Google Merchant Center A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking for a one-stop-shop for managing and advertising your products online? Google Merchant Center is the unsung hero you’ve been searching for. With it, you can upload all your products and use that information to run ads and reach interested shoppers.

What is Google Merchant Center?

Google Merchant Center is a digital platform that allows you to upload and advertise products your business sells, so users can browse and shop your inventory on Google. You can upload products that you sell online or at your brick-and-mortar location.

How Much Does It Cost?

Google Merchant Center is entirely free to use! You can upload your product inventory for free. You only pay if you run Google Shopping ads. The cost depends on the payment model type. There are two main payment models:

• Cost per Click (CPC): With this payment model, you pay every time someone clicks on your ad.
• Cost per Engagement (CPE): The CPE model charges you when someone expands a collapsed ad and engages with it for more than ten seconds, as well as scrolls or taps on an ad.

How to Set Up a Google Merchant Center Account

1. Create an Account

To start using Google Merchant Center, you need to create an account. . This account can either be a Gmail or Google Business Profile account. If you already have one, you can use that account to log in.

2. Visit the Website

Once you have your account made, visit the Merchant Center website. Click “Get Started” to set up your profile.

3. Enter Your Business Information

Next, enter your business’s information. You’ll enter information like your company’s country, name, and website URL. Additionally, you’ll add contact details like your name and email address.

4. Upload Your Products

To run Google Shopping ads and local inventory ads, you need to upload your products first. You want to create a catalogue of products that you can choose from to promote on Google. To upload products, you need to create a Google Merchant Center feed. This feed is the data source Google uses to create your ads. Follow these steps to add your products:

• Log into your account.
• Go to the “Products” category and click on “Feeds.”
• Click the “+” sign.
• Upload your catalog information in a .TXT or .CSV file (or manually input the data).
• Submit your feed.

5. Showcase Your Products

After you upload your products, you can start showcasing them. From Shopping Ads to local inventory ads, you can help people discover your products.

Advertising Options

Google Shopping Ads

The most popular ad format through Google Merchant Center is Google Shopping ads. These ads appear at the top of search results and showcase your products, along with other companies’ products, in a carousel-like format. Google Shopping ads typically showcase the following information:

• Product name
• Price
• Seller’s name
• Unique attribute (free shipping, product reviews, etc.)

Local Inventory Ads

Local inventory ads allow you to showcase your products to nearby shoppers. When you run these ads, people will see a Google page for your store. The shoppers can then look at this storefront and see your inventory, store hours, directions, and more.

FAQs

What is the Google Merchant Center Feed?

The Google Merchant Center feed, also known as the Google shopping feed or product data feed, is the spreadsheet that organizes all your product information. This sheet makes it easier for Google to understand your products and what you have to offer.

What Information Do I Need in My Product Listing?

As you learn how to set up an account, you’re probably wondering what information you need for your product listings. Here are a few features you’ll want to include in your product listings:

• Product title: Use the right keywords in your product title and target high-volume keywords to reach more people. Your titles can be up to 150 characters, but Google will only display up to 70 characters.
• Product image: Every listing needs a clear product image. Make sure there isn’t any text or logos on the images.
• Product category: Select a specific product category to show up in relevant search results.
• Link to your website: Include a link to your product listing on your website to drive leads to conversion.
• Price: Include your price in your listing to make it easy for people to see if your product fits their budget.

How Much Do I Charge for Shipping?

Shipping is an integral part of advertising your products through Google. You must share your shipping cost so users know how much to expect to pay if they purchase your product. If you’re using standard shipping amounts, your shipping costs should reflect the same fees you charge on your website.

What are Promotions?

Promotions are offers you can include in your ad, such as:

• Order discounts
• Free shipping
• Free gifts

These promotions are great to add to your campaign if you want to generate more buzz around the listing.

Start Using It Today

If you’re looking to reach more people interested in your products, Google Merchant Center is a great place to start. Not only can you upload all your products in one place, but you can automatically produce ads that help you reach the right people with your products.