Are you running an e-commerce website that uses PayPal as a payment option?
If so, then you’ll be happy to learn that Google Merchant Center now integrates with PayPal.
Additionally, if you don’t currently use Google Merchant Center but would like to, you can speed up your merchant verification process when you connect with PayPal.
Google Shopping PayPal Integration Was Expected
Google announced the PayPal integration last month when the company said that Shopping search results would include free listings.
That was a welcome change during the coronavirus pandemic. For the previous eight years, Google only displayed paid ads in Shopping results.
Now, Shopping tab results “consist primarily of free product listings.”
Keep in mind: paid Google Shopping ads still appear at the top and bottom of the Shopping results. But everything in between is purely organic.
The carousels of product listing ads (PLAs) still consist entirely of paid ads.
E-tailers who want to take advantage of free Shopping listings will still need to submit a data feed to Google Merchant Center.
Why did Google start showing Shopping listings for free?
Ultimately, this was a power-play to compete with e-commerce giant, Amazon.
Although retailers who sell products on Amazon have the option to run ads, they can also ensure that their product listings surface to the top of the organic search results by optimizing product detail pages for keywords and offering outstanding customer service.
Google wants some of that market share.
How to Get Started with Google Merchant Center PayPal Integration
If you’d like to integrate your Google Merchant Center account with your PayPal account, it’s easy to do.
Start by logging into Google Merchant Center. Then, click on the Tools icon in the upper, left-hand navigation.
From there, select “Platforms.” You’ll see the option to link PayPal.
If you want your products to appear in Google Shopping or other Google-related searches, be sure to select the “Surfaces across Google” option.
PayPal is the Only Integration (For Now)
As of now, PayPal is the only platform listed. However, Google says that other options are coming soon.
That’s also a good move if Google wants to compete with Amazon. The more choices that merchants have for payment processing, the easier it is for them to get listed online.
And when they get listed via Google Shopping, that gives Google a better chance at landing the sale against Amazon.
For some reason, Amazon still doesn’t accept PayPal payments. That can be frustrating to many consumers.
Apparently, though, it’s not frustrating enough that Amazon is suffering noticeably. The e-commerce giant still stands head and shoulders above all competitors.
That’s another reason why this is a smart move by Google. If the Big G can facilitate an ecommerce solution that makes it easy for shoppers to purchase products with various payment options, the company stands to take a bite out of Amazon’s sales.
However, that’s not going to happen overnight. This is clearly a “long game” play by Google.
It’s Not All Free
Although you can get your products listed for free on Google Shopping, that doesn’t mean the processing fee is waived.
You’re still going to have to pay for a sale. Keep that in mind when you set goals for your margins.
Also, the payment fee is probably worth it. PayPal is a stable platform with a long history of providing outstanding customer service.
Further, PayPal just raised $4 billion via corporate bonds so it looks like it’s going to be around for a while.
Wrapping It Up
Even in the midst of this awful pandemic, we’re seeing bright spots of good news. The announcement that Google Merchant Center now integrates with PayPal is one example.
If you’re a Google Merchant Center user and you haven’t yet connected your GMC account with your PayPal account, why not do it today?
