Install and link the Google & Youtube app on Shopify

This article is intended for users of the Google & YouTube app on Shopify. Below you’ll find instructions on how to install the app and set it up depending on your needs. Note that the journeys listed below aren’t mutually exclusive and regardless of which journey setup you choose initially, you’ll be allowed to link all available services afterwards.

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Install the Google & YouTube app

Before you can connect your Shopify account with any Google products, you’ll need to install the Google & YouTube app. Follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Sign in to your Shopify account and navigate to the Shopify console in order to download the “Google & Youtube” app.
  2. From your Shopify console, click the search bar and search for “Google & YouTube”.
  3. You'll be taken to the Shopify App Store. Select Install to continue.

Next, choose the Google product you want to link first by following the instructions that best meet your needs.

Link to Merchant Center

Merchant Center is Google’s core platform to help merchants manage their products and showcase them within Google’s ecosystem of surfaces and networks. Linking your Merchant Center account to Shopify via the Google & YouTube app allows you to sync your product data seamlessly from your Shopify store onto Merchant Center. This article will navigate you through the initial process of linking your Merchant Center to Shopify.

Before proceeding with linking, ensure that you’ve installed the Google & YouTube app by following the instructions at the start of this article.

Step 1: Link a Google email address to Shopify

  1. Before initiating the linking process, make sure that you’ve the right email address and permissions. This is an important step to prevent issues with the linking process.
  2. If you don’t have an existing Merchant Center account, you’ll be able to create a new one during this onboarding process. If this is the case for you, link the Google email address which you wish to use and proceed to step 2.
  3. The Google & YouTube app can only initiate a link between a Shopify store and a stand-alone Merchant Center account. Multi-Client Accounts (MCA) aren’t eligible for linking. If you manage Merchant Center accounts as an admin on a Multi-Client Account, your email address will also have to be directly added as admin and super admin within the Merchant Center account you wish to link and its associated Business Manager account. This means it’ll have to be removed from the MCA account.
  4. The Google email address which you link to Shopify must be the same Google email address you use to manage your Merchant Center account and this email must also have admin rights to the Merchant Center account. To confirm this is the case, open your Merchant Center account. Navigate to ‘Settings’. Click ‘Access and services’. Confirm the email address has admin rights.
  5. The Google email address which you link to Shopify must also have super admin access within Business Manager. To confirm this, navigate to your Business Manager account. Select the same email address as the one you use in Merchant Center. Navigate to ‘People and access’. Confirm the email address has super admin rights.
  6. Go back to the Google & YouTube app and select Connect Google Account.
Note: If you already have a Merchant Center account, follow step 2 (option A). If you need to make a new account, follow step 2 (option B).

Step 2 (Option A): Connect to an existing Merchant Center account

  1. From the dropdown menu, select the Merchant Center account you wish to link.
  2. If your Google email address is linked to more than one Merchant Center account, verify that you’ve selected the correct one.
  3. Select Connect.

Step 2 (Option B): Create a new Merchant Center account

  1. Before proceeding with this step, confirm that you don’t have an existing Merchant Center account. It is recommended to use existing accounts if you already have an active and performing Merchant Center account.
  2. To create a new Merchant Center, Select Create new.
  3. This step will create a brand new Merchant Center account.
  4. You can now access your Merchant Center account.

Step 3: Verify your store details

  1. This is a critical step to ensure we have the right level of details in order to validate your website. Provide correct and exhaustive information.
  2. Make sure that you’ve added a valid payment method.
  3. Create an online store if one doesn’t already exist and remove its password protection.
  4. Add a refund policy and terms of service to your online store.
  5. Add contact details to your online store.

Learn more about website best practices.

Step 4: Verify it’s you

  1. Enter the phone number which is listed as the primary contact number for your business and your website.
  2. If prompted, confirm the verification code received over phone or text message.

Step 5: Finalise setup

  1. Specify your target country and language.
  2. Select the relevant shipping settings.
  3. Select the correct checkout link settings.
  4. Review and agree to the terms and conditions.
  5. Select Complete setup.

Learn more about syncing your products from Shopify to Google Merchant Center.

Link to Google Analytics

Linking your Google Analytics property to Shopify via the Google & YouTube app allows you to measure website traffic, user behavior, and conversions, providing valuable insights into your store's performance.

Step 1: Initiate linking to Google Analytics

Option A: Set up Google Analytics during onboarding

Follow these steps if you haven’t yet installed and linked the Google & YouTube app, and wish to set up Google Analytics during the onboarding process.

  1. Follow the instructions at the start of this article to install and link the Google & YouTube app.
  2. Next, choose the correct Google account you wish to link. If you intend to link a Google Ads account or other Google products later on, make sure that the Google account you link has admin rights within these products.
  3. Once you’ve linked your Google account, you can immediately proceed to set up Google Analytics by following the card titled “Looking only to set up Google Analytics 4 for your store?” within the onboarding page.

Option B: Set up Google Analytics outside of onboarding

You can follow these steps if you previously installed the Google & YouTube App and didn’t set up Google Analytics during the onboarding flow. You can initiate the process by navigating to the Settings page of the Google & YouTube app in Shopify.

  1. Sign in to your Shopify account and navigate to the Google & YouTube app.
  2. Within the Google & YouTube app, navigate to the Overview page.
  3. Find the section related to Google Analytics.
  4. Click on Get started or Connect within the Google Analytics section.
  5. You’ll be prompted to connect or select a Google account. Ensure you choose a Google account that has at least Editor role in the Google Analytics property you wish to link.

Step 2: Connect your Google Analytics Property

  1. The app will display a list of Google Analytics properties associated with the selected Google account.
  2. Select the Google Analytics property you want from the list.
  3. Click Connect or Confirm to establish the link. The app then installs the Google Tag (gtag.js) on your Shopify store.

Step 3: Verify the connection

  1. After you complete the setup, you should verify that data is flowing to your Google Analytics property.
  2. Log in to your Google Analytics account.
  3. Navigate to the connected Google Analytics property.
  4. Check the Realtime reports to find if activity from your Shopify store is being recorded

Setup Conversion Tracking

Setting up conversion tracking is crucial for understanding how effectively your Google Ads campaigns and free product listings drive valuable customer actions on your Shopify store, such as purchases or add-to-carts. The steps below explain how to configure conversion tracking using the Google & YouTube app.

Step 1: Set up Conversion tracking

Option A: Set up Conversion Tracking during onboarding

Follow the steps below if you haven’t installed and linked the Google & YouTube app, and wish to set up conversion tracking during the onboarding process.
  1. Refer to the instructions at the beginning of this article to install and connect the Google & YouTube app.
  2. Ensure you select the correct Google account for the connection. If you plan to integrate a Google Ads account or additional Google services in the future, verify that the selected account holds administrative permissions within those platforms.
  3. After you’ve linked your Google account, you can immediately proceed to set up conversion tracking by following the card titled “Just want to set up Conversion Tracking?” within the onboarding page.

Option A: Set up Conversion Tracking with a Google Ads account (Recommended)

  1. Select the Google Ads account you wish to connect from the dropdown menu.
  2. The app will list standard Shopify store events such as purchase, add_to_cart, begin_checkout.
  3. Map these Shopify events to corresponding conversion actions in Google Ads. You can:
    1. Use the suggested default mappings.
    2. Create new conversion actions in your linked Google Ads account.
    3. Link to existing conversion actions you've already defined in Google Ads.
  4. Select Save for each event mapping you configure.

Option B: Set up Conversion Tracking without a Google Ads account

  1. Select "skip account selection" if you don’t wish to link a Google Ads account.
  2. The app will list standard Shopify store events like purchase, add_to_cart, begin_checkout.
  3. For each Shopify event you want to track like purchase, add_to_cart:
    1. Select Manage.
    2. Select the pencil icon.
    3. Check the box to "Add custom conversion ID/label".
    4. Enter the Google Ads conversion ID and conversion label string (for example AW-CONVERSION_ID/CONVERSION_LABEL) obtained from your Google Ads account event snippet for the conversion action you want to associate with the Shopify event.
  4. Click Save for each event mapping you configure.

Option B: Set up Conversion Tracking outside of onboarding

You can follow these steps if you previously installed the Google & YouTube App and didn’t set up Conversion Tracking during the onboarding flow. You can initiate the process by navigating to the Settings page of the Google & YouTube app in Shopify.

  1. If you wish to connect a Google Ads account, locate the section titled Google Ads settings and proceed to option A.
  2. If you don’t wish to connect a Google Ads account, locate the section titled Data Sharing and Tag Management, followed by Conversion Measurement and proceed to option B.

Option A: Set up Conversion Tracking with a Google Ads account (Recommended)

  1. For the most effective conversion tracking, it's best to connect your Google Ads account.
  2. If not already linked, select the option to Connect your Google Ads account.
  3. Select the appropriate Google Ads account from the list.
  4. The app will list standard Shopify store events such as purchase, add_to_cart, begin_checkout.
  5. Map these Shopify events to corresponding conversion actions in Google Ads. You can:
    1. Use the suggested default mappings.
    2. Create new conversion actions in your linked Google Ads account.
    3. Link to existing conversion actions you've already defined in Google Ads.
  6. Select Save for each event mapping you configure.

Option B: Set up Conversion Tracking without a Google Ads account

  1. Find the option to manage conversion events.
  2. The app will list standard Shopify store events like purchase, add_to_cart, begin_checkout.
  3. For each Shopify event you want to track like purchase, add_to_cart:
    1. Select Manage.
    2. Select the pencil icon.
    3. Check the box to "Add custom conversion ID/label".
    4. Enter the Google Ads conversion ID and conversion label string (for example AW-CONVERSION_ID/CONVERSION_LABEL) obtained from your Google Ads account event snippet for the conversion action you want to associate with the Shopify event.
  4. Select Save for each event mapping you configure.

Step 2: Enable Enhanced Conversions (Optional)

Consider enabling Enhanced Conversions for more accurate measurement.

Step 3: Confirm Google Tags and Complete Setup

  1. The app usually installs the necessary Google Tags automatically based on the accounts you've connected. Verify the correct tags are listed.
  2. You can manually add other Google Tag IDs if needed in the "Google tags" section.
  3. Click Save and then Complete setup to apply your conversion tracking configuration.

Link to YouTube Shopping

Linking your Shopify store to your YouTube channel enables YouTube Shopping features, allowing viewers to browse and purchase your products directly from your videos, Shorts, and channel store. This connection primarily works by linking your Google Merchant Center data source (managed through the Google & YouTube app) to your YouTube channel.

Step 1: Prerequisites

  1. Make sure you’ve already installed the Google & YouTube app.
  2. Make sure you’ve already linked a Google Merchant Center account. You can follow the onboarding journey to link to Merchant Center which is outlined in this article.
  3. You must have an eligible YouTube channel and your Google account which is linked to the Google & YouTube app must be an owner or a manager within that YouTube channel.

Step 2: Initiate YouTube Shopping Setup

  1. Open the Google & YouTube app in your Shopify admin.
  2. On the Overview page, locate the YouTube Store card.
  3. Select Get Started to initiate the process.
  4. Make sure you fulfil the YouTube channel requirements.
  5. Select the correct YouTube channel from the dropdown.
  6. Review and agree with the terms and conditions.

Step 3: Configure in YouTube Studio

  1. Go to YouTube Studio and log in with the account that manages your YouTube channel.
  2. Navigate to Monetization in the left-hand menu.
  3. Select the Shopping tab.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect your store.
    1. Select the Google Merchant Center account that is linked to your Shopify Google & YouTube app.
    2. Review and agree with the terms and conditions.
    3. Configure which products to display on your channel.

Link to Google Business Profile

Connecting your Google Business Profile (GBP) to the Google & YouTube app allows you to showcase your in-store products and local inventory to customers searching on Google Maps and Search, driving foot traffic to your physical locations.

Step 1: Prerequisites

  1. Make sure you have already installed the Google & YouTube app.
  2. Make sure you have already linked a Google Merchant Center account. You can follow the onboarding journey to link to Merchant Center which is outlined in this article.
  3. You must have one or more physical retail locations and you need a verified Google Business Profile for each location.
  4. The addresses in your Google Business Profile(s) must exactly match the location addresses set up in your Shopify admin.

Step 2: Start Local Inventory Setup

  1. Open the Google & YouTube app in your Shopify admin.
  2. Go to the Overview tab.
  3. Scroll down to the Local inventory section.
  4. Select Get started to begin the setup process.

Step 3: Connect Google Account for GBP

  1. The setup guide will prompt you to connect the Google account that manages your Google Business Profile(s).
  2. Enter the email address and select Connect.

Step 4: Verify your locations

  1. Ensure you have a verified Google Business Profile account with all your physical locations listed.
  2. Verify that the addresses in GBP exactly match your Shopify location addresses. Create or update GBP listings as needed.

Merchants that use multiple domains

If you have multiple domains, redirects, checkout URLs, or vanity URLs registered in Shopify, the Google & YouTube app will verify and claim your website automatically when you complete the onboarding steps. Depending on your Primary Store, Online Store, or other domain setup in your admin settings, the default website claimed by the Google & YouTube app may not match the domain of your product URLs, which may cause issues in product approvals. If the domain claimed during onboarding is not the same domain as in your product URLs:

  1. If you have connected the Google & YouTube app to your Merchant Center, navigate to your Merchant Center account, click Settings Tools and setting menu icon [Gear] in the left navigation menu.
  2. Select Business info.
  3. Click Edit online store
  4. Enter the domain that your product URLs utilize (Note: this website must be included on your list of domains in Shopify > Admin > Settings > Domains to function properly)
  5. Click Save, then Change, then “Claim your online store” if prompted.

After you link your Merchant Center account with the Google & Youtube app on Shopify, you can choose to automatically or manually sync your product information. Learn more about Syncing your products.

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