After showing up on the search engine in 2018, Google’s trusted store badge is now expanding to include listings for free products. The feature gives consumers more control over which businesses are given a verified stamp of approval by their name.
For over a decade, the coveted Google Trusted Store Badge has been available. In fact, over 67 percent of consumers used Google ratings, price comparison, and reviews to assist them make a purchase during Christmas season, according to Google.
In any sector, but particularly in ecommerce, a positive client experience is critical. That’s why Google announced that the Trusted Store logo would now be available for free shopping listings.
The Trusted Store Seal of Approval
The Trusted Store logo will be accessible to brands based on their Shopping Experience Scorecard, which is a positive move for online businesses.
A Trusted Stores emblem may display on your product listings if your brand regularly delivers great shipping and returns services.
The basis of The Trusted Store Seal of Approval relies on performance of the following:
- Speeds of delivery
- Shipping
- Costs of return
- Return to the previous window
These stats are compared to those of other merchants in a similar category.
The following is an example of the Trusted Stores badge:
March 2022, image credit: Blog.google.com
Explanation of the Shopping Experience Scorecard
If you engage in Buy on Google or free product listings in the United States, you are eligible for this program.
The Shopping Experience Scorecard maintains track of the many aspects of the shopping experience you deliver to your clients (listed above in the Trusted Store Badge section).
You’ll receive a rating of one of two options for each metric:
- Excellent
- Comparable
- Opportunity
Google will offer your product listing prominence in Shopping tab placements and/or a badge on your listings if specific requirements of these metrics are satisfied. To get the badging on your product listings, you must provide information for all of the categories listed above.
While Google examines the data you give each day, your metric status is determined using a set lookback time. The stats above are based on a weighted average of Impressions from that lookback period.
By connecting into your Google Merchant Center account, you can see your performance and Shopping Experience Scorecard.
The Badge’s Advantages
It’s not simple to get the Trusted Store badge. It’s all predicated on how well your consumers are treated as customers. You’ll be able to enjoy the rewards if your company succeeds in shipping, refunds, and reviews. Among these advantages include, but are not limited to:
- Engagement with product listings has increased.
- Improved user confidence
- In the Shopping tab, there are more prominent listings.
- Brand recognition
“Merchandise showing a Trusted Store emblem is more likely to garner clicks,” according to Google’s early testing of the badge. Furthermore, Google claims that less well-known firms with the Trusted Stores label get more hits and traffic.
New Reporting Tools Have Been Released
In addition to the Trusted Store logo, Google has improved its reporting tools to better understand the effect of free listings.
The new reporting tool provides merchants with information on their product listings on the following platforms:
- The total volume of traffic
- Impressions
- Rate of conversion
Previously, merchants were not allowed to report on their free product listings. For example, if you were to compare free and paid product listings, you’d have no way of knowing whether the free listings had a beneficial influence on your company. You may now see full conversion statistics from free listings, which will assist you in making better business choices in the future.
Here’s an example of a free product listings report from Google:
March 2022, image credit: Blog.google.com
Google’s pricing insights tool is the most recent tool it has launched. The purpose of this tool is to assist companies in better understanding their market competitiveness.
Using machine learning, the pricing insights tool also suggests prices for each product being offered. The greatest advantage may be seen in the anticipated revenue effect of pricing modifications.
March 2022, image credit: Blog.google.com
Summary
These features have been included for the benefit of both the client and the firm. A Trusted Store badge will be awarded to you if you provide a consistent customer experience. You’ll be able to make product modifications and upgrades faster thanks to the additional insights and reporting capabilities.
Google is the source of this information.
B illustrations/Shutterstock/Featured Image