How To Run Facebook Ads For Shopify: Full Step & Tutorial in 2024

Facebook Ads have become one of the most powerful tools for eCommerce stores, especially for platforms like Shopify. With Facebook’s massive reach, businesses can advertise directly to potential customers, increase traffic, and boost sales.

However, setting up and managing Facebook Ads can be overwhelming if you're not familiar with the platform. This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to set up and run Facebook Ads for your Shopify store to ensure your business thrives.

Let’s get started!

Step-by-Step To Run Facebook Ads For Shopify

Step 1: Set Up Your Meta Business Suite

The Meta Business Suite is the hub where you manage all your Facebook and Instagram activities, including advertising, messaging, and insights. Here's how to get started:

• Go to Meta Business Suite.
• Create or log in to your Facebook business account.

• Fill in your business details, such as name, phone number, and email.

• Link your business’s Facebook Page and Instagram account.
• Set up your preferred payment method (credit card or PayPal).
• Adjust your settings based on your business’s needs (such as notifications or permissions).

Setting up the Meta Business Suite correctly from the start ensures smoother ad management later.

Step 2: Connect Shopify and Facebook

To connect Shopify to Facebook, you’ll need to create a Facebook Pixel and integrate it into your Shopify store. Follow these steps:

• Open Meta Events Manager and click on “Connect data sources”, then select “Web.”

• Enter a name for your pixel when prompted, then click “Create pixel.”

• Next, you’ll see an option to check for partner integration. Enter your Shopify store’s URL and click “Check.”

• On the next screen, select “Conversions API and Meta Pixel” as the setup method.
• Choose “Set up with partner integration” and click “Next.”

• From the list of integrations, select “Shopify.” This will allow you to connect your Shopify store to Facebook seamlessly.

Install the Facebook Channel App in Shopify:

• Go to Shopify Admin > Settings > Apps and Sales Channels.

• Search for Facebook & Instagram by Meta and install the app.

Connect Shopify to Your Facebook Account:

• Once installed, click Start Setup.

• Log in to your Facebook Business Manager and connect it to Shopify.

Link Your Facebook Ad Account, Page, and Pixel:

• Ensure that your Facebook Ad Account, Business Page, and Pixel are linked correctly in the app settings.

Sync Your Product Catalog:

• Enable Product Sync in the app to automatically upload your Shopify store’s products to your Facebook Catalog.

Step 3: Create A Facebook Shop

A Facebook Shop enables you to display your Shopify products directly on Facebook and Instagram, offering customers a seamless shopping experience.

To create a Facebook Shop:

• After connecting your Facebook account with Shopify, visit your Meta Business Suite navigate to the Commerce Manager, click on Add account

• Read the instructions and click on Next

• Select Shopify as your partner platform

• Continue the syncing on Shopify

Ensure your product listings are clear and complete, as this will directly affect your ad campaigns’ success.

Step 4: Create A New Campaign

Now, it’s time to set up your first Facebook ad campaign. In Meta Ads Manager, you’ll need to create a new campaign with the right objectives.

Follow these steps:

• Open Ads Manager and click on Campaign to start a new campaign.

• Choose your campaign objective. For Shopify stores, the most common objective is Sales, which focus on driving purchases.

• Name your campaign to keep it organized (e.g., “Spring Collection Sale Campaign”).
• Choose whether you want to use the Advantage+ shopping campaign or the Manual sale campaigns

Selecting the right objective will ensure your ad reaches the right audience with the desired results.

Step 5: Set Up Web Events

Setting up web events is crucial for tracking customer behavior on your Shopify store. These events tell Facebook what actions users take (such as purchases, adds to cart, etc.), allowing you to optimize your ads.

Here’s how to set up web events:

• Go to Events Manager on your Meta Business Suite.
• Choose Web Events and configure them to track actions like View Content, Add to Cart, and Purchase.
• Make sure your Facebook Pixel is installed correctly on Shopify. The Pixel tracks user actions and gives you valuable data for targeting and retargeting.

By setting up these events, you can optimize your ads for higher conversions.

Step 6: Budgeting

Setting an effective ad budget ensures that you spend wisely and get the best return on investment (ROI).

Here’s how to plan your budget:

• Campaign Budget Optimization (CBO): Enable CBO if you want Facebook to automatically distribute your budget across the best-performing ad sets.
• Decide how much you want to spend daily or over the campaign’s lifetime.
  • For new advertisers, a budget of $10 to $20 per day is a good starting point.
  • Split your budget based on campaign type: 70% for new audience targeting and 30% for retargeting.
• Set your lifetime budget if you want to manage total ad spend over a longer period.

Step 7: Ad Set Configuration

Now that you’ve set your campaign budget, it’s time to configure your ad set. This includes defining the audience, placements, and scheduling.

Here are the key steps:

• In Audiences, choose between Custom Audiences, Lookalike Audiences, or Saved Audiences. You can target people based on behaviors, interests, or demographics. For Shopify stores, consider targeting people who have previously visited your website or interacted with your social media.

• Placements: Choose Advantage+ shopping campaign for Facebook to optimize where your ad appears (Feed, Stories, Marketplace, etc.). Alternatively, you can manually select placements based on where your audience spends the most time.
• Ad Scheduling: You can set your ads to run continuously or at specific times. If you have seasonal promotions, schedule your ads accordingly.

Configuring the ad set correctly ensures that your ads reach the most relevant audience.

Step 8: Ad Creation

The creative aspect of your ad is crucial to driving engagement. Your ad must grab attention, highlight your products effectively, and compel viewers to take action.

Steps to create effective Facebook Ads:

• Visuals: Use high-quality images or videos that showcase your products in use. Ideally, display your product from different angles and in action.
• Copywriting: Write compelling ad copy that emphasizes the value and benefits of your product. Keep it clear and concise.
• Call to Action (CTA): A strong CTA is essential. Encourage users to shop now, learn more, or get a discount.
• Ad Format: Choose between carousel ads, single image or video ads, or dynamic product ads based on your product catalog and campaign goals.

The visual and textual elements of your ad need to work together to convince users to take the desired action.

Step 9: Lookalike Audience Ad Set

A Lookalike Audience helps you target new people who resemble your best existing customers. This is one of the most powerful features for scaling your ads.

Steps to create a Lookalike Audience:

• In the Ads Manager, go to Audiences and click on Create Audience → Lookalike Audience.

• Select your source audience (e.g., those who made a purchase or interacted with your store).
• Choose the percentage range (1% is most similar, while 3% is broader).
• Target these people in your ad set to expand your reach while maintaining high relevance.

Lookalike audiences are excellent for scaling because they allow you to target people who are likely to convert.

Step 10: Retargeting Campaign

Retargeting is an essential part of your Facebook Ads strategy. It allows you to show ads to people who have interacted with your store but haven’t made a purchase yet.

To set up retargeting:

1. Create a new ad set and choose Retargeting as your audience. Target people who have visited your store or viewed products but didn’t buy.
2. Use Dynamic Ads to show products that users have shown interest in, increasing the chances of conversion.
3. Set your retargeting ads with specific offers, such as discounts or free shipping, to encourage purchases.

Best Practices for Facebook Ads in 2024

1. Advanced Tracking

Use advanced tracking tools to make your ad campaigns more accurate. Facebook's Conversions API helps you track what people do on your website in real-time, even if they block cookies. This gives you better data to make smarter decisions about your ads.

2. Creative Optimization

The images, videos, and text in your ads are important for attracting customers. Keep testing and improving your ad creatives to see what works best. Facebook has tools that let you test different combinations of images, text, and calls to action. This helps Facebook show the best-performing ads to your audience.

3. A/B Testing

A/B testing is a great way to optimize your Facebook ads. Run different versions of your ads with different elements, like text, images, targeting, or budget. This helps you figure out which version works best and make data-driven decisions.

4. Automation

Managing Facebook ads can take a lot of time. Facebook has tools that can automate some of the work. Features like Advantage+ Campaigns can automatically optimize your ads, and Dynamic Ads can show the most relevant products from your store to your audience.

5. Stay Updated

Facebook is always changing its algorithms and ad formats. Stay up-to-date with these changes to keep your ads performing well. Keep an eye on Facebook's official updates and industry best practices.

Bottom Line

Now you know how to run Facebook ads for your Shopify store. Remember, success with Facebook Ads takes time and continuous optimization. Staying informed about the latest changes and leveraging automation tools will help you manage your ads with ease and maximize the return on investment for your business.

Related post:

• Top 10 Shopify Facebook Apps in 2024

FAQs

1. What’s the ideal budget for a new Facebook ad campaign?

When starting out, a budget of $10 to $20 per day is a good place to begin. This allows you to collect enough data for Facebook's algorithm to start optimizing your ads effectively. Once you gather performance data from your campaigns, you can increase your budget gradually to scale up the campaigns that are performing well.

2. Why is A/B testing important for Facebook Ads?

A/B testing is critical because it helps you identify which ad elements (e.g., creative, copy, targeting) are most effective with your audience. By testing different variations, you can improve your ad performance, boost engagement, and ultimately increase your return on investment. It helps you avoid wasting budget on ads that aren't working and focuses your resources on what truly resonates with your audience.

3. How do I ensure my Facebook Ads are compliant with the latest policies?

To keep your Facebook Ads compliant, regularly review Facebook’s ad policies and community standards. Make sure your ad content, targeting, and copy don’t violate any rules related to prohibited content, misleading claims, or inappropriate imagery. Staying informed on Facebook’s updates is key to avoiding account suspensions or penalties.

4. Can I automate my Facebook Ads completely?

While you can automate a significant portion of your ad management using features like Advantage+ Campaigns, Dynamic Ads, and automatic bidding, it’s still important to regularly monitor your campaigns to ensure everything is running smoothly. Automation makes it easier to manage campaigns, but oversight is necessary for the best performance.

5. How can I effectively retarget customers who didn’t complete their purchase?

Retargeting helps you reach customers who were interested in your products but didn't buy anything. You can use Facebook's Custom Audiences to find these people and show them ads for the products they viewed or added to their cart. Offering discounts or free shipping can encourage them to complete their purchase. Adding a sense of urgency, like a limited-time offer, can also help.