Running a Shopify store means you’re constantly looking for ways or strategies to get your products in front of people who are ready to buy. Google Shopping Ads might just be the secret.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to set up and get the most out of Google Shopping Ads for your Shopify store. First campaign to tips and how to improve performance, you’ll learn practical strategies that actually work.
Google Shopping Ads show your product image, price, and store name right in Google’s search results. That visual format makes it easier for shoppers to spot what they want and decide faster.
What makes them so effective? Optmyzr says that Google Shopping Ads deliver 30% higher conversion rates compared to text ads. Pretty solid proof that visuals really do sell.
While both Google and Facebook Ads can help grow your store, Google Shopping Ads tend to reach shoppers who are already searching for products like yours.
Step 1: Create Your Google Merchant Center Account
Upload your product information into the Google Merchant Center:
Step 2: Connect Your Shopify Product Feed
Your product feed tells Google exactly what you’re selling. Shopify makes this easy with the Google Shopping app. It can automatically create and sync your product feed from Shopify to Google.
Here’s what Google needs for each product:
Step 3: Make Your Product Data ClearProduct titles are important for Google Shopping- they decide when and where your products show up. Write specific, clear titles to increase your chances.Be as detailed as you can, for example, try ‘’Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Men’s Running Shoe, Black, Size 10’’ instead of ‘’running shoe’’.
Choose Your Campaign Type
Go to your Google Ads account and choose Shopping as your campaign type. You’ll be asked to connect your Merchant Center account.You have two options:
Start with Standard Shopping until you know what performs best.
Set Your Budget and Bidding Strategy
Begin with a budget of $20-30 per day when you’re starting out (you can always increase it later.)
For bidding, start with “Manual CPC” (Cost Per Click).” This gives you control over how much you’re willing to pay for each click on a product group: once you get enough data, you can try automated bidding strategies like “Maximize Clicks” or “Target ROAS” (Return On Ad Spend).
Create Product Groups
Organize your catalog with product groups to be more strategic-think about bidding differently for various product types, like your bestsellers. Break down products into categories, then get more specific by brand, condition, or custom labels.
Keep similar products together to tweak bids based on performance and potential return.
Track the Right Metrics
Focus on these key performance indicators:
Negative Keywords Strategy
Even though Shopping Ads don’t rely on keywords the same way ads do, you can add negative keywords to help prevent your ads from showing for irrelevant searches.
Some common negative keywords for many stores include “free,” “cheap,” “DIY,” “how to,” and “jobs” unless those apply to what you sell.
Product Title Optimization
Your product titles play a huge role in Google Shopping success.
Put the most important information first:
Think about what someone would actually type into Google when looking for your product, and make sure those words are in your title. Add the key details and use the right keywords.Use Good Product Images
Your product image is the first thing people see, so it needs to be compelling. Use clean, high-resolution photos, and make sure your images represent the product.If someone clicks expecting one thing and sees something different on your product page, they’ll bounce immediately.
Test different angles if you can. Sometimes a lifestyle image performs better than a simple product shot on white background.
Use Custom Labels Strategically
Custom labels let you tag your products with any attribute you want. This is incredibly powerful for bidding and organization.
You might create custom labels for:
Then you can bid more aggressively on high-margin bestsellers while being more conservative with lower-margin products.
Start a Promo Feed
Google lets you add promotional offers to your Shopping Ads.A small “20% off” or “Free Shipping” tag can boost your CTR.
Set up a promotions feed in Google Merchant Center and include your current sales and special offers.
Leverage Remarketing Lists
Create lists to show Shopping Ads to people who have already visited your store but didn’t buy.You can create lists for:
Combine these audiences with your Shopping campaigns using audience bid adjustments to get more strategic with your spending.
Test Showcase Shopping Ads
Showcase Shopping Ads appear when people search for broader, more general terms. Instead of showing just one product, they display a collection of related products from your store. They help you reach shoppers earlier in their buying journey – before they’ve decided exactly what they want and introduce them to your brand.
These ads work especially well for lifestyle or discovery-based searches like “summer dresses” or “home office furniture.”
Google Shopping Ads aren’t magic, but they’re pretty close when you do them right. Start small. Get your product feed squared away, launch a simple campaign, and watch what happens. Then make changes. Bump up bids on winners. Kill the losers. Add negative keywords. Test new product titles.
Stores making real money from Shopping Ads aren’t geniuses – they’re just consistent.
Ready to take your Google Shopping Ads to the next level? Schedule a consultation with us to develop a custom scaling strategy that protects your profit while driving sustainable growth.