What are Ecommerce Ads? Strategies for Shopify Merchants

You know the one question I get every time from Shopify merchants is this:

“I’ve got great products and a solid storefront, but how do I actually get people to see them?”

Building a store is one thing; getting shoppers to buy your products is another. That’s where ecommerce ads come in.

Ecom ads, when done right, can bring you conversions like nothing else. Instead of waiting around for SEO to kick in or hoping someone stumbles across your Instagram post, ads put you right in front of your target demographic.

If you’re serious about growing your store, you can’t afford to ignore this. In this article, I have covered everything from the basics to benefits and ecommerce strategies to achieve high conversions in 2025. 

What Are Ecommerce Ads? And Why You Can’t Ignore Them

Let’s start simple: ecommerce advertisements are paid promotions designed to drive traffic and sales for your online store. 

Think of them as digital billboards, except instead of hoping someone passes by on the highway, your ad shows up right where shoppers are already searching. 

Whether it’s a Google Shopping ad for “running shoes” or a TikTok video showing off a trending gadget, these ads are built to grab attention and move people closer to checkout.

Now, here’s the catch: you’re not just competing with other small brands. The biggest companies on Shopify, such as Gymshark, Allbirds, and Steve Madden, are bidding for the same eyeballs. 

That’s why in today’s day and age, it’s a tough competition for ads for ecommerce. If your Shopify store isn’t running smart ecommerce advertisements, you’re leaving sales on the table.

So why do they matter so much for Shopify merchants in the US?

Benefits of Ecommerce Ads: What Can You Get Out of Ecom Ads?

Shoppers are spending more time online than ever

From groceries to luxury goods, everything is a click away. Ecommerce advertising helps Shopify merchants meet customers right at that buying moment. 

Ecommerce advertisements are data-driven

Unlike a flyer or magazine ad, an ecommerce advertisement lets you track every click, sale, and dollar spent. That means you know exactly what’s working and what’s not.

Ecom ads can scale fast

I have run campaigns that give Shopify merchants $1860/day sales on $20/day ad spend. This can be ramped up to $100/day, making even more conversions. Ads for ecommerce are one of the most flexible growth levers for small and mid-sized Shopify stores.

Ecommerce Ads can be Precisly Targeted

Online ads for ecommerce are perfect to zero in on shoppers by age, location, interests, or even purchase behavior. This ensures your advertisement for online shopping reach people most likely to buy, instead of wasting budget on audiences that won’t convert.

Ecom Ads Have Retargeting Power 

This is my favourite feature of online advertisements. With Ecomeerce ads, I have reminded visitors about the products they viewed but didn’t purchase.

By staying visible after they leave, Shopify merchants can increase the likelihood of converting window shoppers into paying customers.

And here’s the kicker: not running ecommerce ads doesn’t mean your customers aren’t seeing them, it just means they’re seeing your competitor’s. 

In today’s crowded online marketplace, showing up consistently with ecom ads can be the difference between a one-time visitor and a loyal buyer.

These are the ecommerce ad strategies that I have implemented in Shopify stores. Let’s have a dig at them one by one. 

Ecommerce Ads: Honest Strategies for Shopify Stores

Start Small, Test Often

Don’t pour thousands of dollars into ads right away. I always begin with a small daily budget, test different headlines, images, and offers, then scale what’s working. 

The reason I do this is that I’m buying data on what works and what doesn’t at a low cost and using it to inform smarter decisions.

Take Advantage of Seasonal Spikes

As a Shopify expert, I know the busiest shopping days of the year are an opportunity online merchants shouldn’t miss.  

I always adjust my ecommerce campaigns for these moments so that I’m not missing out when buyer intent is at its peak. 

Staying proactive with your timing can give you a serious edge over slower competitors.

Focus on your best-sellers first

It’s tempting to advertise everything in your Shopify store, but the smart move is to start with products that already sell well.

I always analyze the data of the best sellers and target these products. This gives me a higher chance of return on ad spend.  

Once I promote proven winners, I can gradually move down to products based on sales. This helps me to build momentum faster and frees up budget for testing new products later.

Use Retargeting to Bring Shoppers Back

Most shoppers won’t buy the first time they visit your store. I run retargeting ads to remind them about the exact product they viewed.

Retargeting ads keep your products on top of the shoppers’ minds until they’re ready to check out. I have found this to be the lowest-cost way to convert hesitant shoppers.

Keep Tracking & Tweaking Ecom Ads

Ecommerce advertising platforms give you detailed analytics for a reason. I monitor these key metrics while I run an advertisement for online shopping. 

• Cost per click.
• Cost per acquisition/purchase.
• Return on ad spend. 

Keep optimzing your ecommerce campaigns once you start running. It can be your ad copies, images, targeting location, and many other elements that come into play. 

I use many advertising platforms to run ads for my Shopify stores. 

What Are The Top Ecommerce Advertising Platforms?

When it comes to running ecommerce ads, these are the best advertising platforms for small businesses.

Google Shopping & Search Ads

Best for buyers who are ready to purchase right now. Great for capturing high-intent searches like “buy wireless headphones.”

Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram)

Ideal for targeting specific audiences with visual content. Use them to build brand awareness and retarget past visitors.

TikTok Ads

Perfect if your products are fun, visual, and trend-driven. Short videos can grab attention fast and turn into viral sales.

Pinterest Ads 

Works well for lifestyle, fashion, beauty, home décor, and food brands. People come here to plan purchases, which makes them valuable leads.

YouTube Ads

Great for showing how your product works. Even a simple demo or explainer video can boost trust and sales.

Bottom Line: Spend Smart – Convert More

At the end of the day, in my opinion, ecommerce ads are the best way to increase conversions faster. This can only happen if you are smart about your ad strategies.

Spending money is easy; it’s the returns that are difficult to sustain. For small Shopify stores, I would advise optimizing your storefront first before jumping into affordable online advertising. 

Partner with Shopify experts to run and manage your ecommerce advertising campaigns smoothly. This is the best way to spend smart and convert more.

Ecommerce Ads FAQs

1. What are Ecommerce ads?

Ecommerce ads are paid promotions that place your products in front of shoppers across search engines, social media, and other digital channels. 

2. Can you run ads on Shopify?

Yes. You can run ads directly from your Shopify dashboard using built-in marketing apps, or connect your store to ad platforms like Google, Facebook, or TikTok for seamless campaign management.

3. How much do Shopify ads cost?

Shopify ad costs vary widely. Some stores start with just $10 a day, while others spend hundreds or even thousands, depending on platform, targeting, and bid strategy.

4. What are some good places to advertise online for Shopify stores?

Google Ads (search, display, shopping) is a go-to for capturing high-intent customers, while Meta (Facebook & Instagram) is unbeatable for visual targeting and retargeting. 

5. Are Shopify ads worth it?

Yes. When done right, Shopify ads can drive consistent traffic and sales while giving you full control over budget and targeting.