The agency said Google Ads would work.
You spent $10,000. Got 50 clicks. Zero sales.
"We need to optimize more," they said.
But optimization wasn't the problem.
The Fundamental Mistake
Google Ads strategies for cheap products don't work for expensive ones.
When you sell a $50 item:
- Customer sees ad
- Clicks through
- Buys immediately
- Done
When you sell a $5,000 item:
- Customer sees ad
- Clicks through
- Browses
- Leaves
- Researches competitors
- Reads reviews
- Comes back
- Leaves again
- Thinks about it for two weeks
- Finally buys
Same ad platform. Completely different game.
The Attribution Lie
Your Google Ads dashboard shows "0 conversions."
But did those clicks actually generate zero value?
Maybe they started 30 customer journeys that converted through other channels.
Standard attribution doesn't capture this.
What Actually Works
For high-ticket Shopify products:
1. Target research keywords, not buying keywords
"Best outdoor kitchen brands" not "buy outdoor kitchen"
People searching buying keywords for $10,000 products are price shopping. You don't want them.
2. Retarget relentlessly
That first click is just the introduction.
The sale happens on visit 4, 5, or 6.
Build a retargeting sequence that nurtures over weeks.
3. Track micro-conversions
- Email signups
- Catalog downloads
- Quiz completions
- Chat conversations
These matter more than immediate sales.
4. Extend your attribution window
30 days isn't enough.
For $5,000+ products, look at 60-90 day windows.
The Budget Reality
If your product costs $5,000 and your margin is $2,000, you can afford to spend $500 acquiring a customer.
Most stores spend $50 and give up.
High-ticket requires high commitment.
Match your budget to your price point.