What if your products show up at the top of Google search results? What if your business starts driving more traffic, leads and sales with the help of Google itself?
Yes, it is possible with Google Merchant Center. It’s a powerful tool that helps businesses boost sales by improving products’ visibility on Google Shopping and other Google platforms. However, before we start with Google Merchant Center, let’s take a look at a few of Google’s stats.
Google has dominated the online search market, and no competitor can match its reach today. According to Statista, Google.com is the most visited website, with 85.5 billion average monthly visitors worldwide, and it also accounts for over 90% of online searches and web traffic. These stats indicate that if you fail to list your products on Google Merchant Center, you will miss the chance of accumulating the advantages of the world’s most visited website, where billions of visitors engage every month.
But don’t worry! This is not going to happen. In this comprehensive guide, we have covered everything you need to know to list your products on Google Merchant Center. It includes what Google Merchant Center is, how it works, how it can help you boost your sales, how it improves online visibility, steps to upload products, how to get approval and much more.
Google Merchant Center is a tool that allows businesses to create a Merchant Center account, upload products and manage information for free. It allows businesses to showcase products across Google’s various platforms.
Google Merchant Center also provides an opportunity for sellers to boost their sales organically by providing detailed information about the products, including product names, description, pricing, availability, USP and others.
In addition, businesses can reach out to even more potential customers through paid advertising by integrating a Merchant Center account with Google Ads. They can run Performance Max ad Campaigns to boost product visibility and sales more prominently and achieve goals.
Add Google Merchant Center Front-end Image
Platforms Where You Can Showcase Your Products Using Google Merchant Center
Google Merchant Center allows businesses to make their products visible to a wide audience by tapping into Google’s extensive reach through its platforms. Let’s explore these platforms where businesses can promote their products by uploading products to Google Merchant Center.
Google Search: Your product can appear in search results when customers search for similar products or type relevant keywords in Google Search.
Google Shopping: You can see a dedicated ‘Shopping’ tab when you search for anything on Google. This is Google Shopping. When you upload your products and their information to Google Merchant Center, you get the opportunity to showcase your products on the Google Shopping tab, where visitors can browse and purchase products.
Google Images: In case someone is looking for similar images or searching using relevant keywords in Google Images search, your product can appear in search results and the customer can proceed to checkout from there.
YouTube: You can promote your products on YouTube and target customers based on their interests and requirements with the help of Google Ads Manager.
Google Lens: Users can discover products through image search. Google Merchant Center allows users to identify and purchase items that appear in searches when they search using Google Lens.
Google Maps: By listing your product on Google Merchant Center, you can showcase your products on Google Maps, which enables customers to find your physical store. In this way, businesses can reach out to customers in the area.
Need Help to Boost Your eCommerce Sales with Google Merchant Center?
What are the Advantages of Using Google Merchant Center?
For businesses looking to boost eCommerce sales and growth, Google Merchant Center brings several advantages. It allows businesses to list products for free, manage product information easily, increase product visibility, reach wider customers and more. Let’s break down the advantages of Google Merchant Center in detail:
Free to Use Tool/Platform: Google Merchant Center is free to use. You can list your products simply by providing essential information, including name, pricing, description, UPI and more. In addition, you not need to pay additional charges such as listing fees, commissions and others.
Increase Conversion Rates: Google Merchant Center allows businesses to provide detailed information about their products which helps customers understand their products to make an informed purchase decision contributing to increased conversion rates.
Increase Visibility: The platform helps businesses increase their products’ visibility by showcasing their products in Google search results and on Google’s other platforms, where buyers are actively looking for similar products.
Targeted Advertising: Google Merchant Center allows merchants to reach out to more potential customers through targeted advertising. It can be seamlessly integrated with Google Ads which enables businesses to target specific keywords and customers who are actively searching for similar products.
Advanced Performance Insights: Google Merchant Center allows businesses to get detailed performance reports and analytics that help them analyze how their products and marketing campaigns are performing in Google Shopping and identify areas for improvement.
Seamless Integration: Google Merchant Center can be seamlessly integrated with other Google products such as Google Ads, Google Analytics and others.
Google Merchant Center for Brick-and-Mortar Stores
Today, most customers start their shopping journey with an online search. If your store is not visible in search results, it means you have lost the opportunity to connect with potential customers. However, using Google Merchant Centre, you can make your physical store appear in Google searches. Shoppers can discover your store and in-store inventory when they search ”product/store near me”. Google Merchant Center helps brick-and-mortar businesses increase their visibility and drive in-store visits.
In addition, they can integrate with Google Ads to run Performance Max Campaigns and local inventory ads to drive more traffic. They can target local customers through ad campaigns more precisely with location-based targeting, demographic filters and more.
Common Query: Can brick-and-mortar stores use Google Merchant without an online presence? Ans. Yes, businesses that don’t sell online can also use Google Merchant Center. They can manage their product data and promote their in-store inventory across Google platforms. They can make their product and in-store inventory accessible on Google Search, Google Maps and Google Shopping. Businesses can also drive in-store traffic through paid ad campaigns using Google Ads.
Accelerate Your Business’s Growth with FATbit Technologies
You can easily set up your Google Merchant Center Account in just a few steps. It has an intuitive interface, streamlines navigation and is easy to integrate with other Google platforms to increase your sales and traffic. Let’s explore the steps to start your journey with Google Merchant Center effortlessly:
Step 1: Create an Account
To create a Google Merchant Center account, you can sign in using a Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, then you need to create one.
Once you’re signed in, the next process will start with following the instructions and providing details of your business including the business’s name, country, time zone, address, contact number, navigation link if available and others.
Step 2: Verify and Claim Your Website or Business
Verifying your website in Google Merchant Center is crucial to prove that the ownership belongs to you and control over your online presence.
For businesses with an online presence, the HTML tag method is a common method to verify their website. In this verification process, Google provides a meta tag that you need to add to your website’s code to verify your website with Google Merchant Center.
For businesses with no website URL, brick-and-mortar stores can verify their business presence using their Google My Business Account (GMB Account).
However, several more verification methods are also available. To learn more about verifying and claiming your website, click here
Steps to Verify Website on Google Merchant Center:
Step 1: Sign in to your Merchant Center account.
Step 2: Click the tools icon (from the navigation menu)
Step 3: Select Business information under the tool section
Step 4: Click on the Website tab.
Step 5: Enter the domain URL (starting with http:// or https://)
Step 6: Click Continue and select one of the available options to verify your website.
Step 3: Set Up Shipping and Returns Policies
The next step involves setting up shipping details and returns policy, crucial for an enhanced customer experience, building trust, and boosting confidence.
When you clearly define shipping options, cost and delivery timeline, you help customers make an informed decision before making a purchase. In addition, a transparent return policy boosts customer confidence.
Step 4: Provide Sales TAX, VAT or GST Information:
Sales TAX, VAT and GST are legal considerations. Customers can also get more clarity on payment by checking the details. Therefore, it is mandatory to add the TAX, VAT or GST details in Google Merchant Center. However, charges may vary depending on your country, location, product type and so on.
Most importantly, the TAX setting in Google Merchant Center is only applicable in the US. However, countries other than the US charge VAT or GST. Therefore, ensure submitting details accordingly to the Google Merchant Center Product Feed.
Step 5: Select Checkout Process
Customers who find a product on Google’s platforms are redirected to the merchant’s website. Google Merchant Center provides two main options to redirect customers to the checkout page. The first one is at account level redirection which is a single checkout URL for all eligible products and the second one is product-level redirection that allows merchants to specify a unique checkout URL.
Step 6: Add Your Products
The next step is product listing to Google Merchant Center. This process requires providing details of your product in an organized manner so that Google’s platform can easily access all the details. You can either upload products one by one or in bulk using a product feed.
The product information you submit is required product name (Title), description, price, PUIs (Product’s Unique Identifier), image, availability, category and many more. To learn more about product data, click on the Google product data specification guide
Don’t forget to ensure the file format and attributes comply with Google’s Product data specification requirements when uploading product information. However, once you have submitted your product data, Google Merchant Center reviews your data for authenticity and compliance with its policies. Therefore, be careful when providing product details.
You can list products in several ways:
Data can be fetched from your website if you have structured data markup (schema.org) implemented.
Integrate with eCommerce platforms and sync data
Upload in bulk using Google Sheet template (Google Feed)
You can manually add products one by one
Connect with the Merchant Center API
Let Experts from FATbit Guide You to List Your Product on Google Merchant Center?
The next important step is product verification for approval. Google Merchant Center verifies data you have submitted for its accuracy, authenticity, and whether it complies with its policy or not. Once the verification process is completed and your products are approved, they can start appearing on Google’s platforms.
In case any issue is addressed, you will get an update via email. Be active on your email and try to resolve issues reported by Google to get approval for your products
Ensure you review Google’s policy before you submit your product feed or products for approval.
Step 7: Link Your Account with Google Ads (Optional)
If you want to run paid campaigns to reach out to more potential customers, you can link your Google Merchant Center account with Google Ads. This will enable you to create paid campaigns to increase your products’ visibility and advertise them across Google’s platforms including Google Shopping.
Steps to create and link a new Google Ads account in Google Merchant Center
Step 1: Sign in to Merchant Center
Step 2: Click on the Settings and Tools Icon
Step 3: Click on the Apps and Services Section
Step 4: Select Add Service
Step 5: Select Google Ads and Click Next
Step 6: Select New Account and Update Details, then select Next
Step 7: Click Link to Link Merchant Center Only
Steps to link your pre-owned Google Ads account in Google Merchant Center
Step 1: Sign in to Merchant Center
Step 2: Click on the Settings and Tools Icon
Step 3: Click on the Apps and Services Section
Step 4: Select Add Service
Step 5: Select Your Google Ads Account that You Want to link
Step 6: Select Link to Merchant Center Only and then select Link
Tips to Optimize Your Google Merchant Center Listings
Your product data decides how your listings will perform across Google’s platform. No matter whether you are running a paid campaign or looking for organic results, product data optimization matters the most for optimum results. By maintaining quality in product information, you can increase the chances of success for your listings, ads or any other marketing campaigns. Here are the tips that you can apply to optimize your product data on Google Merchant Center.
Understand Your Customer:
Customers are more likely to make a purchase when they relate to the products. Therefore, by understanding your customer, you can plan content, offers, and designs according to their preferences.
Provide Accurate Product Information:
Provide data in an organized manner with all the necessary details according to the data feed. This will make data easily accessible for Google Merchant Center and other Google platforms.
Accurate and Detailed Product Data Include:
Product ID: Unique identifier for each product.
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number): Essential detail required for accurate product identification on Google Merchant Center.
Product Title: Containing product and brand name, relevant keywords and key features.
Description: Provide detailed SEO-friendly descriptions that are primarily focused on products’ USPs.
Price and Availability: Ensure updated product pricing to avoid bounce rate and customer disapproval.
Tax and Shipping Details: Provide clear Tax and shipping details, including costs and delivery timeline, so that customers can make an informed decision.
Product Category: Use Google’s predefined categories accurately. This will boost your product’s performance across platforms.
High-Quality Images: Provide high-quality image links.
Unique selling proposition sets your product apart from your competitors. You can highlight them in content, images and ad campaigns to attract customers.
Ensure Data Matches on the Landing Page:
Ensure your product details match the data available on the landing page. Don’t confuse and frustrate your customers by mismatching data on different platforms. It is preferred to use the same title, description, USPs and other essential information to keep your customers engaged and relevant.
Final Thought
Google Merchant Center can be an exciting tool for businesses that want to attract millions of shoppers who search for products on Google. It offers features and functionalities similar to the eCommerce platform most businesses are used to. However, by using Google Merchant Center, you can reach out to more potential customers and drive sales.
In the above guide, you have gone through all the details and essential information that can help you boost sales using Google Merchant Center. If you are looking for technical support or guidance to grow and boost your eCommerce sales with Google Merchant Center, you can connect with experts from FATbit Technologies. We have helped a number of startups, SMBs and enterprises drive success and growth across diverse industries.
FAQs
Q 1. Is Google Merchant Center free?
Ans. Yes, Google Merchant Center is free to use. It allows businesses to upload and manage product information without any charges.
Q 2. What is Google Merchant Center used for?
Ans. Google Merchant Center is a tool that allows businesses to upload and manage product information to showcase them across various Google platforms. It enables businesses to drive more sales, leads and revenue by reaching a larger audience base.
Q 3. How long does it take to set up Google Merchant Center?
Ans. You can create a Google Merchant Center account in a few minutes or hours. However, uploading product and related information may take hours to days depending on your inventories.
Q 4. What is a Google Merchant Center feed?
Ans. A Google Merchant Center feed or product data feed is a sheet that helps store data in an organized manner so that Google Merchant Center and other Google platforms can understand and access data.
Q 5. How to get my listings approved on Google Merchant Center?
Ans. To get your listings approved on Google Merchant Center easily, you need to ensure your data is accurate, complete and aligns with Google’s guidelines and meets all necessary standards.
Q 6. Can I integrate Google Merchant Center with my existing eCommerce platform?
Ans. Yes, Google Merchant Center allows integration with several eCommerce platforms.
Q 7. How to link Google Merchant Center with Google Ads?
Ans. You can link Google Merchant Center with Google Ads by following the steps below:
Step 1: Sign in to Merchant Center
Step 2: Click on the Settings and Tools Icon
Step 3: Click on the Apps and Services Section
Step 4: Select Add Service
Step 5: Select Your Google Ads Account that You Want to link
Step 6: Select Link to Merchant Center Only and then select Link
Q 8. Can I use Google Merchant Center without a website?
Ans: The Google Merchant Center journey typically begins with website verification. However, brick-and-mortar businesses can use Google Merchant Center without a website by following certain guidelines.
Q 9. How can I measure the success of my Google Merchant Center campaigns?
Ans. You can measure the success of your Google Merchant Center campaigns by tracking key metrics like clicks, impressions, conversion rate, and more.
All innovation starts with an idea to solve real-world problems. At FATbit Technologies we are passionate about driving digital transformation to prepare businesses for a digital-first tomorrow. Let’s discuss your BIG idea NOW.
Disclaimer: The Blog has been created with consideration and care. We strive to ensure that all information is as complete, correct, comprehensible, accurate and up-to-date as possible. Despite our continuing efforts, we cannot guarantee that the information made available is complete, correct, accurate or up-to-date. We advise - the readers should not take decisions completely based on the information and views shared by FATbit on its blog, readers should do their own research to further assure themselves before taking any commercial decision. The 3rd party trademarks, logos and screenshots of the websites and mobile applications are property of their respective owners, we are not directly associated with most of them.
Vishal Tiwari is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative content on diverse topics. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he brings a unique perspective and expertise to adapt his writing style to suit various audiences and industries.
