Setting up and optimizing a LinkedIn ad account can be a complex process, with many factors to consider in order to achieve your marketing goals. One key setting is the currency used for your ads. So an important question is, can you change the currency on a LinkedIn ad account after it has been created? Let’s explore the options.
LinkedIn Ad Account Currency Settings
When you first create a LinkedIn ad account, you are prompted to select the currency to be used. This sets the currency for tracking costs, making payments, and displaying bid amounts. The available currency options will depend on your selected target country.
For example, if you choose United States as your target country, the currency options would be:
- US Dollar
- Canadian Dollar
- Euro
- British Pound
- Australian Dollar
The currency you choose when first setting up the account will be the default for that LinkedIn ad account moving forward. All your costs, payments, bid amounts, and reporting will be tracked and displayed using that currency.
Can You Change LinkedIn Ad Account Currency?
So what if you realize later on that you want or need to change the currency on your LinkedIn ad account? Is there a way to update the currency after the account has already been established?
The short answer is no. Unlike some other settings, LinkedIn does not provide an option to change the currency once the ad account has been created. The currency is a fixed setting that cannot be altered later.
This is clearly stated in LinkedIn’s help documentation on currencies: “You won’t be able to change the currency once you’ve selected it.”
So when you first create your LinkedIn ad account, carefully consider which currency makes the most sense for your business and marketing objectives. The currency you choose will be permanently tied to that ad account going forward.
Workarounds for LinkedIn Ad Account Currency
While you cannot directly change the currency on an existing LinkedIn ad account, there are some workarounds that may help if you need to use a different currency down the road:
Create a New Ad Account
The simplest option is to create a brand new ad account with LinkedIn and select your preferred currency this time. You can then set up new campaigns and ads under the new account. The downside is you will be starting over with a blank slate for your LinkedIn advertising.
Use Currency Conversion
If you need to track performance or spend in a different currency, you can apply currency conversion to your existing reporting. For example, you can view USD costs converted to Euros or vice versa. The conversion rates applied may not always perfectly reflect the real exchange rates. But this approach can provide an estimate to understand performance in different currencies.
Segment Reporting by Geography
Another option is to break down your reporting and optimization by geography, such as country or region. For example, you could look at your UK performance separately from the US. This allows managing and optimizing based on local currencies, even if the ad account is restricted to one currency across everything.
Use Multiple Ad Accounts
Advertisers with the resources and need to manage multiple currencies could choose to run distinct ad accounts targeting different countries. For example, one account with USD for the US and another with Euros for Europe. This provides full local control and optimization, but requires managing separate accounts.
Key Considerations When Selecting Currency
Since the ad account currency is a fixed setting, it’s important to carefully consider which currency to use when first creating your LinkedIn ads. Here are some key factors to think about:
Markets You Are Targeting
Look at where your target audiences and markets are located when selecting a currency. If you are primarily marketing to the US, then USD likely makes the most sense. Targeting the UK and Europe? Go with the British Pound or Euro. Matching the currency to your target locations can simplify tracking and optimization.
Regions You Will Expand To
Consider potential future expansion plans as well when choosing your currency. If you may want to extend your LinkedIn ads into other countries across Europe down the road, having Euros set up from the start provides that flexibility. But if you plan to stay US-focused, USD is likely the best fit long-term.
Internal Reporting Needs
You’ll also want to think about your internal needs for tracking marketing costs and performance. Are foreign currency conversions required for your local management and stakeholders? If so, you may want to select a currency that fits internal reporting needs, even if it differs from your ad targeting locations.
Payment and Billing Factors
Of course, the currency you select also determines how you will be billed by LinkedIn for your advertising. So you’ll need to choose a currency that works with your business’s payment and accounting processes. If you can only pay international vendors in certain currencies, this may limit which currency option will work best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t LinkedIn ad currency be changed after account creation?
LinkedIn designed their ad accounts system this way likely to simplify setup and ongoing management. By locking in the currency, it prevents inconsistencies and confusion in tracking costs and performance over time. Having the currency fluctuate would require constant adjustments.
What happens if I pay my LinkedIn ad account bill in a different currency?
Even if you submit payment in a currency that differs from your ad account’s set currency, LinkedIn will automatically convert the payment to match the expected currency. So there’s no way around the fixed currency limitation through payment methods.
Can I pause an ad account and switch currencies when starting again?
Pausing or stopping ads in an account temporarily does not reset the currency or allow you to change it when restarting. The currency will remain fixed regardless of ad account status.
Is currency selection permanent for a LinkedIn Business Manager account?
The currency limitation applies on a per ad account basis. You can have multiple ad accounts under a single Business Manager, each with different currencies if targeting different countries.
Can I duplicate an existing ad account with a new currency?
Unfortunately LinkedIn does not allow duplicating or copying existing ad accounts. So you cannot easily create a new ad account to replicate an existing one just to change the currency. You would need to manually rebuild the new account’s structure.
Conclusion
In summary, the currency used for your LinkedIn ads is a fixed setting that cannot be changed later. You must carefully choose the right currency when first creating your ad account with your target markets, internal needs, and payment options in mind. If you later find you need to manage or report in a different currency, workaround options include geographic segmentation, separate ad accounts, or currency conversion, but there is no way to directly change currencies on an existing ad account.
