheet and worksheet
   • Select the spreadsheet containing your LinkedIn Ads export.
   • Choose the worksheet you want to use and click Connect.

5. Create your report
   • Click on Create Report to finalize your setup.
   • You can now explore your LinkedIn Ads data, add charts, and build your visualizations.

Which method to use?

If you manage multiple ad accounts or need dashboards that stay up to date automatically, the Catchr connector is the best option. For occasional reports or testing, Google Sheets can work perfectly fine.

FAQ: LinkedIn Ads and Looker Studio

Can I connect multiple LinkedIn Ads accounts?

‍Yes. Catchr supports multiple LinkedIn Ads accounts within a single Looker Studio report.

Are LinkedIn Ads data updates automatic?

‍Yes. Catchr refreshes data daily, so your reports always stay up to date.

Can I combine LinkedIn Ads with other platforms?

‍Absolutely. You can blend your LinkedIn Ads data with Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or GA4 for complete cross-channel insights.

What data can I access from LinkedIn Ads?

‍You can pull campaign-level metrics like impressions, clicks, spend, leads, CTR, CPC, and conversions. You can also include breakdowns by campaign, audience, or ad creative. Find all the LinkedIn Ads available fields on Catchr's documentation.

Is the Catchr LinkedIn Ads connector free?

‍Catchr offers a free trial to connect LinkedIn Ads to Looker Studio. After that, a paid plan is required for automatic data refresh and advanced automation.

Making LinkedIn Ads work with Looker Studio

Connecting your LinkedIn Ads data to Looker Studio lets you analyze performance more clearly, automate reporting, and share results with your team or clients in real time. Whether you use Catchr for automation or Google Sheets for a one-off report, you’ll save hours and gain deeper insight into your LinkedIn ad performance.