How to Use Google Ads and GA4 to Target High-Value Customers

Google Ads Performance Max campaign settings optimized for conversion value

Why Google Ads and GA4 Work Better Together

In today’s data-driven landscape, understanding user behavior and building targeted ad strategies are essential for any business aiming to grow online. Combining the power of Google Ads and Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is one of the most effective marketing strategies to reach high-value customers and improve your return on ad spend (ROAS).

UnlockYourChakra.com is a growing e-commerce brand specializing in handmade crystal jewelry, including chakra bracelets, intention-based accessories, and wellness kits. Their products cater to spiritually mindful consumers interested in energy healing, meditation, and self-care rituals. At the same time, their store sees a wide range of shoppers; their most valuable customers tend to be returning users who purchase gift bundles, invest in high-ticket gemstone sets, or frequently return for new seasonal collections.

These high-value customers not only spend more per session but also engage more deeply with the brand’s content, including blogs and email newsletters. By analyzing this behavior through GA4 and layering it into their Google Ads targeting, UnlockYourChakra.com has optimized its campaigns and scaled ad performance with smarter segmentation.

In this blog post, we’ll break down how to use Google Ads and GA4 to target high-value customers, featuring real-world examples from the ecommerce brand UnlockYourChakra.com.

Why High-Value Customers Matter

Every ecommerce business wants more customers, but not all customers bring the same value. High-value customers are the ones who make frequent purchases, spend more per transaction, and remain loyal over time. Instead of increasing ad spend across the board, your goal should be to identify and focus on this profitable audience segment.

This is where GA4 and Google Ads integration can transform your marketing campaign. Together, they help you identify user behavior, create customized audiences, and use smart bidding strategies to increase engagement and conversion rates.

Step 1: Set Up GA4 and Link It to Google Ads

Before diving into audiences, make sure your GA4 property is properly set up and integrated with your Google Ads account.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. In GA4, go to Admin > Product Links > Google Ads.
  2. Click on Link and select the correct Google Ads account.
  3. Turn on Enable Personalized Advertising and complete the setup.

This connection ensures your audience segments in GA4 can be imported into Google Ads for targeting.

Step 2: Track Key Events and Conversions

GA4 focuses on event-based tracking, making it easier to monitor user behavior and define what high-value actions look like for your brand. For UnlockYourChakra.com, these key events might include:

  • Add to cart
  • Begin checkout
  • Purchase
  • Revenue per user > $150 (defined via custom metric or parameter)

Use these events to filter out casual browsers and focus on customers who are more likely to convert.

Step 3: Build High-Value Audience Segments in GA4

With conversion tracking in place, the next step is to create audience segments that include high-value users.

In GA4:

  1. Go to Admin > Audiences
  2. Click New Audience > Create a Custom Audience
  3. Use conditions like:
  • Revenue > 150
  • Session duration > 3 minutes
  • Purchase completed in last 30 days

You can refine your segment further based on demographics, traffic source, or device.

Example: For UnlockYourChakra.com, a wellness store selling crystal bracelets, the brand built a segment for users who:

  • Spent over $150 in the last 30 days
  • Came from organic search or Google Ads
  • Purchased at least twice
marketing strategy using google ads and GA4

Step 4: Import Audience into Google Ads

Once your audience segment is created in GA4, the next step is to share it with Google Ads.

Steps:

  1. In GA4, under Audiences, click into your high-value segment.
  2. Select Actions > Share with Ads.
  3. In your Google Ads account, go to Tools & Settings > Shared Library > Audience Manager to verify it’s imported.

Now your Google Ads account can target these users across Search, Display, YouTube, and Performance Max campaigns.

Step 5: Use Performance Max Campaigns and Optimized Targeting

Performance Max (PMax) campaigns are especially effective for ecommerce brands like UnlockYourChakra.com because they use machine learning to deliver ads across all Google inventory using your asset groups and audience signals.

Add your high-value audience as an audience signal in PMax campaigns. While PMax doesn’t restrict itself to just this group, it uses this data to guide its machine learning toward similar users who are likely to convert.

Also, enable Optimized Targeting (for Display and Discovery campaigns). This allows Google to find people outside of your audience who behave similarly to your high-value segment.

Step 6: Apply Bidding Strategy: Maximize Conversion Value

Rather than just focusing on volume, use a bidding strategy that aims for value.

  • Go to your campaign settings.
  • Select Maximize Conversion Value as your bidding strategy.
  • If you have set values for each conversion action, Google will prioritize conversions that bring higher value.

For UnlockYourChakra.com, using this strategy helped prioritize customers purchasing $300 bundles instead of $30 single items.

Step 7: Layer Geo-Targeting for Better ROI

Now that you know who your high-value customers are, consider where they are. Use geographic targeting to refine your reach.

UnlockYourChakra.com analyzed its GA4 data and found that most big spenders came from California, New York, and Texas. By narrowing ad targeting to these regions, they improved their engagement and conversion rates without increasing ad spend.

You can also apply bid adjustments by location to spend more in top-performing regions.

Layer Geo-Targeting for Better ROI

Step 8: Expand with Similar Audiences (or Alternatives)

While Google has phased out traditional “Similar Audiences,” you still have tools to expand reach:

  • Optimized Targeting: Automatically finds users similar to your target audience
  • Audience Expansion: Available for Search and Display campaigns

These tools analyze behavior patterns, content engagement, and past interactions to identify users similar to your high-value group.

Step 9: Continuously Analyze and Refine

In GA4, use the Explore section to build custom reports based on audience behavior:

  • How often do high-value customers return?
  • What traffic sources drive the highest-value users?
  • Are conversion rates higher on mobile or desktop?

By understanding what identifies users as high-value, you can create more refined audience segments and adjust your messaging accordingly.

UnlockYourChakra.com used this method to test different creative angles for their PMax campaigns, such as emotional messaging vs. product-focused, and found that storytelling-style ads resonated more with repeat buyers.

Audience insights and engagement rates from GA4 integrated with Google Ads account

Smarter Targeting Drives Better Results

When you combine GA4’s audience intelligence with the reach and flexibility of Google Ads, you can create customized audiences that not only convert, but increase your revenue per customer. The key is to define what high-value means for your brand, track behavior, and then create campaigns that serve those users—and people like them.

For ecommerce brands like UnlockYourChakra.com, this approach has led to stronger engagement, more efficient ad spend, and a deeper understanding of who their real customers are.

By implementing these steps, you’ll be equipped to target smarter, scale faster, and grow sustainably.

Ready to Apply These Tactics? Let AdExpert Guide You

Whether you’re just getting started with Google Ads or looking to refine your existing campaigns using GA4 insights, our team at AdExpert is here to help. We specialize in building and managing high-performance advertising strategies tailored for ecommerce brands—just like UnlockYourChakra.com. From setting up advanced GA4 tracking and defining high-value audience segments to launching smart Performance Max campaigns, we handle the entire process so you can focus on growing your business. If you’re serious about increasing your ROI, reducing wasted ad spend, and reaching the customers who matter most, let’s talk.

🚀 Need help with your digital marketing strategy? Contact AdExpert today to grow your business in Los Angeles!

Author

  • Sam Ashrafi

    Sam Ashrafi is a highly experienced marketing strategist and co-founder in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience in local and e-commerce marketing, Sam has a strong track record of developing and implementing successful marketing strategies for various businesses. Sam is enthusiastic about the potential of AI and digital marketing to revolutionize the industry, and he has a deep understanding of the latest trends and techniques in these areas. He is an expert in Google Ads, SEO, and content marketing, and he has helped numerous businesses to improve their online presence and drive more traffic to their websites.

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