Digital Marketing

Getting Started With Google Shopping’s Free Product Listings

the Google Shopping platform It allows users to search millions of products across thousands of stores to find the item they are looking for in seconds.

With a slogan that emphasizes the mission to help consumers “find the best products, prices and places to buy,” Google Shopping is poised to change the way consumers buy products.

Instead of shoppers automatically heading to Amazon to search for a product, a Google search can tell them the best prices online or in nearby stores.

The cart option also allows for payment through Google, and items purchased through Google come with the Google Guarantee to ensure customer satisfaction.

fascinated by?

Understanding Google Shopping, especially as a retailer, is critical in 2022.

Read on to learn more about how free product listings work, why they’re important, and how to get involved.

How does the free product listing work?

In a market dominated by Amazon, Google Shopping offers merchants the option to list their products for free, even if they don’t run a Google Ads campaign.

Free listings allow merchants to display their items via Google – not just in the Shopping tab.

An item can appear in product results from Google Search, Google Images, or Google Lens.

Just as businesses are not charged to be part of the Google search index, displaying products online is also a free service from Google.

There are two free listings available for retailers to choose from, Standard and Enhanced.

standard menu

Standard listings include descriptive product information added to the search result.

This menu option requires only basic product information and is available via Google; However, the standard listings are not displayed through the Shopping tab.

This standard listing provides a detailed product description, rating, reviews, price, and availability from the Google search results page.

Image from Google, April 2022

Improved menus

Enhanced menus go beyond the basic product information of a standard menu and provide more detailed product attributes.

This menu option requires more details to be provided by the retailer to make the menu more visually appealing and attractive to the Google Shopping tab.

Below is an example of a Google Shopping tab when searching for baby teething products.

Google Shopping Enhanced ListScreenshot from Google Shopping Tab, April 2022

This enhanced menu example appears under the Shopping tab in a group of products.

It provides a visually appealing picture, ratings, additional style options, pricing, a link to directions to your nearest brick-and-mortar store, availability, and a comparison option to other stores.

Where do free lists appear?

Apart from the free listings displayed through Google Search and the Shopping tab, the free listings also appear on Google Images.

For example, when a potential buyer searches for a product or brand on Google, the image has a “product” tag representing the option to purchase that product.

Users are taken to the product page to complete the purchase by clicking on the tag.

Google listing imageScreenshot from Google Shopping Tab, April 2022

Free listings also appear in Google Lens, where users can click the Lens icon to see products similar to what is shown in the image.

In the example below, a quick click on hiking shoes from an article yields a cornucopia of visual matches for similar products.

Google Shopping LensScreenshot from Google Lens, April 2022

How can merchants get started listing products for free with Google?

Any merchant is eligible for free listings, whether or not you run paid ads. Interested retailers should Create a Merchant Center account To manage how inventory appears across Google.

You can then follow the setup steps to create free listings for your products.

If you’re already using Google Shopping ads, your existing product feed can seamlessly provide the necessary attributes for your organic listings.

Retailers should check and claim their website for assistance in creating free listings. This proves that you are the authorized owner of the site, which adds a layer of security for potential buyers.

Merchants then create a product feed (or use an existing feed from Shoppings ads).

The brand can too Integration with other e-commerce platformslike Shopify, to automatically sync inventory information.

For products to be eligible for free listings, provide the following attributes:

  • identification Such as unique SKUs for each product.
  • nickname Accurately defines the product.
  • price For each product, it matches your landing page.
  • availability Tells users if the item is in stock.
  • Link to the URL of your website’s landing page.
  • Describe of the product with relevant features and details.
  • picture of the product that customers can view.

You can learn more about mastering product listings for Google Shopping here.

What are the benefits for retailers who list their products on Google?

Millions of people use Google every day to shop. With Google listing, you can:

  • Increase your visibility For customers who are already looking for items similar to what you offer.
  • Promote your products By highlighting the unique features of your brand
  • He increases Website traffic.
  • Bring more Work in local stores.
  • Increase Sales Not only because of increased web and local store traffic but also when customers make purchases on Google.
  • Best of all, you can remain competitive at no additional cost. If you’re already advertising your products with Shopping ads, the free listings complement the campaigns you’re already running.

Google matches your product to the most relevant search queries using metrics and algorithms to get your products in front of interested users.

With Merchant Center and analytics, brands can track the performance of organic listings.

This insight gives retailers valuable information about specific products to help guide future decisions about inventory and marketing strategies for your team to consider.

Final thoughts

Google is a thriving platform for online shoppers.

Free listings help give consumers options to find the right product at the right price from the right seller.

By using the tools available through the free listings, retailers can meet potential customers who are already searching on Google to increase product visibility and grow their business.

More resources:

  • Google puts out short titles for product ads
  • Google Merchant Center: A local SEO goldmine for retailers
  • Ecommerce Marketing: The Ultimate Guide


Featured image: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock

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