A quicker, easier shopping experience with Google Shopper 3.2

Making informed shopping decisions should be easy, whether you're at home, in a store or on the go. That's why we launched Google Shopper in 2010 -- to make it easy for users to shop smarter. Today, we're making Google Shopper even more useful, with a new version for Android and iOS that makes it easier than ever to find great products at great prices, and more clearly view product details.

Need a new camera, but aren't quite sure which one is right for you? Google Shopper 3.2 allows you to see the most popular cameras on Google Shopping via a specialized result page.

Overwhelmed by choice? Google Shopper 3.2 provides you with the ability to use category-specific refinements to narrow down your search. This means that if you're looking for a point and shoot camera with a 10 Megapixel sensor, you can easily find the most popular cameras on Google Shopping which include that set of features.

Interested in a specific brand, store, price or other criteria? You can also refine your search in those ways, and the most popular products on Google Shopping that match those criteria will show.

Finally, once you've narrowed down your query to a few options, Google Shopper allows you to view detailed product information about each so that you can make an informed buying decision. In addition to reading that information, viewing reviews from across the web or watching video reviews from YouTube, you may find it useful to view multiple high-resolution product images in the new lightbox viewer.

         

You can download Shopper 3.2 for your Android device from Google Play, or for your iOS device from the App Store.

Posted by John-Shriver Blake, Product Manager, Google Shopper

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Reach smartphone users around the world with Google Shopping

People today are constantly connected, presenting a tremendous opportunity for retailers to deliver the right products to them across devices anytime, anywhere. We recently announced the release of enhanced campaigns to help advertisers reach customers in a multi-screen world. Today we're pleased to announce the Product Listing Ads are now eligible to appear on smartphones globally, extending the shopping experience already available desktops and tablets. When a user enters a shopping-related search, a commercial format that displays products in a single unit may appear above organic search results. This ad unit is labeled as a 'Sponsored' and displays rich product images, prices, retailers, and more. This mobile shopping experience will be available in all markets currently serving Product Listing Ads.

Below are a couple of examples of what a shopper might see when searching for a product from their phone.

In the image on the left, a user searching for a plaid tie may see an ad unit displaying three options. He can click any of them to learn more and buy, or click 'Shop on Google' to continue browsing on Google Shopping, as shown in the image on the right. From there, the user can look at an even wider variety of options from different retailers. He can review and compare images, prices, reviews, shopping options and other information. Perhaps he'll narrow his search down to plaid ties over $45, or filter to see just the selections available nearby. Finally, once the user has honed in on the perfect choice, he can easily complete his purchase on the retailer's site.

Ensure your products are eligible to display in this new unit for smartphones.

If you've already upgraded your Product Listing Ads to enhanced campaigns and made appropriate bid adjustments, your products will automatically be eligible to display in the new unit for smartphones.

If you haven't yet upgraded your Product Listing Ads to enhanced campaigns, we recommend you upgrade to increase coverage of your products and easily manage bids across devices, locations, and time of day - all from a single campaign.

Learn more in our upcoming mobile shopping webinar

Google Shopping and Enhanced Campaigns

March 14, 2013 at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET)

During this webinar, attendees will learn about how Google Shopping and Product Listing Ads work in concert with features that are part of enhanced campaigns. We will also discuss the latest Google Shopping user experience on smartphones and cover new multi-screen opportunities for retail advertisers.

Posted by Erica Sievert, Product Marketing Manager, Google Shopping

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Google Shopping global transition is underway

On February 13, Google Shopping results in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Australia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic began to transition to a new commercial experience built on Product Listing Ads. If you're a merchant in one of these countries and you're currently promoting your products on Google Shopping for free, you'll need to create a Product Listing Ad campaign to maintain your traffic and presence. You can learn more about this transition in our recent announcement.

Keep your products visible
To ensure that your products remain eligible for promotion on Google Shopping, we've built an easy way for you to create Product Listing Ads.

You can complete the following three simple steps in Merchant Center:

1. Set up a basic Product Listing Ad campaign. You'll be able to create a new AdWords account in Merchant Center if you don't already have one.
2. Customize your campaign. Set a daily budget and one single maximum cost-per-click bid. You can modify these settings any time after you create your campaign.
3. Provide your billing information. You'll be taken to your AdWords account to provide or confirm your billing information.

For a detailed step-by-step guide to getting started with Product Listing Ads and to apply for a promotional credit (available for a limited time only), please visit this page.

Promote your products across devices

With the recent launch of AdWords enhanced campaigns, it's now easier than ever to promote your products across devices. This is crucial in a world where people are constantly connected and moving from one device to another. We encourage you to upgrade existing product listing ad campaigns to an enhanced campaign with appropriate bid adjustments. 

If you need help getting started with Google Shopping, please visit the Google Shopping website or email us through this form.

Posted by Sameer Samat, Vice President of Product Management, Google Shopping

 

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Easily find Google Trusted Store advertisers via new badges in Google Affiliate Network

We're excited to announce an easy way for publishers to identify advertisers within Google Affiliate Network that have earned the Google Trusted Store badge. Starting today in Google Affiliate Network, a badge will appear next to Google Trusted Store merchants in the U.S. that are also Google Affiliate Network advertisers.

About Google Trusted Stores
The Google Trusted Stores program helps shoppers buy online with confidence. The Google Trusted Store badge is only awarded to stores with a proven track record of reliable, on-time shipping and excellent customer service. So when shoppers see the Google Trusted Store badge on e-commerce websites, they know they’re buying from a store that provides a consistently excellent shopping experience. They also know that Google stands behind them when they shop, providing up to $1,000 of purchase protection in the rare event of a problem.

Benefits for publishers
The Google Trusted Store badge is a helpful tool you can use when considering advertiser affiliate programs to join. Look for the Google Trusted Store logo when browsing the Advertisers tab to find advertisers that are validated and certified by Google as providing a great shopping experience for consumers.

Benefits for advertisers
Advertisers have benefited from higher average order sizes and improved conversion rates after becoming a Google Trusted Store. If you’re an advertiser that delivers an excellent shopping experience and would like to learn more about the program, check out the Google Trusted Stores website for more information. If you earn the badge, it will automatically appear within your Product Listing Ads on Google.com and Google Shopping, as well as within the Google Affiliate Network interface.

We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback about this new feature, so don’t hesitate to share feedback via our Google Affiliate Network forum.

Posted by Bill Goudie, Systems Engineer

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Introducing Zavers by Google — helping retailers and manufacturers deliver relevant coupons to shoppers

Today we’re excited to introduce Zavers by Google—a digital coupon solution that enables retailers and manufacturers to reward loyal customers with coupons that are relevant to them -- increasing basket size and redemption rates. So dog owners don’t get cat food coupons and parents of teenagers don’t get diaper coupons.

Unlike traditional media, Zavers’ real-time data gives manufacturers new ways to measure coupon redemptions and analyze consumer preferences so they can manage distribution, tailor campaigns, and optimize budgets for maximum ROI. Zavers also offers access to an extensive network of manufacturer coupons, opening up new retail revenue streams.

With Zavers, shoppers find manufacturer discounts on their favorite retailer websites, and save the digital coupons to their accounts. Then they simply shop for those products and check out as usual. Redemption occurs in real time, with savings automatically deducted at checkout when shoppers provide their rewards cards or phone numbers—no scanning or sorting necessary. Manufacturers only pay when a product is moved off the shelf.

Zavers by Google is growing fast. This month we are thrilled to welcome New York’s Original Grocer, D’Agostino, as the latest partner in our retail network. In the coming months, we will be announcing partnerships with a number of other major retailers.

Retailers and manufacturers can see first-hand how Zavers works by visiting our demonstration booth at the annual NRF Convention & Expo, January 14-15 (booth #2281).

If you are a U.S.-based retailer or packaged goods manufacturer, let us show you how Zavers by Google can help. To get started, please contact our sales team at g.co/contact-zavers or visit our website at google.com/zavers.

Posted by Spencer Spinnell, Director, Emerging Platforms, Google Commerce

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Google Catalogs has the Trends You're Shopping For

While long lines at the mall and holiday shipping times can be daunting, knowing what to shop for can be the most challenging part of the holiday shopping season. Armed with Google Catalogs, Google Trends and a couple of experts from the Google Shopping team, we've come up with a list of some of the most searched-for items on Google Shopping, to give you some ideas as to what your loved ones really want this season.

Here are some of the most searched for electronics, toys and home goods on Google Shopping, and the catalogs where you can find them...and more!



Electronics

• Roku 2 XD searches have reached an all time high in search popularity this season
• Google Nexus 7 searches are up 21% since the device launched in June
• Sony Nex 5R searches are up 76% since October
• Kindle Fire HD searches are up 68% since mid-October
• Samsung Galaxy SIII searches have risen by 44% in the past 12 months
Browse the Crutchfield and Brookstone catalogs for more of this season's host gadgets

Toys

• Furby searches have risen 88% in the past 12 months
• Skylanders: Giants searches have risen 90% since September
• Nabi 2 searches are up 92% in the past 30 days
• Vtech Innotab 2 searches have doubled since October
Browse the Mills Fleet Farm catalog for these and other toys they'll love

Home

• Nespresso Pixie searches are up 36% in November as compared to October
• KitchenAid Stand Mixer searches have been up in 2011 and 2012 over previous years by as much as 60%
• Roomba 780 searches are up 87% since it's launch in December 2011
• Cake Pop Maker searches are up 70% since September
Browse the Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table catalogs for more fabulous home items

Sometimes it's nice to get ahead of the crowd and see what will be the next hot trends. Here are some apparel fashion trends that are gaining traction and the Catalogs where you can browse these looks...and more!

Women's Apparel

• Women's Puffer Jackets searches are up 32% over November 2011
Browse Puffer Jackets in the Eddie Bauer catalog
• Fair Isle Knits searches are up 20% over last year and continue to rise in popularity 
Browse Fair Isle Knits in the Sundance catalog
• Searches for the color Oxblood have peaked in search popularity this season, over all holiday seasons since 2004
Browse Oxblood accessories in the Bloomingdale's catalog
• Ankle Boots searches are up 20% over last year
Browse Ankle Boots in the Solestruck catalog

Men's Apparel

• Chelsea Boots searches have reached an all time high and are still rising
Browse Chelsea Boots in the Johnston & Murphy catalog
• Toggle Coats searches are up 35% in searches over last year
Browse Toggle Coats in the Saks Fifth Avenue catalog
• Cable Knit Sweaters searches have reached an all time high
Browse Cable Knit Sweaters in the Brooks Brothers catalog

Need more gift ideas? Check out Google Catalogs for great gifts for everyone on your list and let Google Shopping help you outshine Santa this year! Happy Shopping!

Posted by Meghan Brock, Fashion & Style Specialist, Google Shopping

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Google Shopping: Promotional Credit and Update to Feed Spec for International Merchants

Last month, we announced the international rollout of the new Google Shopping model built on Product Listing Ads. Starting in February 2013, Google Shopping in ten more countries will be transitioning to a new experience built on Product Listing ads. We believe these changes, and the improved user experience, will create new opportunities for merchants and help retailers of all sizes attract more customers to their stores. The new model will be rolled out completely by the end of Q2 2013.

To encourage merchants in Australia, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, U.K., Germany and Switzerland to make this transition to Google Shopping, we are offering promotional credit. Merchants who apply and create a Product Listing Ad campaign promoting all of their products in Merchant Center by 12 April 2013 could qualify for this credit. They could also qualify for a monthly credit for 10% of their total Product Listing Ad spend.

To learn more and apply for promotional credit, please visit this page.

Feed Specification Updates

In an effort to improve the data quality on Google Shopping, we have updated our international feed specifications. These changes will take effect in March 2013. They will align our global product feeds more closely and enable us to surface better results to users. Advertisers who are using the reduced Product Ads feed spec will need to bring their feeds into compliance with these new requirements. For more information on the upcoming changes, please visit the Help Center.

In addition to the update, we will also be releasing a new set of Google Shopping program policies. The detailed policies will be announced in January next year.

Posted by Sameer Samat, Vice President of Product Management, Google Shopping 

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