by The scenario in today’s world is that when you think of something, you immediately start searching for it on Google. It is common for people to not explain things to you but simply ask you to Google it.
Google Shopping was released in 2012 and it has helped businesses grow phenomenally. While it may seem like an online marketplace, it is not so, it is all about advertising. The ads of Google Shopping are referred to as product listing ads that have images along with details of the product. These ads are placed in Google and a click is enough to make a potential customer land on your ecommerce website.
Google shopping leverages the power of the search technology of Google to help users find products that they are looking for on different online stores on the world wide web. It’s quite fast and as a user, you get to see relevant products and links upon hitting enter after a search.
So, the main aim of Google Shopping is to let users know about the features and prices of products they want to purchase. It also connects them to online merchants so that they can buy what they want. In short, Google Shopping makes the whole process of product hunting quite easy!
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The working of Google Shopping
Google Shopping is provided with product information from merchants and it is updated from time to time. Users get to see what online retailers/merchants submit to Google Shopping. These online retailers or merchants pay every time a user clicks on their website or buys a product from their website. Merchants bid for the prime spots on Google Shopping using the CPC or Cost per click auction process. The ad placement depends on the type of products the merchant deals in and it is up to him where the ad should be placed.
As the product information on Google Shopping is straight from the online retailer, it shows users the latest offers, the status of the stock available, and the actual prices.
The merchant can see his products getting a wider reach by listing them on Google Shopping. It helps the product reach on top of Google’s SERPs (search engine results pages). A retailer can also add information such as pricing, discounts, offers, and reviews of the product.
Finding a product on Google Shopping
As a user, when you search for a product on Google Shopping, there are a number of filters on the left side of the screen that are based on price, size, color, and much more. Using them, you can narrow down your product search to make things more convenient for you. There is the option of displaying products in two ways – the list or the grid view. In addition to all that, when you view one item you get to see a “visually similar” item as well.
What makes Google Shopping different from other shopping sites?
It is quite evident that users would compare Google Shopping with other ecommerce sites. However, there is a world of a difference. Google Shopping is not an ecommerce site. It doesn’t sell any products. What it simply does is that it helps users find the products they are looking for. To do so, product information is collected from online retailers who wish to participate. Google shopping leads users to the e-store that sells the product they are searching for.
With Google Shopping, you as a user can search for the best products with their prices among thousands of e-stores. There are also products that have the cart icon. It means that Google will let you purchase that product directly without you having to visit the particular e-store.
The integration of Google Shopping and Selz
For the uninitiated, Selz is an ecommerce platform that is aimed at beginners and small businesses. Google Shopping and Selz are integrated and if you are the merchant having a Selz account, it will get connected to the Google Merchant Center. It lets all the products and their variants get listed on Google shopping in one go. As and when you add new products to the e-store, the Google Shopping listings will get updated on their own. This is great especially when you are running an e-store as a side hustle and are always pressed for time.
Once you connect with Google ads, you can use the Selz dashboard to run campaigns. The dashboard will also let you keep a track of analytics.
The Final Word
Google Shopping has a lot of benefits to offer to users as well as online merchants. Users can find the product they are looking for without having to run around for it and merchants can get their products to reach out to a large number of people thereby increasing the chance of a sale. Therefore, as a merchant, you should list your products on Google Shopping. It will bring a phenomenal difference to your business.
