Today, 59% of all shoppers looking to buy a product first search for it on Google and then buy it later. Google has definitely been a blessing for customers in this e-commerce age. Subsequently, it has also brought about countless opportunities for retailers and e-shops. It has many tools and services for online retailers and e-stores to help market their products. One such tool is Google Merchant Center.
So, join us as we explain Google Merchant Center, why you need it, and how you can get started with it.
What Is Google Merchant Center?
The Merchant Center by Google is designed for online sellers to promote their goods and services on Google. It is a free tool where you can upload your product information and have it shown to audiences across Google Search, Maps, YouTube, and all other popular offerings under Google.
The platform operates as a control panel through which you can control the appearance of your products across all Google apps and websites. Not only that, but you can also provide all the necessary details that are vital in encouraging customers to actually purchase your products, such as price, description, link, availability, etc.
Read More: How to Use Google Shopping Ads: Drive Sales Like a Pro
Benefits of Google Merchant Center
Now that we’ve covered what Merchant Center is, let’s see why you really need it in your marketing tech stack.
1. Get More Visibility on Google Shopping
Have you heard items listed on the Google Shopping tab account for 36% of the entire online product discovery? Google Shopping relies on data from the Merchant Center to display goods. Anyone can put one and one together and conclude that Merchant Center is absolutely necessary for e-commerce success.
2. Information-Rich Google Ads
Apart from providing data for Google Shopping, Merchant Center also feeds information to your ads, especially the Shopping Ads. By integrating your merchant profile with Google Ads, you can create shopping ads that show detailed information like price, product images, and descriptions right in search results.
3. Unrestricted Reach Across Everything Google
The success of your e-commerce operations depends on the extent of your online reach. The Merchant Center provides one place for you to upload your inventory, and from there, your products will be displayed on all Google channels, including Google Search, Images, and YouTube.
4. Build Trust with Public Reviews
Once you’ve added items to your Merchant Center records online, clients can give opinions and rate them. On the other hand, if the comments from clients regarding your goods are attractive enough, they are likely to appear at the top of Google search results. At the same time, you’ll enjoy higher public trust due to ratings and reviews, bringing in more sales.
5. Drive Customers to Your Online Shop
While you add products to your merchant account, you must also provide a link to its respective product page. What does this mean? Customers who click on your product listing in Google Shopping will be redirected to your site, increasing the likelihood of them purchasing your product.
6. Win Local Business
Another key detail you can add to your product listing on the Merchant Center is a geographical tag. This is quite useful if you also run a brick-and-mortar store. When customers in your area search for a product, your listing, along with your address, will appear on Google Search.
Read More: Boost Sales with PPC and Other Successful Digital Marketing Tactics
Google Merchant Account Setup: Step-by-Step Process
The benefits of Google Merchant Center make a very strong case for the platform. But before you can start using it, you’ll need to register a fresh account. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Get A New Merchant Center Account
Head over to the Merchant Center website and create a new account. You can use your Gmail or Google Business account to get a new merchant account.
Step 2: Provide Business-Related Info
Once you’re logged into the merchant account, fill in details to help customers find your business, including the country your business is based, its name, and the website’s URL. Make sure to also provide your contact and email address. Once done, click Continue.
Step 3: Review the Terms & Conditions
In the Terms & Conditions tab, you can review Google’s policies for sharing products, using a Google Merchant Center account, submitting content, and more. After reviewing the terms, tick the checkbox and click Continue to the movie to the website verification tab.
Step 4: Verify Your Website
In the Website URL textbox, provide your site’s web address and click Save. This is needed to verify that you own your website and Google Merchant account.
Several methods exist for verifying possession of a website. For instance, you could either upload an HTML document onto the site or include a certain HTML tag in the source code of your website. Alternatively, this verification process can also be done by using your Google Analytics account as well as Google Tag Manager.
At last, click the Finish button to finalize your Google Merchant account setup.
Using the Merchant Center
Once your merchant account is up and running, you can start listing your products to be displayed on Google Shopping and other platforms under Google. All you need to do is create a new product feed and add product details like names, images, availability, prices, and more. This will ensure your products are showcased to the right audience, helping you reach potential customers in various markets with tailored details, such as currency and language preferences.
Need help using the Merchant Center? Check out our detailed guide on how to use Google Merchant Center.
Wrapping Up
That wraps this introduction to Google Merchant Center. To sum it all up, Merchant Center is a perfect platform for you to maintain a register of your inventory that Google can use to advertise your products. By simply uploading product data to your merchant account, you can increase the likelihood of your products appearing on search results, subsequently bringing in more business.
At CV3, we understand that digital marketing is the cornerstone of e-commerce success. Our growth marketing services are designed to help you reach more people, make your campaigns effective, and convert visits into sales. Whether you need assistance with ecommerce PPC strategies, social media, or scaling your online presence, CV3 offers the expertise to help your business thrive.
