When do you pay for a Shopping ad?
When someone makes a purchase on the site
When someone searches for your item
When someone clicks on your ad and lands on the site
When someone views your ad without engaging with the content
Explanation
Analysis of Correct Answer(s)
Shopping ads operate on a Cost-Per-Click (CPC) bidding model. This means you, as the advertiser, are only charged when a user takes the specific action of clicking on your ad. This click indicates a user's interest and transports them directly to your product's landing page, creating a direct opportunity for a sale. The payment is for the click itself, not for just seeing the ad or for the eventual purchase.
Analysis of Incorrect Options
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When someone searches for your item: A search query is what triggers the ad auction, but you are not charged simply because your product was relevant to a search. Many ads may be eligible, but you only pay if yours is clicked.
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When someone views your ad without engaging with the content: This describes an impression. While impressions are tracked to measure an ad's visibility and reach, the standard CPC model for Shopping ads does not charge for them. You pay for user engagement (the click), not just exposure.
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When someone makes a purchase on the site: This is called a conversion. While driving conversions is the ultimate goal of the ad, you do not pay on a per-purchase basis. The cost is incurred earlier in the customer journey—at the point of the click that led them to your site. Bidding strategies like Target ROAS (Return On Ad Spend) use conversion data to optimize bidding, but the fundamental charge remains per-click.