Shopping campaigns help you promote your products by giving users detailed information about what you’re selling before they even click your ad. Using retail-centric reporting tools, you’ll then be able to track the performance of your products over time. Want to showcase your products to a wider audience and boost your online sales? Google Shopping campaigns are your answer! These powerful ads display detailed product information directly in search results, enticing customers to click and buy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up a Google Shopping campaign in Google Ads. Get ready to transform your product feed into captivating ads that drive results and maximize ROI for your e-commerce business.
What Are Google Shopping Ads and How Do They Work?
Google Shopping Ads are a type of paid advertisement that appears on Google Search results and Google Shopping, showcasing your products with images, prices, and store names. Unlike traditional text ads, these ads are visually rich, allowing potential customers to see what you’re offering before they click. When users search for specific products, Google displays these ads based on product data you provide, such as titles, prices, and images. Advertisers bid on keywords relevant to their products, and Google uses this bid, along with the quality of your product data, to determine ad placement. This format helps businesses attract high-intent shoppers who are actively searching to buy.
Pre-setup: What to do before you create Google Shopping ads
Before you launch your Shopping ads on Google, you need to do three things:
- Sign up for a Merchant Center account
If you want to get started with Google Shopping advertising, you must sign up for a Merchant Center account. You’ll use this account to add your products and launch your shopping ads. You can sign up for an account through Google. - Create a shopping feed with your products
Once you create your Merchant Center account, you need to create a shopping feed with your products. Google will use this shopping feed to display your products in the paid listings. You’ll need to fill out a spreadsheet for Google that contains, at a bare minimum, the following information:- Product ID
- Product Title
- Link to product
- Image link
- Price
You can find more information on setting up your shopping feed through Google Merchant Center Help.
- Link your Google Ads account with your Merchant Center account
The last step you must complete before you start creating Google Shopping ads is linking your Google Ads account to your Merchant Center account. You can link these two by going into your Merchant Center account and following these steps:- Click the Tools icon
- Go to Settings
- Click Linked accounts
- Select Google Ads
- Click Link accounts
- Enter your Google Ads customer ID
- Send link request
By connecting these two accounts, you can then create and launch Google Shopping ads for your business.
Creating Google Shopping ads: How to set up your ads
Now that you’ve set up everything you need to launch your ads, let’s move on to how to create Google Shopping ads.
Create a new Shopping campaign
The first step you’ll take to create Shopping ads on Google is to create a new campaign. You can set up a campaign by following these steps:
- Sign in to your Google Ads account
- Click Campaigns
- Click the plus button and click New Campaign
- Select Shopping for the campaign type
- Click Next
- Set your campaign name
Once you create your campaign, you can set your campaign name. You’ll want to choose a campaign name that’s descriptive and stands out to you, so you can quickly identify it. Using a name like “Ad 1” doesn’t describe the ad and could make it challenging to identify, especially if you’re running multiple ads.
Choose your Merchant Center account
Once you create your campaign, you’ll choose the Merchant Center account that has the products you want to advertise. Since your Merchant Center account is already linked, you can select the account that’s linked.
Note: Once you choose your Merchant, you can’t change it after creating your campaign.
Set your country of sale
When you set up your Google Shopping ads campaign, you’ll also need to set your country of sale. You must set up the country where you’re selling your product, as well as the countries that will buy your products. If you sell internationally, you’ll want to include every country you sell to in this section. Setting up this information ensures that your ads only appear in searches for people in relevant countries.
Decide if you want to use an inventory filter
Next, you’ll want to decide if you want to use an inventory filter for your Google Shopping ads. You only use an inventory filter if you need to limit the number of products used in your campaigns. With this filter, you can set criteria that the products must meet to appear in your ads. With this filter, you ensure that only certain products that meet your requirements can show up for your ads. So, for example, if you only want to advertise your bridal dresses, you could set up filters to ensure that your tuxedos and shoes don’t show up in ads.
Set up your bidding
When you learn how to create Google Shopping ads, you understand that bidding is a critical component of your ad strategy. You must determine what type of bidding you want to use. Google Shopping ads have multiple bidding options, including:
- Cost per click (CPC)
- Cost per thousand viewable impressions (vCPM)
- Cost per thousand impressions (CPM)
In most cases, you’ll use the CPC bidding option, but if you want to build brand awareness, you can use one of the bidding methods based on impressions.
Determine your budget
Next, you’ll need to determine how much you’re willing to spend on your campaigns each day. Set a daily budget that works best for your business and your advertising goals. Your budget will determine how many clicks and leads you can obtain for your business. You must ensure you have a substantial budget, so you can get the most from your ads. There’s no set amount you have to spend, but you’ll want to ensure you choose an amount that simultaneously works for your business and drives results.
Determine what networks you want your ads to appear on
When you create Google Shopping ads, you must determine where you want your ads to appear. These ads can appear on:
- The Google Search Network
- Google Search Partner sites
- The Display Network
You can uncheck any boxes for places you want to exclude. For example, if you only want your ads to appear when users search, you can uncheck Google Search Partner sites and Display Network as options.
Determine which devices can show your ads
When you launch Shopping ads on Google, your ads can appear on all devices, including tablets, smartphones, and desktops. However, if you feel you don’t want your ads to show on a specific device, you can change the settings to limit where your ads appear. Typically, you’ll show your ads on all devices so you can reach people most interested in your business.
Set your locations
The last step you’ll need to follow in this guide on creating Google Shopping ads is to set your location. You can set up your ads so they only appear in search results for customers located in areas you service. For example, if you sell products in the Northeast, you can set up your ads so they only appear for people in the Northeastern states. Setting up your location specifics can help eliminate ad waste from people clicking on your ads in an area you don’t service. This targeted approach can significantly increase online sales. Once you set your location, you can click save and launch your ad!
Advantages of Google Shopping Ads
Google Shopping Ads offer several distinct advantages for businesses looking to enhance their online presence and drive more sales:
- Visual Appeal: These ads display product images, making them more engaging and attractive compared to traditional text ads.
- Higher Intent: Users searching for specific products are more likely to be ready to purchase, leading to higher conversion rates and boosting e-commerce sales.
- Detailed Product Information: Ads include essential details like prices, store names, and other relevant information, helping customers make informed decisions quickly.
- Broader Reach: Google Shopping Ads appear in both Google Search results and the Google Shopping tab, increasing your products’ visibility and driving e-commerce traffic.
- Improved Ad Performance: With targeted product listings and optimized ad placement, businesses often see better returns on investment. Utilizing Google Shopping ad optimization can further enhance performance and maximize ROI.
Stay Updated with Evolving Campaign Types and Updates
Google Ads is always evolving, introducing exciting new campaign types and dashboard updates. Staying on top of these changes is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in your advertising efforts.
Key Changes:
- Revolutionary Campaign Types: Google keeps things fresh with cutting-edge options like Performance Max and advanced local campaigns. These new campaign types can supercharge your ad performance, reaching audiences in more dynamic ways than ever before.
- Dashboard Innovations: Say goodbye to the old and hello to the new! Regular updates to the Google Ads dashboard bring a wealth of innovative features and tools. These enhancements make managing and optimizing your campaigns a breeze, ensuring you’re always a step ahead.
- Enhanced Targeting: With every update, Google Ads improves its targeting capabilities, allowing for more precise and effective ad delivery. This means better results and higher ROI for your campaigns.
To ensure your campaigns stay ahead, keep an eye on the latest trends and updates shared by Magic Clickz, the best Google Ads agency. Our expertise and timely insights help you navigate these changes smoothly, optimizing your strategies for the best results.
Ready to boost your online presence and drive more sales with Google Shopping Ads? At Magic Clickz, the best Google Ads agency, we specialize in creating effective Google Shopping Ads campaigns that generate results. Our team of experts will guide you through the entire process, from setting up your Google ad campaign to optimizing your Google ad strategy for maximum ROI. Whether you need a comprehensive Google Ads guide or personalized support from a top-notch PPC agency, we’ve got you covered.
Contact Magic Clickz today to partner with a leading digital marketing company and see how our tailored solutions can elevate your business. Get in touch with us online and let’s start achieving your advertising goals together!
