Free product listings in Google Shopping
Until now, being listed on Google Shopping was a paid feature. You specifically had to make and pay for Google shopping ads to be able to show up in the shopping search results. Now, after 8 years, Google will roll out free listings into its Shopping results.
Google does this as part of an evolution to better compete with Amazon when it comes to product search. Amid the coronavirus crisis, many physical stores had to close their doors. A digital strategy and e-commerce activity had suddenly become more urgent for these merchants to not only able to thrive but survive. We can expect this change in mindset will be permanent.
Google is also kicking off a new partnership with PayPal to allow merchants to link their accounts and to provide this easy payment method to their customers.
What can it mean for you?
For retailers, this can mean a lot of free exposure to millions of people who come to Google every day. Paid Google shopping campaigns can be augmented with free listings to cover the entire spectrum of Google shopping.
If you’re an existing user of Merchant Center and Shopping ads, you don't have to do anything to take advantage of the free listings.
These changes have taken effect in the U.S. from the end of April, and Google aims to expand this globally before the end of the year.
