Google New Shopping Portal

Google Shopping

Google has tried two shopping platforms since 2004. In 2004 on Google visitors search for a product, Google would return 10 blue links which when clicked would take you to a website to review the product. The second one was called Froogle which still exists today.

Google’s newest release is designed to keep the visitor on their search results pages longer, by providing more comprehensive shopping search results. The major difference is that the visitors see a more comparative description, prices and details about a product and merchant pays to display their products.

Google says consumers want comprehensive results with one click which justifies this new upgraded bargain hunting system. The new results will display better quality reports by giving their user more information with one click. Example: When searching for great local restaurants, people want restaurants displayed on the results page, not another click away. It’s the same with hotels, flight options, and merchandise shopping.

SEO View

Google has announced that they will transition Search away from being free for merchants, requiring merchants to pay for listing on the shopping pages. The new paid program will simply be called “Google Shopping.” What This Means: Merchants have been getting free listings for 9 years. But going forward product search will now become chargeable and Google will become a paid comparison shopping application. Since the old Froogle service has ranked as the top comparison shopping engine because of its ability to send large quantities of high-converting traffic, the change of Google Shopping to a paid comparison shopping engine will definitely have major negative consequences to any free e-commerce merchants, requiring merchants to pay to be seen.

Modifications

Consolidating shopping data in the new format as proposed by Google is different from indexing the Web. The diverse material is essential from the merchant to generate the new shopping page layout. The educating of the merchant and his agencies will solidify marketing partnerships with merchants who need to sell physical goods. This knowledge, experience and development will occur over the next 6 months. The final results will empower consumers who shop for brands, seek prices, compare vendors, explore product features with direct links to merchants to make their purchase.

Google Shopping Development Stages

At first, Google will offer a Product Search, using a new PPC model built to display product ads. This will be called Google Shopping and the transition will be complete by the 4th quarter. Merchants expenses to be listed will encourage them to keep their product information current. Updated material will improve shopping experience because prices are correct, the discounts are current and the product is available this will mean better shopping results for users, which in turn should create higher quality traffic for merchants.

Starting immediately Google has changed the commercial formats on Google.com that will make it easier for users to find and compare different products and prices. The changes include larger product images with the ability to refine a search by brand or product type. These new formats are clearly labeled “sponsored,” and take space currently occupied by AdWords. If people are looking for a specific product brand the new layout will summarize information about that product in one place. Give consumers the choice whether it is what they want, and buy it from their merchant of choice. Additionally, results for specific product queries may include reviews and product attributes. The new shopping format will enhance consumers search and force merchants to move to this platform to grow an online business. Google Shopping does empower small businesses to compete effectively while improving the shopper’s experience which will improve time to market. But these are not all that is planned you can expect Google to refine and push the envelope in months to come.

Google Incentives To Move by August 15, 2012
All merchants who create Product Listing Ads by August 15, 2012, will automatically receive a monthly credit for 10% of their Ad spends through till 12/31/2012; and existing Google PPC users can receive $100 AdWords credit toward Product Listing Ads if they fill out a form before August 15, 2012.

Merchants Choices

This move by Google takes advantage of their superior volume of search traffic 65% of the market and provides them a new revenue stream. Google Shopping will work this way:

• Merchants will be required to use a merchant’s Google Product data feed to submit to Google Shopping.
• Bidding is product based, not keyword based. You can only submit your feed and bid via attributes in the feed in Google’s Product Ads interface.

Ranking in Google Shopping, when the full transition is complete this fall, will be based on a combination bid price sorted by product listing. A fee to Google for each product models rather than all similar products under the search. In later 2012 merchants will also have the opportunity to market special offers.

Google Trusted Stores

Google Trusted Stores is a badge for e-commerce sites which gives users background on merchants size, ratings for on-time shipping and customer service. Google stands behind merchants that have earned the Google Trusted Stores badge with a $1,000-lifetime purchase protection guarantee per shopper.

MVI supports all Google products if you need assistance contact our offices