Shopify merchants looking to scale advertising while saving time have a powerful new tool at their fingertips. The latest Campaign Autopilot update expands the platform beyond its original channels, adding Meta Ads, Microsoft Advertising, Snapchat, Shop, Shopify Messaging, and even SEO recommendations. This post breaks down exactly what’s changed, who needs to act, and how to get the most out of the new features today.
What’s New in Campaign Autopilot
The March release adds six major capabilities: • Meta Ads – Facebook and Instagram placement is now auto‑managed. • Microsoft Advertising – Reach Bing and Microsoft Audience Network without manual setup. • Snapchat – Tap into the younger demographic with automated Snap ads. • Shop – Promote products directly on the Shopify mobile app. • Shopify Messaging – Use SMS, email, and in‑app messages as part of the budget. • SEO suggestions – Autopilot evaluates on‑page SEO and surfaces actionable edits. Together, these channels give a broader, data‑driven reach while the AI continually reallocates spend toward the best‑performing placements.
Who Benefits: Merchants vs. Developers
Merchants get an all‑in‑one UI in the Growth tab. No extra apps or manual pixel installations are required; the system reads your store catalog, customer segments, and historical performance to spin up campaigns in seconds. Developers gain a richer API surface. New endpoints expose channel‑specific budget allocations, performance metrics, and the SEO suggestion payload, enabling custom dashboards or third‑party integrations that surface Autopilot data alongside other analytics tools.
How to Enable and Configure the New Channels
If you prefer a programmatic setup, you can POST a JSON payload to the /admin/api/2024-04/campaign_autopilot/configs.json endpoint. Below is a minimal example:
{
"campaign_autopilot": {
"budget": 2000,
"guardrails": {"max_cpa": 15},
"channels": ["meta", "microsoft", "snapchat", "shop", "messaging"],
"seo": true
}
}
After the POST, check the response for a config_id. Use that ID to query status or adjust settings later with a PATCH request.
SEO Optimization Workflow
When SEO is enabled, Autopilot scans product titles, meta descriptions, and page headings. It then returns a list of suggestions such as:
Merchants can approve suggestions directly in the Growth tab or via the Sidekick chat interface. Approved changes are applied instantly through Shopify’s built‑in SEO editor, eliminating the need for a separate SEO app.
Best Practices and Quick Wins
campaign.autopilot.run.completed events to trigger custom reporting or Slack alerts.Next Steps
Ready to let AI run your ads across more channels? Head to the Growth tab, enable Campaign Autopilot, and set your first budget today. Developers, explore the new API endpoints to embed performance data into your own dashboards. For deeper guidance, consult the Shopify Help Center article linked from the Autopilot launch screen.
