Shopify is one of my favourite Ecommerce platforms, and for good reason. It’s super easy to use, and allows for all sorts of integrations.
After a store is launched on Shopify, digital marketing to drive sales is the perfect follow-on.
What is Google Shopping?
Most ecommerce merchants will be familiar with Search Ads, but some are still in the dark with Google Shopping Ads. These appear at the top of Google page 1, in the form of an image carousel.
An estimated 50% of all Ecommerce Google Ad spend has moved over from search (text) ads to Shopping ads.
How does Google Shopping work with Shopify?
The link between Shopify and Google Ads is via an intermediary Google service called Google Merchant Centre.
This platform takes a feed from Shopify, and lists all products with their attributes. Any errors are flagged to fix, most commonly a missing or incorrect attribute.
A Merchant Centre account will feed the product data directly into a Google Ads account, where Google Shopping Campaigns are created and optimised.
How to get started with Shopify & Google Shopping
Shopify makes it really easy for the store owner.
Go to admin > apps > visit shopify app store > search: “Google Shopping” > add app.
The setup will require you to either link your existing account, or will easily guide you though adding a new Google Merchant Centre and Ads account.
So I have my products listed in Merchant Centre. What next?
Ensure that Merchant Centre is linked to Google Ads. Go to the three dots at the top right of the page, then click “Account Linking”. You should see that your Google Ads account ID is linked, with a green tick beside it.
If not, just hit “Link Account”, put in your Google Ads ID (found on the top left of your Google Ads account dashboard).
Once the two are linked, head back over to Google Ads, and you’re ready to advertise!
Setting up a Google Shopping Campaign
- Add a new campaign, without guidance.
- Choose ‘Shopping’ as the campaign type.
- Choose your country – note that Shopify will allow you to advertise in one country only using their free app.
- Choose ‘Standard shopping campaign’
- Follow the guidance, choosing the settings that apply to you.
- Ad Group type is ‘Product Shopping’
- Subdivide the product groups according to category, then ID.