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- the official successor to the Content API for Shopping.
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In Google Shopping, bids are placed on product groups, not keywords. For
more information on bidding practices, see Build and optimize Shopping
campaigns.
Manual steps
Here are the steps to set up ad groups with the Google Ads
UI.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-03 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eShopping campaigns utilize ad groups for structuring bids and applying features like bid adjustments and negative keywords.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBids in Shopping campaigns are assigned to product groups within ad groups, not keywords, influencing product visibility in search results.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eProducts can be organized within ad groups using product groups, categorized by attributes like brand, item ID, or product type, allowing for granular campaign control.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eYou can manage ad groups manually through the Google Ads UI or programmatically via the Google Ads API, providing flexibility in campaign setup and management.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eIf a product is included in multiple ad groups within the same campaign, the highest bid among those ad groups will be used to determine its ranking in auction.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Manage a Shopping campaign with ad groups\n\nSummary\n-------\n\nYou can use ad groups to structure a [Shopping campaign](/google-ads/shopping/campaign-management/articles/t18) for bidding.\n\nAd groups let you use features like bid adjustments and negative\nkeywords.\n\nIf you include a product in multiple ad groups in the same campaign, the\nhighest bid is used.\n\nYou can use [Product groups](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3517331) to subdivide and arrange your products under ad\ngroups. See [Create product groups](/google-ads/shopping/campaign-management/articles/t20) for more information.\n\nIn Google Shopping, bids are placed on product groups, not keywords. For\nmore information on bidding practices, see [Build and optimize Shopping\ncampaigns](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6167176).\n\nManual steps\n------------\n\nHere are the steps to set up ad groups with the [Google Ads\nUI](//ads.google.com).\n\n1. Create a new [Shopping campaign](/google-ads/shopping/campaign-management/articles/t18).\n2. Create a new ad group and enter a name.\n3. Depending on your campaign type, you can subdivide your ad group into\n product groups by attributes. Here are some examples:\n\n - Brand\n - Item ID\n - Custom label\n - Product type\n - Google Product Category\n4. Check your product groups. If you didn't subdivide your ad group, see\n [Manage a Shopping campaign with product groups](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6275317).\n\n5. [Pause or enable your ad\n groups](//support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2375409).\n\nSee [Manage a Shopping campaign with ad groups](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6275304) for more information.\n\nAutomatic steps\n---------------\n\nHere are the steps to create ad groups with the [Google Ads\nAPI](/google-ads/api/docs/start).\n\nMake sure you've already [linked Merchant Center to Google Ads](/google-ads/shopping/full-automation/articles/t15) and\n[created a new campaign](/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/create-campaign).\n\n1. Select `SHOPPING_PRODUCT_ADS` or `SHOPPING_SMART_ADS` as the\n [`AdGroupType`](/google-ads/api/reference/rpc/latest/AdGroupTypeEnum.AdGroupType).\n\n You can't change the `AdGroupType` later.\n2. [Create an ad](/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/create-ad-group-ad).\n\n3. Use [Shopping Listing Groups](/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/create-listing-groups) to organize your products.\n\nSee [Create ad group](/google-ads/api/docs/shopping-ads/create-ad-group) for more detail."]]