If you’re running an eCommerce business, it’s essential to leverage every opportunity to ensure your products are discoverable on Google. While a robust SEO strategy can certainly help in this regard, achieving top search results can still be a daunting task. So, you might be wondering about the process of adding your products to Google Shopping, a platform that can significantly boost your store’s visibility. Luckily, adding products to Google Shopping is a relatively straightforward process. You’ll need to optimize your products, create a Google Merchant Center account, and configure your tools.
Before we dive into the steps for adding products to Google Shopping, let’s first understand how it all works. To illustrate, let’s examine an example of products featured on Google Shopping. To access these products, start by performing a search for an item on Google and then click on the “Shopping” filter in the horizontal menu located above the general search results. This action will bring up a page similar to the one shown below:
[Insert image of Google Shopping results]
As you can see, shoppers have the option to filter products by various attributes like color, brand, and department. Additionally, there’s a “Sponsored” section at the top of the search results, showcasing paid advertisements. If you’re interested in learning how to feature your products in this section, check out our beginner’s guide on setting up WooCommerce Google Shopping ads. However, if you’re working with a limited budget and can’t afford sponsored ads, don’t fret. The exciting part is that users can navigate through these sponsored products using an arrow, which means that paid ads won’t dominate the entire page. All the products listed below the sponsored section get featured for free. So, by adding your products to Google Shopping, you essentially get them featured in a free directory. This approach comes with numerous benefits, such as enhancing your site’s SEO and making it easier for customers to discover and purchase your products. It’s worth noting that users can also directly visit the Google Shopping page to perform searches.
Now, let’s move on to the steps for adding products to Google Shopping in WordPress:
1. **Optimize Your WooCommerce Product Images and Details:**
Once users click on a product in Google Shopping, they’ll see a preview of the product details, including a brief product description and a larger image. Users can click on the “View product details” link to access more information, such as a longer description and reviews. Therefore, before you add products to Google Shopping, it’s crucial to ensure they’re optimized for the platform. This entails having appropriately sized images and incorporating relevant keywords into the product description. You can refer to Google’s minimum requirements to ensure compatibility. Additionally, you may want to follow Google’s tips for optimizing product data, such as placing key product details at the beginning of the product title. Make sure to make these changes directly on your WooCommerce product pages.
2. **Sign Up for a Free Google Merchant Center Account:**
Once your WooCommerce product pages are optimized, you can sign up for a free Google Merchant Center account. Simply click on the “Sign up for free” button and log in with your Google Account. If you don’t have a Google Account, you’ll need to create one. Provide the necessary information about your business and acquaint yourself with the platform.
3. **Install and Configure the Elex WooCommerce Google Shopping Plugin:**
After setting up your Google Merchant Center account, you can add products to Google Shopping using a plugin. The Elex WooCommerce Google Shopping plugin allows you to generate a Google Shopping feed, automating the process of adding products to the platform. Install and activate the plugin, and you’ll find a new tab in your WordPress dashboard. Click on the tab and go to “Create Feed.” Follow the setup wizard to map your categories and attributes, set up filtering options, and generate your feed. Note that the free version of the plugin supports simple products, while complex products with variations require the premium version.
4. **Submit Your Feed to Google Merchant Center:**
Once you’ve configured the Elex WooCommerce Google Shopping plugin and generated your feed, the final step is to submit your feed to Google Merchant Center. Go to “Elex Google Shopping Feed” and click on “Manage Feeds.” Locate the feed you created and click on the download button to save it as an XML file. Return to Google Merchant Center, go to “Products,” and click on “Create a feed.” Follow the setup instructions for your new feed, providing basic information, selecting listing destinations, and uploading the XML file you downloaded earlier. Click on “Create feed” to complete the process.
In conclusion, adding products to Google Shopping can significantly enhance your online visibility and boost your sales. By optimizing your product pages, creating a Google Merchant Center account, and utilizing the Elex WooCommerce Google Shopping plugin, you can easily and effectively add products to Google Shopping. If you have any questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below. Happy selling!
