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Google Ads 101: A Checklist for Your First Campaign

Angie Tran

Content Marketing Manager @ AdRoll

Wish you had a cheat sheet for Google Ads? The wait is over: Here’s a checklist to get you started. You’ll level up your Shopify store’s pay-per-click (PPC) strategy in no time!

Why Google Ads?

Let’s first discuss why you need to set up a Google Ads account in the first place. Whether you’re a marketing expert or novice, you’ve likely learned Google Ads is a proven method to boost sales and brand awareness. In fact, research has found that for every $1 a business spends on Google Ads, it leads to an average of $2 in revenue. Pretty good, right? 

The Ultimate Google Ads Checklist

✅ Create a Google Ads account.

✅ Determine your campaign’s daily budget and bids. 

✅ Identify your target audience.

✅ Choose between Google Search Network or Display Network.

✅ Select your keywords.

✅ Set your keyword match types — “broad match,” “phrase match,” “exact match,” or “negative match.” 

✅ Create your campaign’s landing page.

  • Only include one objective or offer. 

  • Include a CTA.

  • Optimize for mobile. 

✅ Choose which devices to target — desktop, mobile, or both? 

✅ Split your campaign into different ad groups. 

  • Craft unique headlines and copy for each.

    1. Make sure it includes your keywords.

    2. Include a compelling CTA, such as “shop now” or “learn more.”

    3. Review for spelling and grammar errors.

✅ Connect your account to your analytics platform.  

✅ Set up conversion tracking for Shopify.

✅ Launch your campaign.

✅ Monitor your campaign. 

✅ Which ads or keywords lead to the most clicks and conversions?

Just like that, you’re all set! But why stop here? Discover how AdRoll’s integration for Shopify can take your brand to a whole new world.

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