How to Set Up Shop Campaigns
A practical walkthrough, including the configure-before-launch play for UK merchants. It's genuinely quick to set up, the value is in getting the settings right, not in switching it on.
Last updated: 11 July 2026
Before You Start: Are You Eligible?
Shop Campaigns has a short list of requirements. Most established Shopify stores tick them off already.
Shopify Payments
You need Shopify Payments enabled, since the CAC is deducted from your payout balance. Direct checkout on Shop needs to be on too.
A Supported Market
Live today in the US and Canada, with the UK builder available in GBP and marked “Coming soon”. Current UK status.
A Clean Account
Network Intelligence on, no password protection on the storefront, and a tidy chargeback and compliance record.
Setting It Up, Step by Step
From the Shop channel in your Shopify admin. It takes minutes, get these five right and you're in good shape.
Set Your CAC
Your maximum cost per customer. Keep it under your gross profit per order unless repeat custom justifies more, work it out on the cost calculator first.
Set a Daily Budget
Remember it rolls over Sunday to Saturday, so the real weekly cap is your daily figure times seven. Start conservative, you can raise it.
Add Segment Overrides
Set a higher CAC for new customers than lapsed ones if you want to prioritise fresh custom, and a minimum order value so a full CAC can't land on a tiny basket.
Turn Branded Keywords Off
This is the big one. If Shop bids on your own brand name, you'll pay a full CAC for customers who were already searching for you. Leave it off unless you've a specific reason.
Save — and Wait, if UK
In the US or Canada it goes live. In the UK it saves and starts automatically when the market opens, that's the first-mover play.
The Honest Setup Checklist
The settings that quietly decide whether this makes you money. Get these right and you've done the hard part.
Branded keyword bidding: off
Unless you can prove it's adding genuinely new customers, this is the fastest way to pay for demand you already had.
CAC below your gross profit
Or knowingly above it because your repeat rate is strong. Never by accident. The calculator makes it obvious.
A minimum order value
So the CAC can't wipe out a small order. Set it near your average, not your smallest.
Blended tracking in place
Before you spend, make sure you can see total store revenue and new customers, not just the Shop dashboard. That's how you'll judge it.
Want It Set Up Properly?
I'm Matt, an ecommerce consultant in Abergele, North Wales. I'll configure your Shop Campaign with the right CAC, segments and safeguards, so it's ready to earn the day it goes live, not quietly leaking money.
The Rest of the Guide
Start with the Shop Campaigns guide and the should-you-run-it quiz, check the real cost, and keep an eye on the UK status. It all sits under my Shopify advertising service.
Run by Matt from Abergele, working with Shopify stores throughout North Wales and beyond.