Google Shopping – A Beginner’s Guide

Getting established on Google Shopping is a great way to bolster your site with traffic and sales you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. Setting up and getting to grips with the ins-and-outs of the service can be challenging – especially for complete newcomers. To give you a foundational knowledge of Google Shopping and the key things you need to know to get started, we’ve put together this guide.

Why is Google Shopping important?

According to research conducted by eMarketer in 2018, Google Shopping ads drive 82% of all retail search ad spend in the UK. And, in spite of Amazon eating into Google’s share of the market in the last few years, Google Shopping looks set to continue to be the go-to service for online retailers. Search Engine Land, an expert on all things search-related, has predicted that Google Shopping provides the largest growth opportunity for online retailers. 2018 saw ad revenue driven by Google Shopping increase by 77% year-on-year and retailers have reported significant growth through 2019 too.

How do I get on Google Shopping?

The first step in getting your products listed on Google Shopping is to set up an account in Google Merchant Center. It’ll ask you to fill in your business details (be aware that the business display name you pick is what potential customers will see across Google). You’ll also need to carefully review the guidelines; if you aren’t capable of meeting all of Google’s stringent requirements, your ads won’t appear and your account may even be blocked. Once that’s done, you can then go about setting up your campaign. You need to link your Merchant Center account with Google Ads and then verify ownership of your website. You can do this by uploading the HTML file to your site.

How to get the most out of your Google Shopping campaigns?

Without a detailed understanding of Google Shopping, it is incredibly difficult to create campaigns that accomplish what you want and need them to. High-resolution images and an optimised feed all contribute to the success of your campaigns. Getting this precise blend right will allow you to outperform your competition – even paying less for ads that outrank those of your competitors. If you are interested in maximising the benefit of your Google Shopping campaigns, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We have years of experience delivering stellar results for a wide variety of online retailers. We employ proven campaign optimisation tactics that will take your business’ performance to the next level. And with Google constantly tweaking the Google Shopping consumer experience to wrestle back control of retailers’ online ad spend from Amazon, you need to stay on top of new developments as and when they emerge. Miss out on the latest insights from industry professionals, fail to react accordingly, and your competitors will leave you behind. Our team adapts quickly to Google’s changes to ensure you get the most out of your investment. Contact us today for a free consultation and free Google Shopping audit