‘Google Shopping’ now allows listing your products for free

If you’re an online retailer, then you’re well aware of the ongoing competition between Amazon and Google. The search engine giant had previously introduced the Popular Products feature in Organic Search that allowed retailers to highlight their products through Google’s Merchant Feed and product schemes for free. However, Google has now taken things up a notch by announcing that it will now allow businesses to list their products for free on Google Shopping.

This move comes in light of the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and was initially introduced in the US from May 1st, followed by other countries. Google announced that the search results on Google Shopping will now primarily consist of free listings, enabling retailers to connect with consumers more efficiently, regardless of whether they advertise on Google. With millions of shopping searches performed on Google every day, many retailers have products in stock that people need but are not easily discoverable online.

For retailers, this is an excellent opportunity to gain free exposure to millions of people who use Google for their shopping needs. For shoppers, it means they can discover more products from a wider range of stores through the Google Shopping tab. For advertisers, paid campaigns can now be augmented with free listings. If you are an existing user of Merchant Center and Shopping ads, you don't have to do anything to take advantage of the free listings, and for new users of Merchant Center, Google is working to streamline the onboarding process over the coming weeks and months.

The Google Shopping results will look quite similar to organic results, with paid results at the top and bottom and organic results in the middle. Those new to the Merchant Center should note that creating an account will allow them to feed product details and information directly to Google, rather than waiting for their product schema to be picked up. Additionally, there are several other useful features available on the platform.

Google also announced that it will be building ties with various other platforms to further simplify processing sales. Google's partnership with PayPal will enable merchants to link their accounts, which will speed up the onboarding process and ensure that high-quality results are displayed for users. Google will also continue working closely with its existing partners, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, to make digital commerce more accessible for businesses of all sizes.

If you’re an online retailer, this is a permanent change that you should take advantage of as soon as possible. All you need is a Google Merchant Center account and to opt into surfaces across Google to show up in the organic Google Shopping results. Product markup will also help Google understand your products better for features like Popular Products. So, it's best to get it done sooner rather than later.

For further guidance on how to get your products listed on Google, visit Google's Help center page or get in touch with us.

Action Plan

Here's a quick action plan for retailers who want to take advantage of Google Shopping's free listings:

1. Create a Google Merchant Center account if you haven't already.
2. Opt into surfaces across Google to show up in organic Google Shopping results.
3. Use product markup to help Google understand your products better for features like Popular Products.

For further guidance, visit Google's Help center page or get in touch with us.

Google's announcement of free product listings on Google Shopping is excellent news for retailers. It provides them with an opportunity to gain more exposure and connect with consumers more efficiently. With Google's partnership with PayPal and its collaboration with other platforms, it's clear that the search engine giant is committed to making digital commerce more accessible for businesses of all sizes. So, don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to list your products for free on Google Shopping.

FAQs

Do I have to pay to list my products on Google?
No, Google has now made it free for retailers to list their products on Google Shopping. However, there are still paid options available for advertisers who want to run ads on Google.

How can I get started with listing my products on Google?
To get started with listing your products on Google, you will need to create a Google Merchant Center account and opt into surfaces across Google. You can also use product markup to help Google understand your products better for features like Popular Products.

What are the benefits of listing my products on Google Shopping?
By listing your products on Google Shopping, you can gain free exposure to millions of people who use Google for their shopping needs. This means that your products will be more discoverable online, leading to increased sales and revenue.

How does Google Shopping differ from organic search results?
Google Shopping displays product listings from retailers, whereas organic search results display web pages related to a particular search query. Google Shopping results also include both paid and organic listings, whereas organic search results only include organic listings.

Can I still advertise on Google Shopping if I don't want to list my products for free?
Yes, you can still run ads on Google Shopping if you don't want to list your products for free. However, the free listings will provide you with additional exposure and reach for your products.