# Set up Labelizer for the first time

> Create a Labelizer project when you want Flowboost to label products for a specific Google Ads account.

Create a [Labelizer](/docs/labelizer/labelizer) project when you want Flowboost to label products for
a specific Google Ads account. Each project has its own settings, schedule and run history. Live
runs that sync labels to Merchant Center require an active Flowboost subscription. You can configure and
preview a project without one. Before you start, see [Before you set up
Labelizer](/docs/labelizer/before-you-set-up-labelizer) to make sure the organisation is ready.

## Create a project

1. Open Labelizer.
2. Click New labelizer (or Create your first labelizer if you have none yet).
3. Flowboost creates the labelizer for the selected project and opens its settings.
4. Rename it under Labelizer name in the General step, then configure the rest.

If no Google Ads account is available, connect Google and add a project with a Google Ads account
first.

## Configure the project

Open the project settings. The setup is split into steps so you can move through the configuration
in order. You can jump to any step at any time. Changes are only stored when you click Save, and
unsaved changes are discarded when you move to another step, so save before you leave a step.

If you need to connect Google Ads or Merchant Center during setup, you can do that directly from
within the relevant step using a modal, without leaving the settings flow.

## Choose target settings

Select whether Labelizer should use ROAS or CPA.

Then enter the target and related settings, such as index margin, click multiplier, date
range and conversion lag. Target CPA, index margin and click multiplier support fractional
values. Target ROAS is entered as a whole percentage.

These settings control how products move into buckets such as Over-index, Index, Near-index,
Under-index and No index. For the exact thresholds each one produces, see
[How Labelizer decides each bucket](/docs/labelizer/how-labelizer-decides-each-bucket).

## Select conversion actions

Choose the conversion actions Labelizer should use for performance calculations.

If conversion actions do not load, check the Google Ads connection and make sure the selected
account is correct.

## Connect Merchant Center

If you want Labelizer to sync labels back to Merchant Center, connect Merchant Center and choose
the Merchant Center account. You can connect directly from within this step using the modal.

Then choose the feed information and custom label slot Labelizer should update.

## Optional advanced settings

The Advanced step has two optional settings. **AOV segmentation** combines a low, high or unknown
AOV segment with the performance label. **Group by item_group_id** scores variants that share an
`item_group_id` in Merchant Center together and gives them one bucket. Both are off by default. See
[Change Labelizer settings after setup](/docs/labelizer/change-labelizer-settings-after-setup) for
when to use them.

## Run a preview

The Preview step is a dry run. Click Run preview to pull Google Ads performance data and
see a performance breakdown by label bucket. No labels are written to Merchant Center during a
preview run.

Use the Preview step to check that bucket output looks correct before activating the project.

## Activate the project

The Overview step shows the project status. Status can be Active, Needs attention, Ready
to activate or Setup incomplete. It also shows a readiness summary for General, Configuration
and Merchant Center, each with a status indicator and an Open button to jump directly to that
section.

When everything is ready, click Activate labelizer. Activation enables live runs that sync labels to
Merchant Center. An active Flowboost subscription is required to activate.

You can return to project settings at any time to adjust targets, filters, schedule or Merchant
Center sync. See [Change Labelizer settings after
setup](/docs/labelizer/change-labelizer-settings-after-setup).