Introduction:

If you're running ads on your Shopify store and participating in programmatic advertising, you're likely aware of the importance of an ads.txt file. This file, placed at the root of your domain, helps ensure the authenticity of ad impressions and combats ad fraud. Unfortunately, Shopify doesn't allow direct access to the root directory to place an ads.txt file. This poses a challenge for store owners trying to comply with industry best practices. But fear not, there's a clever workaround using Shopify's built-in URL redirects feature and the /content/files directory. Let’s dive in!

The Problem: No Root Access on Shopify

Unlike many other platforms, Shopify doesn’t allow you to directly upload files to your domain's root directory. This means you cannot simply drop an ads.txt file in there. This limitation makes it seem impossible to implement an ads.txt file on a Shopify store and can negatively affect your ad monetization efforts.

The Solution: URL Redirects and the /content/files Directory

Thankfully, Shopify's URL redirects feature can come to the rescue. Here's how you can effectively serve your ads.txt file using this method:

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Create Your ads.txt File:

    • Using a text editor, create a file named ads.txt.

    • Populate the file with your authorized sellers' information according to the ads.txt specifications.

    • For example:

      google.com, pub-0000000000000000, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
indexexchange.com, 1234, RESELLER, 318e9e67d1f8069d

      content_copydownload

      Use code with caution.

    • Ensure the file is saved in plain text format.

  2. Upload Your ads.txt File to Shopify:

    • In your Shopify admin, navigate to Settings > Files.

    • Click the Upload files button and upload your ads.txt file.

    • Once uploaded, copy the file's URL from the file manager, it will look something like this: your-store.com/cdn/shop/files/ads.txt
      Note: the URL part cdn/shop/files might be slightly different for your shop

  3. Create a URL Redirect

    • Go to Online Store > Navigation

    • Click on View URL redirects

    • Click on Create URL redirect button

    • in the Redirect from field, enter /ads.txt

    • in the Redirect to field, enter the previously copied URL to your uploaded ads.txt file from the step above, eg your-store.com/cdn/shop/files/ads.txt

  4. Verify the Redirect:

    • Open a new browser window and enter your-store.com/ads.txt.

    • You should see the content of your ads.txt file displayed in your browser.

    • Double-check it to make sure it displays properly

  5. Important Note:

    • Make sure there is no other existing page or URL that would conflict with this URL redirect

Why This Works:

  • URL Redirects: Shopify’s URL redirects allow you to reroute a request for one URL to another. We're using this to tell Shopify that when someone requests your-store.com/ads.txt, they should instead be served the file located at your-store.com/cdn/shop/files/ads.txt.

  • /content/files Directory: Shopify's /content/files directory is a place where you can store files that you want to make accessible to visitors. It's typically used for things like PDFs or product manuals, but we can also use it for our ads.txt file.

Benefits of This Method:

  • Compliance: Ensures your Shopify store complies with programmatic advertising requirements for ads.txt.

  • No Code Changes: This solution doesn't require you to edit any theme code, making it accessible to everyone.

  • Easy Implementation: The setup is straightforward and can be done in just a few minutes.

  • Maintained Access: Since it's a URL redirect it won't be overridden by template changes or other shop modifications.

Important Considerations:

  • File Updates: If you need to update your ads.txt file, you'll have to upload a new file version to /content/files and update the redirect url if the name of the file changed, or replace the file entirely if it has the same name.

  • Caching: Browser caching can sometimes cause the old file to be served. You may need to clear your browser cache to see the updated file, or use the incognito mode.

  • Double-check your redirect: You can use online tools to check for an ads.txt file, check if the path is correct.

Conclusion:

While Shopify doesn't provide direct access to the root directory, using URL redirects in combination with the /content/files directory offers a simple and effective way to serve your ads.txt file. This solution enables you to maintain compliance with industry standards and optimize your advertising efforts without any complex code modifications. Implement this method today, and you can rest assured that your ad inventory is being managed properly, thereby increasing the value and safety of your advertisement placement.

Final Thoughts:

If you have any questions about serving an ads.txt on Shopify, please ask them in the comments. We are happy to help!
Happy selling!

This blog post aims to provide a clear, concise, and easy-to-follow guide on how to serve an ads.txt file on Shopify using URL redirects. It explains the problem, offers a step-by-step solution, and discusses the advantages and considerations of this approach. The language is also kept simple and approachable to ensure that non-technical readers can understand the process.