Can Bing Ads track conversions from YouTube ads or other external sources?

Bing Ads (Microsoft Advertising) cannot directly track conversions from YouTube ads or other external ad platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or LinkedIn. However, you can still attribute and analyze those conversions within Bing Ads indirectly by using a few workarounds.

🚫 Why Bing Ads Can't Natively Track YouTube Ads
YouTube is owned by Google, and its ad platform is separate from Microsoft Advertising.

Bing Ads' UET (Universal Event Tracking) tag only tracks conversions related to Microsoft Ads traffic (e.g., clicks and impressions on Bing or Microsoft-owned properties).

✅ Workarounds to Attribute External Source Conversions
1. Use UTM Parameters for Cross-Platform Attribution
If you're sending traffic to the same site from YouTube ads, you can:

Add UTM tracking parameters to YouTube ad URLs.

On your site, use analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to monitor conversions and differentiate traffic sources.

💡 This won't show up in Bing Ads, but it will give you attribution clarity.

2. Import Offline Conversions into Bing Ads
If a lead from YouTube or another source ends up converting later through a Bing ad (e.g., clicks your retargeting ad on Bing):

Capture that lead in your CRM.

Match it to the Bing click ID (msclkid).

Use offline conversion imports in Bing Ads to log that conversion.

🧠 This connects external sources to Bing's reporting when there's a Bing touchpoint involved.

3. Track Post-View or Retargeted Conversions
If someone watches a YouTube ad, visits your site, then later sees a Bing ad and converts:

Bing Ads can count that as a conversion (including view-through or cross-device, depending on settings).

This only works if the user interacts with your Microsoft Ads before converting.

📊 Pro Tip: Use a Unified Attribution Tool
If you're heavily advertising across multiple platforms (YouTube, Bing, Meta, etc.), consider:

Google Analytics 4

Adobe Analytics

Attribution tools like Hyros, Wicked Reports, or Segment

These tools provide cross-channel attribution that complements Bing Ads' native tracking.

🔁 Summary
| Can Bing Ads track YouTube ad conversions directly? | ❌ No | | Can you track cross-platform conversions involving Bing Ads? | ✅ Yes, via offline import or retargeting | | Should you use UTM tracking for external ad sources? | ✅ Absolutely | | Best way to unify tracking? | 🔧 Use GA4, a CRM, or third-party attribution tools |