The Microsoft Service Partnered With Shopify

Microsoft Service x Shopify 🤝

Have you heard? It was announced earlier today that the Microsoft service has entered a new partnership with Shopify’s platform which will now allow users to access more customers via the updated Microsoft Channel app.

It was Microsoft who made the announcement several hours ago, which has provided a cause of celebration for merchants in the U.S. and Canada, as this is where the latest updates have become available for utilisation.

The Microsoft Service x Shopify Partnership

The updated Microsoft Channel app has been designed by the two ecommerce partners to provide digital users with the opportunity to utilise both Microsoft’s Search Network and Audience Network services.

The idea behind the update is that products will then become automatically eligible for display within the company’s ‘Bing Shopping’ tab as well as within the ‘Start Shopping’ tab free of charge as product listings.

Varsha Bolar, the Program Manager among Microsoft Advertising, explained:

“To significantly expand the reach of their brand and its product’s across Microsoft Search Network and Microsoft Audience Network, merchants can create new ad campaigns and view their marketing performance through real-time reports in their Shopify store.”

In regards to the updated Microsoft Channel app in Shopify, Bolar stated:

“The onboarding is simple, allowing merchants to quickly connect with shopping offerings that showcase their products using free and paid listings.”

Additionally, Bolar revealed that product ads and product listings will have a ‘Buy Now’ button to give shoppers a quick checkout option directly within the ad experience.

Even though the timeline for this rollout was not stated during the company’s announcement, it was hinted that this feature will land on the application “soon”. So, there’s reason to believe that more updates will make themselves known in due course.

Microsoft Service Advertising updates

If you haven’t heard, this update is just one in a series of Microsoft Advertising updates that has been designed to engage consumers and expand advertiser reach.

For example, it was back in July, when multimedia ads launched as a new responsive ad format that displays on Bing.com search pages, either at the top of the search engine’s results page or on the right rail.

Then, August provided us with the rollout of the Target Impression Share Strategy and Dynamic Location alongside; automated ad extensions, product conversion goals, tracking for Shopping Campaigns and more.

More recently, September saw the release of the pilot program for video ads on the Microsoft audience network, alongside vertical-based product ads in the U.S. and the U.K and that's without mentioning the addition of “Inline Appeals” to Microsoft’s Merchant Center.

Shopify’s Service Updates

It’s fair to say that both ecommerce partners have been working hard to make improvements and updates to their services, as Shopify has been working on a new launch of its own which goes by the name of Shopify Markets.

In a nutshell, Shopify Markets is a centralised hub for managing cross-border sales and let’s not forget the addition of Facebook Pay as a checkout option for U.S users on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s fair to say that with these new updates in full swing, Shopify merchants will now have greater control over their store(s), especially in terms of SEO thanks to June’s update that made Shopify robots.txt files editable.

What are your thoughts on the updates that these two ecommerce partners have brought to the table? If you’re eager to jump on board, you will find step-by-step instructions to get your business set up with this Microsoft Advertising and Shopify help resource.

Additionally, if you’re actively looking to work with a Shopify agency designer or developer to assist you with your business, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to get started!