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About Microsoft Advertising and Shopify

Microsoft Advertising and Shopify are partnering up to create a Microsoft Channel app for Shopify.
Important
  • This topic shows how to do a basic setup of the Microsoft Channel app for Shopify. Please refer to the Shopify help center for more information.
  • Microsoft Advertising is not responsible for Shopify's processes or documentation, nor for changes made to Shopify's processes or documentation.
  • This feature is currently available in Canada and the United States only.

Microsoft Advertising and Shopify have partnered up to create a Microsoft Channel app for Shopify. Shopify is a multi-channel commerce platform that allows you to create and develop an online store, where you can sell, ship, and manage your products. The Microsoft Channel app on Shopify makes it possible for you to bring your Shopify product catalog online to Microsoft Merchant Center, where you can set up shopping campaigns to promote your products.

Get started

You can get started in four steps. But, before you start, make sure you have a Microsoft account ready to go and have the Microsoft Channel app for Shopify installed.

Install and configure the Microsoft Channel app for Shopify

Go to the Install an app and follow the prompts to get your Microsoft Channel app for Shopify set up.

To configure the Microsoft Channel app for Shopify, you'll need to set up the following:

  • Store name customization: When setting up your Microsoft Merchant Center, you can configure your store's name.
    Note: Once you configure your store's name, you cannot change it.
  • Target country
  • Contact details: Language and email address
Note

Do you have a Microsoft account? If not, create a new Microsoft account.

Here's a look at the four steps you need to take to get started with Shopify.

  1. Create or connect to a Microsoft Advertising account

    If you're new to Microsoft Advertising, all you need is your Microsoft account and a few details about your business to sign up through the app. You'll be taken to the Microsoft Advertising sign up page, where you'll create your Microsoft Advertising account and set up your billing and payment information. Once that's complete, you'll need to come back to Shopify and connect your accounts. Then, you'll need to enter a few details to set up your Microsoft Merchant Center account within the app.


    Get more info
  2. Select the Microsoft Advertising account

    After you've connected your Microsoft account in Shopify, choose the Microsoft Advertising account you want to use.

    Do I need to set up a Microsoft Merchant Center account?

    • New Microsoft Advertising accounts
      If you created a new Microsoft Advertising account from the Microsoft Channel app on Shopify, you'll need to create a new Microsoft Merchant Center as well. This is required before you can complete your account setup and begin creating shopping campaigns from within the Microsoft Channel app on Shopify.
      Be sure to review all options for creating your in the Microsoft Merchant Center account creation form and save to confirm the settings to proceed to the next step.
    • Existing Microsoft Advertising accounts
      If you have an existing Microsoft Advertising account within the Microsoft Channel app on Shopify, you'll still need to complete the Microsoft Merchant Center form within the app before you can complete your account setup and begin creating shopping campaigns.
      Review all options in the Microsoft merchant account creation form and save to confirm the settings to complete creating your Microsoft Merchant Center. Once you select save, Microsoft will attempt to match the Shopify store URL to any existing stores in your Microsoft Advertising account. If the URL matches an existing Microsoft Merchant Center store, it will be associated with your Microsoft Channel app on Shopify. If there is no matching URL, a new Microsoft Merchant Center store will be created for you.
  3. Set up your Microsoft Merchant Center account

    Enter the target country and contact details to get started with your Microsoft Merchant Center.

  4. Create a Microsoft Smart Shopping Activity

    From the Marketing page in Shopify, select Create campaign. Under Build your campaign by adding a marketing activity, select Microsoft Shopping Campaign (recommended). Enter the activity details with daily budget (minimum recommended: $30 USD) and then select Publish activity.

    • A marketing activity is equivalent to a campaign within Microsoft Advertising and in many cases the terms are used interchangeably.
    • Smart shopping campaigns automate bids and ad delivery to personalize the shopping experience for customers who are more likely to convert at higher revenue values.
    • Do not select the Microsoft Bid Strategy Campaign (Sunsetting) activity option. This bid strategy option will soon be removed.
  5. Add products to the Microsoft Channel app

    In order to sync products from your Shopify account to your Microsoft Advertising account, follow these steps:

    1. In Shopify, go to the "Products" page.
    2. Under the "More Actions" list, select "Add available channel(s)."
    3. Select the "Microsoft Shopping channel," and then select "Make products available."

Coupon redemption

Spend $25 USD and receive $100 USD credit for qualifying new Microsoft Advertising account sign-ups with new registered domains.

Reporting

Get insight into how your shopping campaigns created through Shopify are performing from the Marketing page in Shopify. You can view reports that track data, such as impressions, clicks, and conversions, and use the information to improve your campaign's relevance.

You can access the reports by going to the Marketing page from your Shopify admin account or through Microsoft Advertising.

Note

There can be up to a 48-hour delay for impressions and clicks data seen in Microsoft Advertising to appear in your Shopify admin account.

UET for Shopify

Universal Event Tracking (UET) is the key that unlocks powerful Microsoft Advertising features such as conversion tracking, audience targeting, and automated bidding bid strategies. The key comes in the form of the UET tag, which records what customers do on your website and sends that information to Microsoft Advertising. UET is a prerequisite for conversion tracking, remarketing in paid search, and automated bidding bid strategies. Learn more about UET.

By downloading the Microsoft Channel app for Shopify, your UET tag is automatically created and is added to every page of your website. There's nothing more for you to do!

Microsoft Channel app

Note

Not everyone has this feature yet. If you don't, don't worry—it's coming soon!

You can connect your Shopify merchant account to shoppers on the Microsoft Search Network and Microsoft Audience Network with just a few steps via the Microsoft Channel app.

Sign in/Sign up

There are two ways to sign in to the Microsoft Channel app: Sign in with your existing Microsoft account or sign up for a new Microsoft account.

  1. Sign up for a new account:
    1. From the left menu, select Microsoft under Sales Channels.
    2. Select Create to create a new Microsoft account.
    3. Fill out the Create your Microsoft Advertising account form and select Sign up.

      Important

      To finish sign-up, check your inbox for a confirmation email. Complete the steps mentioned in the email.

  2. Sign in with an existing account:
    1. From the left menu, select Microsoft under Sales Channels.
    2. Select Sign in to Microsoft account.
    3. Enter your email address and select Next.
    4. Enter your password and select Sign in.
    5. Select Accept to grant the requested permissions.
Free product listings access

Once you connect your Microsoft account, all your products are automatically able to show on the Bing Shopping tab for free as product listings. Learn more about product listings.

To opt in to Free product listings:

  1. From the left menu, select Microsoft under Sales Channels.
  2. Select Get started under the Free listings section.
  3. Select your store Language, enter a Store currency, and select a Country of sale.
  4. Select Save.
Note

You can also use coupons with your paid listings in Microsoft Advertising.

"Buy Now" button

Note

Not everyone has this feature yet. If you don't, don't worry—it's coming soon!

You can display a Buy Now button on both your free listings and paid product ads. This button enables shoppers to quickly purchase the products they are interested in. When a shopper selects Buy Now, they are sent directly to the shopping cart page where they will see the product added to their cart.

Buy Now button Get started
  • There is no action needed on your part. The Buy Now button will start showing up on a small percentage of your ads to provide additional value for your customers.
  • Coming soon, we will offer an opt-out option in the app if you don't want to show the Buy Now button. Meanwhile, you can contact our ad support team and ask to opt-out of this pilot if you don't want to showcase this new option for your customers.

Help articles from Shopify

Check out these additional help articles from Shopify:

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