Key Points
- Shopify is one one the largest eCommerce platforms with over 2 million active users
- Google Merchant Center enables users to manage their business appearance on all Google products
- You can integrate Google Merchant with your Shopify store in easily steps
Shopify is an excellent choice for sellers. In fact, brick-and-mortar store owners can set up Shopify accounts to reach more customers globally. Shopify is mainly credited for its easy setup, scalability, and optimization. You do not need a prior website to get on Shopify, nor do you need coding experience to do the same. Shopify provides you with resources and integrations to aid you all the way. But then, have you considered Google Merchant center vs. Shopify? How well do these two work?
Just like Shopify helps small business owners create their online store via selling on Shopify, Google Merchant Center promises business owners an avenue to showcase their products for a wider reach. However unlike Shopify, you do not need to create a store, rather you upload your products information on Google through a straightforward process and customers can find you on Google. Checkout is also not necessarily via the internet, Google allows you to choose from a wide range of options and change the options as you go.
This blog post will explain how you can create a Google Merchant account and sync your products in your Shopify store in straightforward steps. Let's get started.
What's Google Merchant?
Google Merchant is a platform where online business owners can get their stores and products on Google for easy visibility. With Google Merchant, eCommerce sellers can upload and update product information like prices and pictures and make necessary changes to their online stores.
Google Merchant also helps businesses gain the needed visibility through Google My Business. This feature allows business owners to get good traction for their stores across Google searches. The following are features of the Google Merchant account:
- Reach out to the right customers through the Google search engine
- Measure insights and analytics of your store through Google Analytics Support and product review pages
- Drive sales by utilizing Google local search integration
Google Merchant has proven benefits for online store owners. One of these benefits is that it allows sellers to have a wide range of checkout options. Customers can checkout via the website, in local stores, or directly on Google. It allows online buyers to see your store inventory as you update it from time to time. It is also the first step to running Google smart shopping campaigns. Other benefits are:
- Google local search integration that directs buyers to nearby stores
- Website funnels that lead buyers directly to your eCommerce store
- Optimized Google Adword integrations
- Increased visibility through correct Google shopping listings
- Product reviews geared at improving faster sales.
What's Shopify?
Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce platform that allows business owners to create their own online business from scratch. Shopify provides tools for sellers to create their websites, upload products, manage inventory, and sell and accept payments from buyers.
Over the years, Shopify has proven to be one of the best eCommerce platforms for merchants just starting in the eCommerce space. The available resources that Shopify offers give newcomers a good head start. The following are features of using Shopify:
- Customizable online store
- Sell an unlimited number of products
- Sell across multiple channels
- Process payments via numerous payments options
- Integrate with shipping software
- 24/7 customer support
Aside from all these, a significant benefit of Shopify is how easy it is to set up. Small businesses without an existing website can use Shopify to build their store from scratch for their online business. In fact, you do not need a lot of technical skills or experience in coding to set up your store on Shopify and start selling. Let’s check out some other benefits of using Shopify:
- Mobile-friendly interface
- Built-in SEO and marketing tools
- Cloud-based and secured
- Flexible and adaptable with tools and third-party integrations
Related Post: How to Ship Internationally When Selling on Shopify and Amazon
How to Set Up Google Merchant Center for Shopify Store
Getting on Shopify is just one part of the whole puzzle. With the high rate of competition out there, optimizing your Shopify store for more visibility and better sales is a great way to start. Google allows you to integrate your Shopify store with your Google Merchant account.
As a part of the most popular search engine tool, Google Merchant Center can give your Shopify store a competitive edge so that you can reach your customers through search engine optimizations, boost sales through ads and manage interactions across all Google products. Creating Google shopping ads is a great way to optimize your Shopify store for better sales and visibility.
To achieve it, you need to set up a Google Merchant Center. Google Merchant helps you store your Shopify products' information like name, description, image, and many more in a way that Google can read.
Now to set up your Google Merchant center. Setting up your merchant account can be done in these easy steps:
- Get on the Merchant Center's home page
- Click on sign in with your Google ads Gmail account, or create one if you don't already have one
- You will be asked to complete the following actions:
- Add business information like the name of the store, website info, and location
- Agree to terms and service
- Website verification
If you have completed the actions above, your Merchant is as good as ready. You only need to add your tax and shipping details. The section for these is in the drop-down menu.
Google Merchant vs. Shopify
Pricing Comparison
Setting up a Google Merchant as well as using it is entirely free. You do not need to pay for a Google merchant account or to get it running. However, you will be required to pay for Google shopping ads, which is flexible and depends on the amount of visibility you aim to achieve.
On the other hand, Shopify comes with three pricing plans: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced.
Third-Party Integrations
When it comes to integration, both Google Merchant and Shopify allow for third-party integrations. Google Merchant integrates with applications and services like BigCommerce, Google Shopping, PrestaShop, WooCommerce, Google Ads, and others.
Shopify on the other hand integrates with CedCommerce, Mailup, MyPOS Connect, Searchify, Deliverr, and a host of others.
Usability/ Ease of Use
Both Google Merchant and Shopify share similarities in ease of use. Google Merchant accommodates different business types like small businesses, medium-sized businesses as well as those who sell on a large scale. Plans on Shopify are also flexible for small to large enterprise companies.
To help users get the most out of their services and features, Shopify and Google Merchant offer training. While Google Merchant’s training is in a document format, Shopify offers documentation, webinars, as well as live online resources.
Support
For customer support and in case of any inquiries, users can rely on Shopify customer support for help. Shopify community forum, help center, live chat support, email, and phone support, and social media are all channels that you can access for support. Google center on the other hand offers an online help center.
Delivery and Check-out options
If you sell on Shopify, there are three delivery options available to you: shipping, local pickup, and local pickup. While customers can adjust check-out settings, check-out is online with a wide range of payment solutions to select from. The checkout options on Google Merchant are quite flexible. Customers can checkout via the website, in local stores, or directly on Google.
Integrate Your Google Merchant vs. Shopify Account with Easyship
Whether you are an existing Shopify user or a new one, there are so many benefits you can derive by using the Google Merchant center. Shopify is an exceptional eCommerce platform on its own with a lot of resources and integrations to help business owners sell their unique products. On the other hand, Google Merchant Center enables you to manage your appearance on all Google products and be visible across searches. With Google merchant, you can upload your Shopify product information and get Google-optimized marketing.
As you do this and get the necessary traffic to your online store, you need a reliable shipping and logistics partner to help you provide the best shipping services to your customer. This is where Easyship comes. Easyship partners with Shopify, so integrating your Shopify account with Easyship to get a better shipping experience is as easy as pie.
Easyship has years of experience helping Shopify store owners get the cheapest and fastest shipping services. Kickstart your Shopify - Easyship journey today.
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