Quadrant Technology

Performance Marketing Agency & Shopify Experts

Get a Quote

"*" indicates required fields

Select your budget

google seo

Google Channel Shopify App – 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach

by Leave a Comment

Google at the 2021 I/O conference announced a partnership with Shopify and shopping expansion — Shopify merchants can get their products listed and discoverable across Google Search, Google Shopping, YouTube, and other primary Google services. Google Channel is a Shopify App that will help merchants to reach their target audience and potential customers, as well as, get discovered across Google channels. 

Google Channel — is amongst the top Shopify apps for marketing — and it’s available for free (applicable charges present). 

Continue reading below Google Channel Shopify App - 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach 1

Looking for the Right@ marketing advice for your Shopify Store?

Get started with a free 20 min consultation with one of our Shopify Experts

Schedule Now
Google Channel Shopify App - 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach 2
Google Channel Shopify App - 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach 3

There are three awesome brownie points that you can get by using one of the best Shopify apps – Google Channel

  • Get discovered on Google, irrespective of your budget through the product promotions with Google’s free listings and strategic Smart Shopping campaigns
  • Utilize Google’s services to reach your targeted audience and potential shoppers, who are searching for products that you sell on your Shopify store
  • Analyze and optimize your campaign by tracking its results without Google Analytics or any other tools

How to configure Google Channel Shopify app?

Before we get into the step-by-step process of configuring the Google Channel app on your Shopify store, let’s follow up and work on a few prerequisites.

  • Check out the Google Channel Requirements to determine whether your Shopify store is qualified to start a Smart Shopping campaign or not
  • Create an alias Google email account — which is basically your admin user account for Google Ads Account 
  • Once you’ve sorted these two aspects of the prerequisites, install the Google Channel Shopify app from the Shopify app store 

Here’s an easy way to setup Google Channel app on your Shopify store 

  • Log onto Shopify with admin credentials 
  • Click onto Sales channels and opt for “Google”
  • Next, click on “Connect Google Account” and select either “create a new Google Account” or existing “Google Account”
  • Provide the Google Account information accessibility to Shopify 
  • Check all the details you’ve added and click on “review” to complete the setup
  • Now, click on Google and go to “overview” 
  • Once you’ve clicked on “Overview”, select “Get Started” 
  • After you’ve selected “Get Started”, you will come across the following programs — “Free listings,” “Marketing,” and “Product feed” 
  • One of the last few steps is to either create a Merchant Center account or select an existing account 
  • Configure Merchant Center product feed sync through Shopify store 
  • Next, click on “Product Feed Sync” and select “Get Started” 
  • Click on your Shopify store and select “Connect”
  • Click on “Shipping Settings” and “Target Market” for confirmation and then click “Save” 

Get review confirmation of your products by Google within 3-5 business days. 

Continue reading below Google Channel Shopify App - 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach 1

Need ongoing support for your Shopify store?

Discuss your requirement for a free 20 min consultation session with one of our account managers

Schedule Now
Google Channel Shopify App - 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach 5
Google Channel Shopify App - 2021 eCommerce Plugin for Customer Reach 3

Reasons to integrate Google Channel app into your Shopify store:

The first reason is that it is a process of easy and automatic migration of your products to the Google system to make them appear at the top of the page of Google searches. And secondly, it is all about simplification of data feed. Apart from Google Channel, you should also incorporate your Shopify store with marketing and data apps. Check out these top Shopify apps.

With the recent partnership and shopping expansion, Google and Shopify are set to give a competitive edge to retail stalwarts — Amazon and Walmart. Shopify Merchants — therefore — should make the most of these Shopify apps and tools to get out there, appear on Google Search results and reach their customers for driving conversion and sales. The Google Channel integration will help Shopify merchants to become discoverable and accessible by their target audience. The fact that configuring and processing the app is super convenient and easy, makes it a hassle-free experience for the Shopify merchants. All you need is the right set of strategies and techniques to move forward with the app and its process.

Google’s Shopify Partnership and Shopping Expansion: Google I/O 2021

by Leave a Comment

The Google I/O 2021 — the conference for software developers — made some significant announcements. One of them is set to shake off the eCommerce market and looming competition in the niche by bigwigs like Amazon and Walmart. Google announced its partnership with eCommerce savant — Shopify — and its online shopping expansion. 

Google partnering with Shopify means opening doors to the latter’s over 1.7 million merchants. The shopping expansion will allow Shopify merchants to make their products searchable and explorable in Google Search, Google Images, YouTube, Shopping, and elsewhere. 

What does the Google partnership with Shopify means?

The partnership means — a storehouse of opportunity that Shopify merchants can now use to give tough competition to major advertisers and Amazon — who continues to power up its advertising investments in the eCommerce industry. 

The integration will allow Shopify’s merchants to become discoverable across all Google platforms and reach consumers via Google’s pioneer services, like Google Search, Shopping, and others. 

The merchants have to simply sign-up to enable their products to become discoverable in the “shopping journeys” of Google — which accounts for over 1 billion and transpiring daily via Google Maps, Google Search, Google Images, Google Shopping, YouTube, and Google Lens. 

This dominant Google I/O 2021 announcement — experts opine to be a preparatory move on the part of both “search” and “eCommerce” primary to compete against Amazon — who is expanding its commercial query-related search ads and shaking the core of Google. 

Continue reading below Google's Shopify Partnership and Shopping Expansion: Google I/O 2021 7

Looking for the Right@ marketing advice for your Shopify Store?

Get started with a free 20 min consultation with one of our Shopify Experts

Schedule Now
Google's Shopify Partnership and Shopping Expansion: Google I/O 2021 8
Google's Shopify Partnership and Shopping Expansion: Google I/O 2021 9

How can Shopify Merchants get their products discoverable on Google’s services? 

Though the specifics of the process aren’t defined yet, it can be aligned with the fact that Shopify merchants can get their product lists within Google Search and its other services based on their annual interest and engagement rate. 

Google is also evolving its eCommerce discovery avenue with “Shopping Graph.” The integration will enable Shopify merchants to get linked with the “Shopping Graph,” — which will drive Google users to their products via their product listings. 

So, for Shopify retailers, the simplified integration process will essentially link them into this updated Shopping Graph, ensuring more Google users looking for certain products will find their listings.

What is a “Shopping Graph?” 

Straight from the horse’s mouth, “The Shopping Graph is a dynamic, AI-enhanced model that understands a constantly-changing set of products, sellers, brands, reviews and most importantly, the product information and inventory data we receive from brands and retailers directly – as well as how those attributes relate to one another. With people shopping across Google more than a billion times a day, the Shopping Graph makes those sessions more helpful by connecting people with over 24 billion listings from millions of merchants across the web. It works in real-time so people can discover and shop for products that are available right now.” ~ Google. 

According to Google, the company wants to invest in making more people discover products, learn about them and ultimately complete their purchases. It’s all for an open network of shoppers and retailers to grow businesses by making them more discoverable to their customers than before. 

Google’s support for inclusivity has worked on two primary steps:

  1. Elimination of commission fees 
  2. Free for sellers 

However, the Google and Shopify integration does not include every storefront. It all depends on the Shopify merchants and their active involvement to make their products discoverable on Google. So, it’s all aligned with search engine optimization and campaigning by Merchants to get listed. 

Google’s Core Algorithm and eCommerce

by Leave a Comment

Google announced its new algorithm update in November 2020, with the tentative deployment date of May 2021. This new Google algorithm update will focus on a section of user experience called ‘page experience’ and will add new metrics to measure the performance.

These metrics called Core Web Vitals will help measure the different aspects of loading times for each page. Before we go into the relation Google algorithm update has with eCommerce SEO, let us check what the update actually is and how it will influence eCommerce SEO.

Latest 2021 Google Algorithm Update:

The latest 2021 Google Algorithm update or page experience update has been updated to offer a better search engine experience. This can be done by favoring high-performance websites that provide quality content in the Search. The Core Web Vitals helps Google determine the page performance for given pages. This includes three new metrics:

a) Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

b) First Input Delay (FID)

c) Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Let us understand what drives these metrics and how it affects user experience and loading speed.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is another Google page loading metric. It measures the milliseconds it takes for the largest block of content when the page loads. As this happens, the page appears wholly uploaded to the user. For example, if the most significant block is an image, then the page will not be complete until the image loads.

First Input Delay (FID) is another interactivity metric. FID helps measure the number of milliseconds that it takes a user to interact with a page with a button click. For example, FID is when you click on a shopping page, and it appears completely loaded. But when you click ‘Add to Cart,’ the button takes more loading time.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is another Google page stability metric. Out of all the three, this metric is the most complicated and measures the time it takes for all page elements to be completely loaded. So, when a user clicks on a specific component or a button, the page does not shift.

The best way to understand CLS imagine you are on a checkout page where the ‘Checkout’ options appear above the ‘Go Back’ button. But, say you forgot something to add to your cart and click the ‘back button. When you see the page suddenly shift, this means that the page has poor CLS.

Continue reading below Google's Core Algorithm and eCommerce 10

Looking for the Right@ marketing advice for your Shopify Store?

Get started with a free 20 min consultation with one of our Shopify Experts

Schedule Now
Google's Core Algorithm and eCommerce 11
Google's Core Algorithm and eCommerce 12

How can the new Google Algorithm Update help influence eCommerce rankings?

eCommerce SEO is an essential aspect of any online business owner. This is because organic search is one of the best ways to bring traffic to your website that is not linked to your paid campaigns. You may already have an SEO strategy in place, but you need to consider how this latest Google algorithm update will influence your eCommerce SEO.

While Core Web Vitals were being used to measure user experience, this newest update will become a part of the official SEO ranking option. With this update, Google will now determine which page to send their users to when they search for specific keywords. This is not only based on how the page solves the query but also on how the page performs.

So, if two pages answer the same query in simple terms, but one page is slower than the other, then Google will favor the page that has both quality user experience and answers the question.

As the Google algorithm update gets better at answer user queries, it gives users the best search answers. Core Web Vitals is not the only factor determining how the page rank performs, and it is almost essential to affect the incoming traffic to your eCommerce site through organic search.

How can page performance influence eCommerce businesses today?

Every eCommerce business owner understands the importance of user experience, including fast loading speed and interactive pages. These Core Web Vitals help measure the different loading speeds that help influence user experiences. We all know that customers do not like a slow page.

A study conducted by Google, users are at least 24% less likely to abandon a page before it finishes loading when a site meets the Core Web Vitals recommendations. But, a slow page has a severe effect on a website bounce rate.

Google has offered specific recommendations that measure up to a millisecond that the algorithm update deems acceptable quality user experiences. If you follow the recommendations provided by Google, your website will convert better, appear higher in search results, and reduce the bounce rate.

How can you check your own eCommerce website Core Web Vitals?

With the Core Web Vitals option of Google’s latest update, you can get in-depth documentation explaining precisely what they are and which tools you can use for your website. You can also use Google Search Console to get a report to learn which pages are performing well and which are not.

Once you get a report, you can share the details with your team to address the issues. You could also use the Google Lighthouse option to check the real-time overall site performance with sub-performance scores to improve your website.

You can open Google DevTools in Chrome Browser and click on the audit tab. Once you run a report, you can see if the scores are red, yellow, or green. For any red scores, you need to address everything immediately.

Continue reading below Google's Core Algorithm and eCommerce 10

Want to Customize Your Shopify Store?

Get started with a free 20 min consultation with one of our Shopify Experts

Schedule Now
Google's Core Algorithm and eCommerce 14
Google's Core Algorithm and eCommerce 15

Wrapping Up

It is easy to lose yourself with the latest Google algorithm update. But with the latest ranking factors, especially for eCommerce SEO. If you listen to what Google has to say about your site and follow its recommendations, you have a great website and great content.

Technical SEO for eCommerce Sites: Google’s Best Practices to Follow

by Leave a Comment

Technical SEO for eCommerce – a broad field covering everything from JavaScript indexing, sitemaps, keyword research, meta tags, links, and more. It helps improve the technical aspects of websites to increase page rankings in a search engine.

Technical SEO makes a website load faster and helps in crawling for search engines to improve technical optimization. In their latest Lightning Talks video, Google shared some of the best practices that eCommerce websites can follow for Google SEO – product data. But you may be thinking – why is Product data so important?

When Google has accurate product data that is updated timely, it applies unique formatting options to help shoppers decide. The search engine displays stock levels, prices, and ratings for different products to increase traffic from eCommerce sites.

Google also displays the product data or information in Google Maps, Google Shopping, and Google Images – to help give websites a larger market. Developer Advocate for Google, Alan Kent, talks about the various ways product data can be added to Google by website owners.

Let’s look at why these steps are required to add product data to Google:

One central question that may pop into your mind while supplying all the product details to Google is – why can’t Google take this information themselves? The search engine autonomously crawls and indexes other content; why can’t it do the same with product data?

Google can crawl and index other content, but there are several pieces that Google cannot pull. This information needs to be added by the site through structured data markup or product feed. When Google adds information to display, it needs to have accurate data.

This accuracy can only be done when they have verified information. In this situation, it is the responsibility of the eCommerce website owner to identify what is accurate. Some examples of data include:

  • Original vs. discounted prices
  • Actual products vs. related products
  • Product price vs. shipping and overhead costs

So, how can you supply this information to Google?

1) Providing Product Details with Structured Data:

Using structured data is one way to make sure that Google understands the product details clearly. The easiest way is to embed it as JSON-LD encoded content.

2) Adding Product Details through Google Merchant Center:

Another option to supply Google with accurate product data is through the Merchant Center.You can add information to the Google Merchant Center by:

  • Adding structured data which Google can discover through crawling
  • Feed product data manually
  • Using API to update products individually

3) Using SSL or Secure Sockets Layer:

SSL, a security technology, helps create an encrypted link between a browser and web server. You can easily spot a site that uses SSL; the website URL will start with ‘HTTPS://’ rather than ‘HTTP://.’In 2014, Google announced that HTTPS websites would be given preference over non-secure ones.

So, knowing this, it makes sense to add security to your website. This is done by installing SSL certificates on your website. Most website builders include SSL certificates by default.

4) Adding a mobile-friendly site:

A ‘responsive’ website helps adjust itself to fit any device and make it more user-friendly.Google is transparent about its policies – having a responsive site helps add significant ranking in its algorithms.

With Google introducing its ‘mobile-first approach to indexing content, adding a responsive site is more important than before. You need to make sure that your website is entirely responsive – add the best format for all users – mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Continue reading below Technical SEO for eCommerce Sites: Google's Best Practices to Follow 16

Looking for the Right@ marketing advice for your Shopify Store?

Get started with a free 20 min consultation with one of our Shopify Experts

Schedule Now
Technical SEO for eCommerce Sites: Google's Best Practices to Follow 17
Technical SEO for eCommerce Sites: Google's Best Practices to Follow 18

5) Increase Site Speed:

Search engines prefer sites that load faster. Page speed is an important ranking signal. There are multiple ways you can speed up your website:

a) Using a DNS or domain name system provider

b) Minimize ‘HTTP requests’ by minimizing the use of scripts and plugins

c) Using one CSS stylesheet instead of multiple ones or inline CSS

d) Compress web pages using a tool called GZIP

e) Minifying site code to rid unnecessary spaces or indentations in HTML, Javascript, and CSS

6) Fixing duplicate content issues:

Duplicate content is confusing for both search engines and users. It is also an underhanded way to manipulate traffic or search rankings.Because of this, search engines like Google advise eCommerce business owners to fix duplicate content issues.

How can you improve duplicate content?

a) Prevent the CMS you use from publishing multiple versions of page

b) Using canonical link elements to let search engines understand where the main version of your content is

7) Creating an XML sitemap:

When adding an XML sitemap, make sure that it contains all the information required for search engines to crawl through it. An XML sitemap is more like a roadmap for your page – it provides the search engine with each page information, including how frequently the page has been uploaded, when it was last modified, and what priority it has for your website.

8) Register your website with Google Search Console:

This free Google tool offers website owners options to index their website. Once your website is ready to launch, by submitting your XML sitemap to the Google Search Console, you allow them to crawl your site and display results.

You can monitor the performance of your website from the search engine perspective, and also:

  • test mobile usability of your website
  • access search analytics
  • view backlinking
  • disavow spam links

9) Add Breadcrumb Navigation:

We all know that Breadcrumb navigation is highly SEO-friendly. That is because breadcrumbs automatically add internal links to categories or subcategories.This helps solidify your website architecture.

Not to mention that Google has also adopted the breadcrumb navigation style in their SERPs.So, adding breadcrumb navigation is a great way to add to your technical SEO growth.

10) Adding Deep page internal linking:

We all know how difficult it is to add links to a deep page.What is a deep page?A deep page is a page in your site that takes more than four clicks from your homepage to be accessible.

So, by using a flat architecture, you can stop issues like indexing to these deep pages. With a flat architectural structure, your ‘deepest darkest page’ will be only 3-4 clicks away from your main homepage.

But, if it still does not work, adding internal links to your pages can help remove this problem. Pages that are 1 click away from your homepage have the power to pull your deep pages out of the darkness and into the clickable light.

Wrapping Up

Technical SEO for eCommerce is still essential as it helps search engines crawl through the data to make it visible to customers. Without the proper structure or the correct data, your website may not be user-friendly.

And for an eCommerce store owner, that is the worst mistake you can make. After all, you want people to visit your site and buy your products.

So, start building your website into a Google SEO-friendly, customer-pleasing site to start getting the sales numbers up.